The Shanghai Tower, designed by Marshall Strabala, is the second tallest building in the world, reaching 632 meters with 121 floors, and located in the Lujiazui finance district of Shanghai. It is a mixed-use structure that features office spaces, a luxury hotel, and cultural facilities, all built with a focus on sustainability and green design principles. The tower incorporates advanced engineering techniques to minimize wind loads and optimize construction efficiency while serving as a symbol of Shanghai's emergence as a global financial center.

1. Documenting the Shanghai
Tower; Designed by Marshall
Strabalar; Proposed 2008
Start of Construction 2009
Completion2015
Multistorey
Report
Shanghai Tower
DIKSHA HANS, SANSKRITI JINDAL
Semester 9; Section A

2. Fig. Transformation of Shanghai Skyline
The Shanghai tower is the 2nd
tallest skyscraper int the world under construction and is expected to
open to public in 2015.
It lies in the Lijiazui Finance & Trade Zone, which is China’s first super tall district. The adjacent High rise
in this zone: Jin Mao Tower & Shanghai World Financial Center.
Fig. 1,379-foot-tall Jin Mao Tower, 1,614-foot-tall Shanghai World Financial Centre, 2,073-foot-tall
Shanghai Tower make up a trio of super tall buildings in Lujiazui

3. SITE:
Location: Lujiazui finance and trade zone, Pudong District, Shanghai China
Area: 30,370 sq. m. (7.5 acres)
TOWER:
Height: 632m (2,073 ft.)
Stories: 121 occupied floors
Area: 410,000 sq. m. above grade and 164,000 sq. m. below grade
Program: Office, Luxury Hotel, Entertainment, Retail and Cultural Venues.
PODIUM:
Height: 36.9m (121 ft.)
Stories: 5 stories above grade
Areas: 46,000 sq. m.
Program: Retail, Banking, Restaurant, Conference, Meeting and Banquet facilities.
Below grade levels will house retail. 1800 parking spaces, services and MEP functions.
Fig. Location Map
Fig. Location on Google Earth

4. INTRODUCTION
 Shanghai Tower, located at the core of Pudong’s, Lujiazui Finance and Trade Area in Shanghai
 632 meters tall, with 121 floors above ground, 5 floors underground and a total construction
area of 576,000 square meters.
 It is a vertical city and a mixed-use structure, with office space, a hotel, exhibition halls and both
business and tourism functionalities.
 It gradually spirals with 120 deg. Inclination.
 Its curved façade and spiraling form, symbolizes the dynamic appearance of modern china.
 The building strictly adheres to green building design standards. Building employs various green
building techniques and a high greening ratio of 33%.
 Together with its neighbours, the 420-meter Jinmao Tower and the 492-meter Shanghai World
Financial Center, Shanghai Tower and its graceful spiralling design completes the urban
triumvirate.
 At completion, Shanghai Tower will have 121 occupied floors, 4.09 million square feet (380,000
sq. m) of area above grade and 1.52 million square feet (141,000 sq. m) of area below grade,
and 106 elevators.
 With nine zones, each comprising 12 to 15 stories and dedicated to retail, office, hotel, and
observation/cultural facility uses, Shanghai Tower will be a self-contained city. The circular
building is wrapped in a second, exterior skin, which spirals around it in a series of triangular
shapes. The angles of these triangles afford 21 public atriums, each 12 to 14 stories high.
 With a direct tie into a subway stop, the building has a transit-oriented design.
 The dual-skin feature of the structure is important aesthetically, environmentally, and
financially. The exterior skin tapers and twists as it goes up the core, extending out into space at
points.
 The outer skin sort of acts like a coat; it tempers that space.” Warm air will be drawn from the
occupied spaces into the atrium, where a chimney effect allows the heat to escape.

5. Fig. Distribution at different levels
 The aerodynamics of the spiral shape sharply reduce the wind load on the building, allowing
designers to use about one-third less structural steel than in a conventional building.
 A 120-degree twist was adopted for the building exterior profile.
 The wind flows around the building in a completely different way.
 The form also represents the emergence of Shanghai as a financial centre.
DURING THE CONSTRUCTION
Fig. IMAGE @ JUNE 2009 Fig. IMAGE @ 28 AUGUST 2011

6. Fig. BASEMENT CONSTRUCTED ON THE SITE Fig. The configuration of Shanghai Tower, with
circular office and hotel floors stacked between
triangular mechanical floors, has just begun to
reveal itself on the construction site.
Fig. Hydraulic platform for
hanging the glass panels
Fig. The notch in the
triangular mechanical floor
plates helps mitigate
vortex shedding.
Fig. Exterior curtain wall
hanging system

7. BEST IN SHANGHAI TOWER
ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS
China’s first super high-rise to exceed 600 meters
World’s first single building with a weight of 850,000 tons constructed on a soft
ground
Tallest green building
Strictly followed the demands of green
building certification, combined
various green building technologies
and strategies, in line with its
commitment to environment
protection
Largest pouring work for the
main building’s foundation
surface
Completing the concrete pour at one
time by using 450 concrete mixer
trucks, 8 pump stations of 4 districts
throughout the city and 60,000 cubic
meters of concrete within 63 hours
Tower bearings with the
biggest diameter
Round-shaped, self-bearing,
continuous walls as tower bearings
with a diameter of 123.544m
Curtain wall supporting steel
structure system with the
highest construction precision
The most professional curtain wall
sliding bearings, with an accuracy of up
to 2 mm
China’s largest construction
cranes
Four M1280D tower cranes to improve
work efficiency
Heaviest damper 1,200 tons
EFFICIENT OPERATIONS
Fastest elevator
Three sightseeing elevators with a
maximum upward speed of 18
meters/second
First super high-rise with cloud
computing system
Able to serve 15,000 to 20,000 people
Most advanced energy
management and control
centre
Integrating CHP, Ground Source Heat
Pump, ice storage system, electric
refrigeration, boiler room, and other
facilities.

8. Highest wind turbines
The tower’s topmost levels (565m to
578m) will house 270 wind turbines
with a capacity of 135 kW of power
Diesel generator with Asia’s
biggest capacity
Reserve capacity of up to 10,000 kW,
single capacity of 2500 kW
Window cleaning equipment in
the most complex path
Spiral-path gondola installed on top of
the tower
Three important strategies were adopted for the design:
i. He tower’s asymmetrical form
ii. Is tapering profile
iii. Its rounded corners
Green strategies:
i. Daylighting: the c]glass sin admits maximum daylight, reducing the need for electrical lighting.
ii. Landscaping: one-third of the site is green space, with extensive landscaping that cools the site.
iii. Wind turbines: exterior lighting for the tower will be powered by 270 wind driven generators.
Shanghai towers sustainable strategies will reduce the building’s carbon footprint by 34k metric tons per
year.
Technical innovation:
The tower has world’s fastest elevator with the speed equivalent to 40mph.
Structural efficiency: the simplifies mega-frame structure is an economical approach.
Counteracting sway: a tunes mass damper near the top of the tower improves the occupant's
comfort.
DRAWING OF THE SHANGHAI TOWER
GROUND FLOOR PLAN ROOF PLAN

9. FUNCTIONALITY & ZONE DISTRIBUTION
Fig. Zoning and Reducing Core
Different zones of the tower includes the following:
• Zone 1: Retail
• Zone 2: Office
• Zone 3: Office
• Zone 4: Office
• Zone 5: Office
• Zone 6: Office
• Zone 7: Hotel
• Zone 8: Hotel & Boutique Office
• Zone 9: Observation & Cultural Facilities
• Shanghai Tower will become the landmark of the Finance and Trade Area in Lujiazui and an
important foundation for the financial service sector in Shanghai. Shanghai Tower also plays an
important role in optimizing the overall planning of the Lujiazui area, perfecting city space,

10. improving comprehensive business functions and accelerating the offerings of this modern
service sector.
As a vertical city comprised of 9 zones, Shanghai Tower serves five key functions:
1. It provides international-standard, Grade-A offices. The area from Zone 2 to Zone 6 is comprised
of approximately 220,000 square meters of office area. In each zone, there is a trade floor
providing corporations with fully-equipped space for financial trade businesses. To meet the
differentiated demands of the financial service sector such as banks, insurances, securities and
funds, and regional headquarters of transnational corporations together with modern new-type
service industries for offices, it offers 24/7, customized office space, system and service.
2. It houses a luxury five-star hotel and facilities. Zone 7 and Zone 8 will house J Hotel-- a luxury
five-star hotel originating in China, with approximately 80000 square meters in total. This hotel,
run by top international hotel management companies will offer high-end customers
personalized service, an experiential accommodation environment and a luxurious space to
meet their every need.
REDUCING CORE OF THE STRUTURE
STRUCTURE SYSTEM EMPLOYED
STRUCTURE SYSTEM EMPLOYED
 The main part of the core-tube is a 30 m by 30 m square RC tube. The thickness of the flange
wall of the tube at the bottom is 1.2 m, and the thickness decreases with the height of the tube
and reduces to 0.5 m at the top. Similarly, the thickness of the web wall decreases from 0.9 m at
the bottom to 0.5 m at the top.
 According to the architectural functional requirements, the four corners of the core-tube are
gradually removed above Zone 5. Finally, the core-tube becomes X-shaped at the top.
 The mega-column system consists of 12 shaped-steel reinforced concrete columns with a
maximum cross-sectional dimension of 5,300 mm×3,700 mm.
 8 mega-columns extend from the bottom to the top of the building, and the section size
gradually reduces to 2,400 mm×1,900 mm at the top.

11.  The remaining 4 columns are located at each corner and only extend from the ground floor to
Zone 5.
 The outrigger system, located at the mechanical stories, consists of circle trusses and outriggers
with a total height of 9.9 m. All of the components of the outriggers are composed of H-shaped
steel beams.
 Four element types are used in this model: the spatial beam elements used for the external
frames and outriggers, the multi-layer shell elements used for the shear walls and the mega-
columns, the truss elements used for the rebar and the shaped-steels, and membrane elements
for the floor slabs. The details are described in the following subsections.
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
Fig. Typical Structural Floor Plan
 The skyscraper comprises nine cylindrical buildings stacked on top of each other, all enclosed by
a circular inner curtain wall and a triangular facade enveloping the entire structure.
 The tower is supported on 831 reinforced concrete bore piles sunk deep into the ground.
 At its heart is a concrete core, of 30 sq. m. This itercts with the 4 super columns. The core acts in
concert with an outrigger and ‘super-column’ system, with double-belt trusses that support the
base of each of the nine vertical neighbourhoods.
 The outrigger trusses and super columns derive stiffness from the concrete inner building,
producing an effective system for resisting wind and seismic loads for super tall buildings. This
approach has made for an easier and faster construction process, meaning significant cost
savings for the client.
 The tower’s form was refined using wind tunnel tests, which ultimately reduced building wind
loads by 24 per cent. The tests pinpointed a 120-degree rotation as optimal for minimizing the
wind loads.
The result is a simpler and lighter structure with unprecedented transparency and a 32 per cent
reduction in costly materials.

12. Fig. Sketch of Lateral Force Resisting System
Fig. Lateral System
 Steel I-sections are embedded in concrete, that supports the outrigger trusses.
 The double belt truss supported through main 8 columns support the curtain walls.
 The main 8 columns reduces in size as the building grows in height, to complement the reducing
volume of building.

13. Fig. Frame System
Fig. Mega Frame and Outrigger Detail

14. Fig. Mega frame under construction
Uses 32 – 35% less structural materials ( concrete and steel ) than any other conventional buildings. It
results in savings of 58million US$
 The main part of the core-tube is a 30 m by 30 m square RC tube. The thickness of the flange
wall of the tube at the bottom is 1.2 m, and the thickness decreases with the height of the tube
and reduces to 0.5 m at the top. Similarly, the thickness of the web wall decreases from 0.9 m at
the bottom to 0.5 m at the top.
 According to the architectural functional requirements, the four corners of the core-tube are
gradually removed above Zone 5. Finally, the core-tube becomes X-shaped at the top.
 The mega-column system consists of 12 shaped-steel reinforced concrete columns with a
maximum cross-sectional dimension of 5,300 mm×3,700 mm.
 8 mega-columns extend from the bottom to the top of the building, and the section size
gradually reduces to 2,400 mm×1,900 mm at the top.
CENTRAL
CORE
MEGA
COLUMNS
FLOOR
PLATES
INNER SKIN OUTER
WALL
STRUCTURE
SECOND
SKIN

15.  The remaining 4 columns are located at each corner and only extend from the ground floor to
Zone 5.
 The outrigger system, located at the mechanical stories, consists of circle trusses and outriggers
with a total height of 9.9 m. All of the components of the outriggers are composed of H-shaped
steel beams.
 Four element types are used in this model: the spatial beam elements used for the external
frames and outriggers, the multi-layer shell elements used for the shear walls and the mega-
columns, the truss elements used for the rebar and the shaped-steels, and membrane elements
for the floor slabs. The details are described in the following subsections.
Fig. Frame extending upwards; Curtain wall supporting system & central atrium
 To carry the load of the transparent glass skin, an innovative curtain wall has been designed
which is suspended from the mechanical floors above and stabilized by a system of hoop rings
and struts.
 The laminated glass panels filter the sun, wind and rain, while the inner skin encloses the
interior space with a unitized low-E coated insulating glass curtain wall system with integral
operable solar control devices.
 This double skin wall system takes advantage of the stack effect to provide natural ventilation
and cooling.
 The buffer areas between the inner and outer skins help to regulate the environment as well
as collect and recycle rain water.

16. MODEL VIEWS
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS UNDERTAKEN
The tower’s profound twist expression is the result of its geometry, which can be broken down into
three key :
1. Horizontal profile :
 The profile shape is based on an equilateral triangle.
 Two tangential curves offset at 60 degrees were used to create a smooth shape.
 This shape is driven by two variables:
 the radius of the large circle and its location relative to the center of the equilateral triangle
(profile). It should be noted that the actual shape of the profile is independent of the remaining
two key geometric drivers.

17.  As a result, Gensler had the ability to look at the effect of modifying the horizontal profile and
the impact such changes had on the tower form at all stages of the design.
Fig. Horizontal profile geometry
2. Vertical profile :
• The concept of the form is to take the horizontal profile and extrude it vertically and conform to
the vertical profile.
• From a functional point of view, it was important to maintain a wide footprint for the lower
third of the tower, with a slender footprint at the upper third—a reduction of about 55% overall.
• This proportional distribution allowed for large lease spans within the office portion of the
tower and smaller spans within the upper-level hotel/boutique offices.
• Adjusting the two values in the horizontal profile and this third value in the vertical profile, we
now have complete control of vertical ratio, gross floor area and building form.
Fig. Vertical profile geometry

18. 3. Rate of twist:
 This is a simple linear rotation from base to top.
 The fact that this final value can be changed independently allowed for great flexibility in the
design stage, especially in selecting the best combined overall building performance.
 The Gensler design team had anticipated that significant reduction in both tower structural wind
loading and wind cladding pressures could be established if the building further improved its
proposed geometry following the variables previously explained.
 Several scenarios were proposed involving rotation at 90°, 120°, 150°, 180° and 210° and then
scaling off 25%, 40% , 55%, 70% and 85%.
 Results acquired through this process have shown that a scaling factor of about 55% and
rotation at 120° can account for up to 24% savings in structural wind loading and cladding
pressure reduction.
 This equates to about $50 million (USD) in savings in the building structure alone. Additionally, it
helped optimize and distribute maximum cladding loads on the building while maintaining
desired aesthetics. Aesthetic concerns prevented the 180° rotation from being pursued, even
though it would reduce loading by an additional 9% .
Fig. Shanghai tower: wind tunnel study scaling models (left) and wind tunnel study rotation models
(right).
CURTAIN WALL SUPPORT SYSTEM
 The building design employs a curtain wall system designed as a symbiosis of two glazed walls—
an exterior curtain wall (Curtain Wall A) and an interior curtain wall (Curtain Wall B)—with a
tapering atrium in between.
 The main support for the exterior curtain wall is a horizontal ring beam consisting of a horizontal
pipe 356 mm in diameter laterally supported, at 10 meters on-center in Zone 2 and 7 meters on-
center in Zone 8, by a radial pipe strut support. This variation is a result of the geometry that
included tapering and rotation of the tower.

19.  The horizontal radial pipe strut supports consist of a 219-mm diameter pipe (with varied but
mainly 22 mm wall thickness) that transfers the exterior façade lateral load to the inner circular
building slab edge. The radial strut pipes are rigidly connected with the horizontal girt while
using a hinge connection on the other side—at the interior slab edge steel support—to allow the
exterior façade to move up and down relative to the inner structure.
 To carry the gravity load of the façade and façade support structure, two 60-to-80-mm high-
strength rods (depending on the zone) are hung from the mechanical room/refuge area above,
with a robust steel structure designed within, to the horizontal 356-mm ring pipe beams at 4.5
meters (4.3 meters in Zones 7 and 8) on-center vertically at every strut location, including an
amenity floor that uses steel bushings instead of perpendicular struts to limit lateral movement.
 . Steel bushings move in vertical direction to allow for expected combined closing and opening
movements to be largest at Zone 2, at 114 mm.
Fig. Tower Curtain Wall Support System (CWSS)
Fig. Typical atrium top & bottom curtain Wall A connections

20. SUSTAINABLE HIGHLIGHTS
The Shanghai Tower features some extraordinary nature-friendly aspects such as:
 The inner glass, part of the buildings façades, uses 14 percent less glass than a building
occupying the same area but in a square design.
 The glass façade minimizes energy consumption.
 By having two skin layers forming the building façade the Tower creates thermal buffer zones,
that improves indoor air quality.
 Some of the building’s parapets are designed to collect rainwater, used for tower’s heating
and AC systems.
 Shanghai Tower’s spiral shape creates an asymmetrical surface that reduces wind loads acting
on the building.
 Water treatment plants recycle grey water and storm water for irrigation and toilet use.
 A 38 % water consumption reduction is achieved by having interim water storage tanks
distributed within the tower allowing the water pressure to be maintained by gravity.
 Shanghai Tower has two chiller plants, strategically located, in the building reducing energy
required to pump chilled water.
 On-site power is generated by wind turbines located directly beneath the parapet.
 Building is designed to save 21.59% in annual energy costs.