ABSTRACT
The chapter describes the tall buildings that make a statement on the landscape: symbolic of power for a city and pride for its people. In the role of structural engineer, Arup uses many different methods to allow these urban icons to reach their summits safely and efficiently, often involving specialist computer analysis as well as good, old-fashioned human ingenuity. Structural systems made up of outriggers and bearings, belt trusses and bracing, mega columns and pioneering vertical stressing lift an architect's dream off the drawing board and into concrete reality. Working closely with architects to develop structural solutions, these framing systems can be bold and profoundly influence a building's identity, or be completely concealed from view. The fascination of building begins as child with stacking wooden blocks to create a tower. The thrill and excitement of those early days is amplified for structural engineers designing tall buildings where the need to reach greater heights is played out on much larger scale.
