SKYSCRAPER PROJECT

By Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu.

 Skyscraper project by Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu

This skyscraper project is personally my best project so far - (if we are allowed to have favorites). There are many reasons for this. The large scope is one, followed by the many challenges which I had to overcome to produce it.

1. STRUCTURAL ISSUES: 

The major one was resolving the structural workings, because being a mixed use building, the shopping mall dictated a different arrangement of floor- system while the offices and residences could easily follow the conventional  columns-walls-floor system. I needed to have an atrium in the shopping mall to allow for improved vertical visibility of shoppers and shops between floors. This meant natural light also had to be thrown in from the top of this atrium, which naturally would be covered or at least have that possibility in case the building needs to be air-conditioned (which is usually the case these days).

skyscraper project  -siteplan

 Naturally, This would not be an issue if it were just the shopping mall, the tough bone came in because I expected to have about 50 more floors above it. Anyway thanks to the semi outdoor lounge I introduced on the 6th level, which allowed me to throw in natural light through glazing and reflective glasses placed strategically to send down light into the main shopping space. and a combination of tube and frame structural system with a heavy RCC Shear wall at  the building core coupled with a streamlined shape which blessed  me with a stable wind-friendly  structure.

 

2. VERTICAL CIRCULATION:

Next was Vertical circulation. How to resolve all the movement within the building beginning from the basement parking lots, to the shopping space, to the offices and finally to the residential levels.

lifts..yes definitely. 

Skyscraper project-Architectural section

but what type? what capacity? who can get on it? where? and waiting time? were issues.

 

3. ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

Designing in a period when the whole world has attention on energy saving,leaves you an imperative task of making sure your building saves as much energy as possible. This was a constant concern as my design developed. ·    Use of photo-voltaic glass panels on the exterior skin lets in ample daylight as well as captures solar energy for passive use in the building.
·    Use of broad overhanging eaves provide sun shade through the facade 
and also fitted with solar collector panes makes the facade virtually a solar  farm.

 

4. MECHANICAL ISSUES:

Skip-stage water supply provides for less energy consumption and  water for fire fighting and domestic/office use. Service floors are provided after every 10-12 floors. 8 service lifts are provided to serve the entire building.

Office lifts              = 2.00m wide by 1.63m deep; 3,500 pounds (20 nos.)
Residential lifts       = 2.00m wide by 1.28m deep; 2,500 pounds (4 nos.)
Commercial lifts     = 2.00m wide by 1.63m deep; 3,500 pounds.(7 nos.)
Service lifts            = 1.60m wide by 2.525m deep; 4,500 pounds.(8 nos.)
capsule lifts            = 1.63m wide by 2.4m deep; 4,500 pounds.

 

5. AESTHETICS:

This was frankly the last thing I paid attention to. I needed to make sure the building was functioning perfectly in all the earlier issues, before worrying about how it looked. In fact this form truly followed the functions. However, when the time came to model the form I tried to make it look as simple as possible but elegant.

No doubt, My supervisor was overwhelmed at how I was able to articulate all the functions , materials, and energy issues and still had a nice looking form. He happily awarded me an A' as well as a special mention to the staff and students.