Architecture of Tall Buildings (Tall Buildings and Urban Environment)

The tall building has long served as a laboratory for the advancement of modern architectural design. This book examines the effects of architectural needs on the forms and functions of tall buildings and vice versa. It also takes the reader along the typical process of how a tall building is designed, from initial planning and programming with the owner/client on through the actual working design and construction phase, showing the interactions of architects, engineers, construction managers, financiers and owners and developers. The book also covers the use of new building materials and advanced environmental systems - from ultra-strength concrete and composite structural systems to high-efficiency cooling systems. Discussions on the major architects who have left their mark on tall building design are included; amongst these architects are Cesar Pelli, Helmut Jahn and I.M. Pei.