DESIGN OF FOUNDATIONS FOR HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS REPORT 2022

DESIGN OF FOUNDATIONS FOR HIGH-
RISE BUILDINGS
(Source: Emporis, 2019a)
• The height of the tallest buildings in the world has been increasing over the years as
shown above

1. INTRODUCTION
• There has been a rapid increase in the number of high-rise buildings worldwide over the
past few decades due to industrial development, urbanization and urban population
growth.
(Source: Poulos, 2016)

INTRO. CONT.’
Key characteristics of high-rise buildings:
• Have several numbers of storeys (more than seven) that necessitate use of
mechanical vertical transportation system (such as lifts or elevators for occupants to
reach their destination.
• Their height have consequential effect on evacuation.
• Their total height (usually more than 23m) cannot be fully reached by available
fire-fighting equipment.
Today, high-rise buildings are designed for office use, mixed-uses, hotel and
residential uses as shown by the mage in the next slide (Kayvani, 2015).

INTRO. CONT.’
Source: Kayvani, 2015
Some of the tallest buildings in the world are shown by the image in the next
slide.

INTRO. CONT.’
• Providing lateral stability of the building
• Anchoring the building against natural forces like earthquakes
• Protecting the building against undermining, and
• Protecting the building against ground moisture and soil movements
(Ajdukiewicz, et al., 2017).
This report investigates the design of foundations of high-rise buildings with
the purpose of designing a foundation that enhances the structural integrity,
stability, safety and durability of the building.

2. BACKGROUND
• Construction of the first generation of high-rise buildings started in New York and Chicago
in the late 19th century, after these cities had experienced explosive growth and adequate
land was not available to meet the increasing demand for new buildings. The only option
was to build up (vertical buildings).
• The 12-storey Home Insurance Building built by William Le Baron Jenney in 1884 was the
first high-rise building of the industrial era.
(Source: Marshall, 2015)