Analysis and Design of a 47-story Reinforced Concrete Structure Futian Shangri-La Hotel Tower

Authors:
Dennis C.K. Poon P.E., Managing Principal, Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.
dpoon@thorntontomasetti.com
Ling-en Hsiao, PhD, Principal, Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. lhsiao@thorntontomasetti.com
Steve Zuo, PE. Associate, Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. szuo@thorntontomasetti.com

ABSTRACT:

The objective of this paper is to give a brief

introduction of the structural design
consideration, the lateral force-resisting
system, sloping outer concrete columns,
long span post-tensioned transfer girder and
other design challenges for this project.

Many of the challenges in the design of this

project are stated as follows: (1). A dual
lateral structural system exterior perimeter
moment frame with core wall is adopted.
(2). To enhance the seismic ductile behavior
of the concrete frame columns, particularly
for the sloping columns starting from level
35 as part of an architectural requirement,
column with additional confined central
reinforcement is used due to high
compressive load ratio in the columns. (3).
High-strength concrete is extensively used
in the columns and core walls at low zone.
(4). Deep beams at MEP level at level 35 act
as outriggers to control the story drift due to
severe wind loads. (5). Local bell-out design
at end of interior diagonal beams is used to
resolve the shear problem without increasing
the beam depth. (6). 30m long span Posttensioned girders are used for the columnfree ballrooms and transfer girder structure
to support an average of 1.5m thick soil on
landscape roof and one retail floor.

Figure 1a for Elevation View

1.0

INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Located in the south of central business district in Shenzhen and when completed in year 2008
with the highest point of the structure standing at 190.85m, the Futian Shangri-la Hotel project is
amongst the tallest concrete buildings in the city of Shenzhen. The project site is a L shape,
approximately 115m in length and 88m in width. (See Figure 1 for Site Plan)
This mix-used development is between Fuhua road and Yi Tian road, which includes a 47-story
tall hotel tower, two 100-meter tall 30-story office towers, a 3-story underground car-park, and a
5-story podium. The 5-story podium level includes retail, restaurants and long span structure a
30m wide Ball room.

Figure 1a for Site Plan

The tower is approximately 190m tall, with a comparatively small 40 m by 40m footprint.
At levels 27, the exterior concrete columns start to bend inward. Per China code requirement for
safety, two refuges/MEP levels in the tower are required and located at Level 12 and level 26F.
There are additional two MEP levels located above Level 5 and Level 36. At upper floor (Elev.
184.8m), a 20mx20m helicopter platform is designed to receive a 10ton chopper landing for VIP
guests. The design life of the structure is 50years. The towers architectural features posed many
2

challenges and required the creative use of the technologies and cutting edge innovations. (See
Figure 2 for Hotel Tower Rendering and Tower Construction Photo)

Hotel
Tower
Office
Tower

Figure 2 for Hotel Tower Rendering and Tower Construction Photo

2.0

DESIGNING THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

2.1

Foundation System and Geotechnical Conditions

From the ground level progressing down, the strata are as follow: fill, clay/silt, sand,
median coarse sand, clay, sand with rocks, intensively decomposed rock, moderately
decomposed rock, and slightly decomposed rock. Elevation of various strata varies through out
the site.
The B3 level elevation is -13.6m, the bottom of excavation of the tower is -17.6m and 24.6 for the bottom of the elevator shafts in the core. At the bottom of lowest basement level
(24.6m below ground level). Based on the recommendation from geotechnical report and
structural analysis results, slightly decomposed rock (bearing characteristic value =9000kPa) can
be the bearing strata for the tower. The slightly decomposed rock can be found from 33.2m to
62m below ground level. (See Figure 3 for the contour SDR and Elevation).

FIGURE 3 The SDR contour and Elevation

The length of the piles will exceed
35m even calculating from the bottom of the
excavation. Hand dug caissons with
diameter varying from 1.2m to 3.1m were
found to be the most economical solutions
for the foundation. A raft is provided under
the central core of the tower to spread the
loads to the caissons. (See Figure 4 for
Tower Foundation Plan and Construction
Photo)

The podium caissons are founded on

Moderately Decomposed Granite with
smaller bearing capacity

Any foundation design must consider

its strength and serviceability. Strength was
addressed through pile diameters and
lengths, engaging enough friction or end
bearing capacity to resist the anticipated
loads. A larger challenge on this project
was serviceability considering foundation
settlement. The diameters of the caisson
vary to maintain the same stress level. But
the stress level between caissons supporting
the tower and podium could be different.

FIGURE 4a- Tower Pile Construction

FIGURE 4b- TOWER FOUNDATION AND PILE LAYOUT

FIGURE 4 TOWER BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION SITE

2.2

Gravity System

The typical floor footprint represents a 40mX40m square with rounded corner. The
typical exterior columns are symmetrically spaced from 9.6m to 10.3m in both directions. The
span between the exterior perimeter columns and interior core walls is 10.3 m. To achieve the
most economical gravity floor system, several gravity floor systems were studied. See Table 1
for the schemes studied.
Among all of the gravity floor systems studied, a typical two-way framed beam and slab
approach (Scheme 1) was selected, with 160 mm thick slabs, as the most economical and
practical solution consistent with desired ceiling heights and story heights.
The typical perimeter moment frame consists of concrete girders 650 x 650mm (H)
framing to columns. Typical interior beams spaced 4.8m on center of perimeter girders with size
of 600mmx650mm (H). The beam depth-to-span ratio is 15.8. This is very high for cast-in-place
conventionally reinforced concrete gravity beams. To improve their stiffness and reduce
deflections under gravity load, all of the gravity-bearing beams are framed rigidly into the core
walls, as the walls offer ample strength and stiffness anyway for lateral load resistance.
Because perimeter spandrel girders are not specifically reinforced to resist torsion, filler
beams framing to them were considered as pinned at that end. Thus one end of the beams was
released in the girder side and the other end of the beams was fixed in the walls. (See Figures 5a
and 5b) This approach meant filler beams could not frame to coupling beams between core
walls, leading to some beam skews.
Possibilities for making beam framing and formwork more regular such as parallel or
radial beam layouts were studied, but it introduced adverse compromises not justified by
potential savings. The shapes of floor edges and core walls also did not support repetitious
patterns. So formwork repetition is possible floor by floor, but not within a floor.
TABLE 1 - FLOOR SYSTEM STUDY AND COMPARISON
ITEM
Beam Depth
Construction
Speed
Construction
Coordination
Construction
Ability

SCHEME 1
Two Ways Slab
with Filler Beam
650 mm
Normal & more
form works
No coordination
required
Common practice

Cost and Other cheapest

factors to be
considered

SCHEME 2
Deck with Steel
Beams
600 mm with
deck
Faster
Coordination
required
Not common
practice
Much high than
Concrete
Schemes

SCHEME 3
Concrete Two-way
Slab
280 mm slab

SCHEME 4
Two-way Posttensioned Slab
215 mm slab

Normal & least

form works
No coordination
required
Not common
practice

Slower

Needs high
reinforcement.

Coordination
required
Limited
contractor
Higher than all
of the other
concrete slab
schemes.

FIGURE 5a - TYPICAL HOTEL FLOOR FRAMING AND REINFORCEMENT FROM SATWE MODEL

FIGURE 5b HOTEL TOWER LOWER FLOOR CONSTRUCTION PHOTO

2.3

Lateral Load Resisting System

2.3.1

Description of the Dual System and Design Considerations:

The design of the lateral system was based on several parameters including, but not
limited to, desired structural lateral stiffness, typical floor center of the rigidity compared to
center of mass and structural dynamic properties. The primary lateral load-resisting system for
this building is a core with coupled concrete shear walls plus a perimeter concrete moment frame
to create a dual system as required for such height
Several considerations prompted the design team to use the dual system. First, per China
Technical Specification for Concrete Structures of Tall Buildings JGJ 3-2002, a dual system is
requested for structures with Class B height (below 180m but higher than 150m). Second, the
architectural layout design permitted closed perimeter frames between perimeter columns. As a
result, the perimeter moment frame with concrete core meets the requirements of dual system.
High-strength concrete C60 (approximate fc = 7.4 ksi) was used for the concrete
columns and shear walls from B3 to Level 26 to minimize the column size and wall thicknesses.
In addition, the concrete columns are designed for high compressive axial force ratio by adding
confined central reinforcement to improve the seismic performance and ductile requirement (See
Figure 5 for Typical Concrete Reinforcement Details).
In an effort to maximize the tenant spaces, core wall thicknesses were minimized. As
part of this effort, the contribution of floor beams between exterior columns and cores walls was
studied to see if they could function as additional moment frames. They were found capable of
contributing 3 to 4% to overall building lateral resisting stiffness.
The concrete core provides most of the lateral stiffness for the structure. For efficiency,
the exterior flange walls are thicker and act as I flanges in tension and compression. The web
walls, in contrast, are just 0.4 m (1.6 ft) thick to some shear forces. Table 2 summarizes sizes of
the shear wall thickness and Column Sizes In Table 2. .
TABLE 2 - SHEAR WALLS AND TYPICAL COLUMN SIZES
Floor
Level
B3-5F
6F-11F
12F-18F
19F-22F
23F-26F
27F-32F
33F-39F
40F-43F
44F-TOP

CORE WALL
Flange
Web
Wall
Wall
( mm)
(mm)
700
400
700
400
400
700
400
600
400
600
400
500
400
400
400
400
400
400

COLUMN

BXH (m)
1.6X2 1.6x1.6
1.4X2- 1.5x1.5
1.1X2 1.4x1.4
0.8X2 1.2x1.2
0.8X2 - 1.1x1.1
0.8X1.5 - 1x1
0.8X1.2 -0.9x0.9
0.8X1.2 0.85x0.85
0.6X0.8 0.8x0.8

Compressive
Axial Force
Ratio
0.76
0.72
0.74
0.80
0.72
0.77
0.84
0.54
0.55

Conc. Strength
C60
C60
C60
C60
C60
C60
C50
C50
C40

The decision to use conventional cast-in-place concrete framing, a lateral system

primarily based on concrete core walls and gravity framing with two-way slabs and beams
resulted in an economical and functional building constructed exclusively using local labor and
materials.

FIGURE 6 - STRUCTURAL 3D ETABS MODEL AND TOWER CONSTRUCTION VIEW

2.3.2

Response Spectrum and Elastic Time History Analysis Results

Two computer models were used in the project: The preliminary results from SATWE
and ETABS are used to verify the building periods, floor mass, wind forces, seismic forces and
story drifts. Response spectrum analysis was used in the seismic force design for reinforcement
determination for all of the structural elements. The following Tables and graphics are the
summary of the analysis results.
TABLE 3 Primary Building Periods Summary
Tx
Ty
Tt
SATWE
3.861
3.754
2.373*
ETABS
3.889
3.318
1.815

Direction
Wind X
Wind Y
EQ X
EQ Y

Direction
EQ X
EQY

TABLE 4 Story Drift Summary

Story Drift
SATWE
ETABS
1/1370
1/1127
max/h
Floor No
48
35
1/1388
1/1404
max/h
Floor No
max/h

48
1/1609

34
1/1855

Floor No
max/h
Floor No

48
1/1605
48

35
1/2226
34

TABLE 5 Building Horizontal Irregularities Check

SATWE
Umax/Uave
Floor no
Umax/Uave
Floor no

Tower

1.28
4
1.20
4

There time history spectrums have been selected for the elastic time history analysis. The
following are the summary of the results:

FIGURE 7 Deflections

10

FIGURE 8 Inter-Story Drifts

FIGURE 9 EQ Story Shear Response

11

2.4

Podium Structure and Long Span Post-tensioned Transfer Girders

The podium structure housing the

hotels grand ballrooms presented another
challenge to the structural engineer: the
column-free ballroom called for a 30m-span
floor structure with the smallest structural
depth possible. Added to the challenge is
that the long-span structure has to support an
average of 1.5 meter thick soil for roof
landscaping. Again several schemes had
been considered: structural steel trusses,
concrete-steel composite beams, and posttensioned girders.
The structural steel
scheme was rejected as being the most
costly option.
Balancing between the
remaining options of composite and posttensioned design, the former was more
favorable at first because of its more
prevalent use. The post-tensioned concrete
option, though quite widely use in civil
structures in China, is seldom used in
commercial buildings. Nonetheless, upon
more detailed structural analysis and cost
evaluation, TT was convinced that the posttensioned concrete design would present a
more economical solution yet provide higher
headroom for the ballroom. Several posttensioned concrete specialist sub-contractors
were interviewed until adequate number of
potential tenderers with capability to carry

out the task was confirmed before a final

decision was reached.
Construction of the post-tensioned
podium structure is now complete and it
stands as one of few such structures in the
private sector in China.

FIGURE 10 Transfer Girder Moment

Diagram under Dead Load and Live Load

TABLE 6 30m LONG SPAN GIRDER AND TRANSFER GIRDER STUDY AND COMPARISON
ITEM
30m Long Span Girder
30m Transfer Girder
Construction Ability

SCHEME 1
Conventional
moment frame
1.2(B)x3.0m(H)
1.4(B)x3.8m(H)

SCHEME 2
Steel encased
composite girder
1.0(B)x2.5m(H)
1.2(B)x2.8m(H)

SCHEME 3
Posttension
girder
1.2(B)x2.5m(H)
1.4(B)x2.8m(H)

SCHEME 4
Steel truss and
column
2.5m(H)
2.8m(H)

Common
practice

Not common
practice

Limited
contractor

Limited
contractor

Much high than

Scheme 1

Slightly higher
one but
architectural
desired.

Highest

Cost and Other factors cheapest

to be considered

12

2.4

Special Details for Bell-out Beam End,

Concrete column with central
reinforcement and Sloping Column

The shear capacity of the diagonal

interior beam exceeds the maximum beam shear
capacity at the end connection to the core walls.
To solve this problem without widening the
beam width, a bell-out type detail is designed
and detailed at the beam connection at the four
corners of the core wall (See Figure 11).
FIGURE 11 Bell-out Beam Connection

Figure 12 Central Reinforcement in columns

From the table 2 above, some column

compressive axial force ratios have exceed the
maximum 0.75 for Class I structure per China
National Seismic Design Code (GB 50011) and
architect prefers to keep the column sizes as
small as possible in certain floor level because
of the architectural layout. To solve this
problem, Composite scheme -Steel encased in
concrete and Scheme with adding Central
reinforcement in columns can be considered in
the design. Obviously the second option will be
cheapest to be selected by the engineer as the
best economical solutions (Refer to Figure 12).

The concrete column starts to slope inwards

from third floor. Although it is common
practice for most of the steel structures,
sloping concrete columns are used and the
additional moment due to the offset of the
column loads have been studied and
additional reinforcement is added in the
outer sloping column. (Refer to Figure 13).

Figure 12 Sloping Column Illustration

13

3.0

CONCLUSION

As a sub-consultant to Canwest Consultants Ltd., a local Hong Kong engineering firm,

Thornton Tomasettis main scope of work included the design of the 180-meter tall hotel tower
and the long-span podium structure.
Futian Shangri-La project provides an excellent example of high rise design and
construction under challenging conditions, including severe typhoon wind load, sloping outer
column, heavy loaded post tensioned transfer girder and a conservative building code. The
design team achieved economical structural solutions without compromising aesthetic design
integrity. The result is a beautiful new landmark for the City of ShengZhen.
4.0

CREDITS

The authors would like to thank that project manger C. Tam, Len Joseph, Zhu Yi, Torsten
Gottlebe, Jase Wong, Tian Chuan Lin, Charles Mui, William Chung, and others for their work
during design and would like to thank Jase Wong and Tian Gong for their work during design
and construction, especially to Torsten Gottlebe for his tremendous work on this project.
5.0

REFERENCES
1. ASCE 7-95 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, 1995, New
York, NY, American Society of Civil Engineers
2. ACI 318-95 Building Code Requirements for Reinforcement Concrete 1995.
American Concrete Institute.
3. JGJ 3-2002 Technical Specification for concrete structures of tall buildings, 2002,
China National Building Code
4. JGJ 99-98 Technical Specification for steel structures of tall buildings, 1999, China
National Building Code
5. GB50010-2003 Code for design of concrete structures, 2003, China National Building
Code
6. GB50011-2001 Code for seismic design of buildings, 2001, China National Building
Code

6.0
1.

AUTHORSS INFOMRATION
Dennis C.K. Poon P.E., Managing Principal, Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. 51 Madison
Aveune, New Yrok, NY 10010 dpoon@thorntontomasetti.com Phone: (917)-661-7800
Ling-en Hsiao, PhD, Principal, Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. 51 Madison Aveune, New Yrok,
NY 10010 lhsiao@thorntontomasetti.com Phone: (917)-661-7800
Steve Zuo, PE. Senior Associate, Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. 51 Madison Aveune, New
Yrok, NY 10010 szuo@thorntontomasetti.com Phone: (917)-661-7800

2.
3.

14