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21 Case Study Capital Gate Abu Dhabi PDF
21 Case Study Capital Gate Abu Dhabi PDF
org/papers
Subjects: Architectural/Design
Building Case Study
Keywords: Core
Design Process
Façade
Sustainability
Figure 1. Typical section © ADNEC Figure 2. Typical hotel floor plan © ADNEC
Figure 4. Double-height lobby lounge © Devita Villanueva Figure 5. Hotel atrium, looking up © ADNEC
composite floor slabs. Above the base, the framing connections. The core has two The Capital Gate’s wind bracing is designed as
atrium is formed with an internal steel diagrid innovative features: a separate system. Abu Dhabi has light winds,
attached to the core. Steel girders span • During construction a pre-cambered core which Capital Gate counteracts through a
directly between the external and internal was poured slightly off vertical, so when combination of a dense network of core walls
diagrids, creating column-free floor spaces the tower floors were framed in to the and outriggers at the 17th floor mechanical
with typical spans of about 12 meters. opposite side, the added load straightened level, connecting the core to the external
The external diagrid is composed of hollow the tower. diagrid. The tower’s round form and diagrid
square sections 600 x 600 millimeters on a structure provide inherent resistance to
• A post-tensioned core was designed with torsion. At the ground floor, a massive
side. They carry floors four meters high. Each vertical cables in one side tensioned to
diagrid member is a different length, concrete ring beam transfers the thrust of the
counteract the lean on the other side. diagrid into the foundations. It is noteworthy
depending on the angle at which it leans. The These cables were installed in vertical
external diagrid elements are made from that Abu Dhabi is in a low seismic hazard
segments that overlap each other every zone, and the appropriate factors of safety
welded steel plates, 80 millimeters thick at the seven floors. Strung together, they span the
bottom floors, and progressively lightening to and stiffness were applied for structural
entire height of the core to maintain it in a integrity.
40 millimeters at the top floors. The internal perfectly vertical position.
diagrid around the atrium is made of round
steel profiles 400 millimeters in diameter, ...water feature
which are also hollow.
The diagrid connections are nodes located at
“
the floor slab levels where girders frame in.
The external diagrid nodes are also designed
Putting a water feature in a lobby gets you LEED points, but
it doesn’t save energy, doesn’t improve the environment and it
”
for the façade panels to frame on the outside
(see Figure 7). Designers studied these doesn’t change the world.
connection details extensively to optimize
construction, as well as structural integrity. Anthony Malkin, President of Malkin Holdings, owner of the Empire State Building on the building’s
The concrete core occupies the only vertical retrofit. From “An Interview With Empire State Building’s Anthony Malkin: Bike Racks and Showers
Won’t Change the World,” Huffington Post “The Blog,” March 28, 2012 .
space available in the tower profile. It has high
reinforcement levels, especially at the steel
aerodynamic, presenting less resistance to the Partnering Solutions The Guinness world record for “world’s
wind than a rectangular building, thereby furthest leaning manmade tower” has shone a
The huge technical challenges that had to be spotlight on Capital Gate and Abu Dhabi, as
requiring less structure for lateral loads. The confronted in bringing Capital Gate to life
round perimeter encloses space more has a “Megastructures” documentary on
have been overcome through a structured National Geographic Channel (“The Leaning
efficiently than a rectangle, so less façade partnering program. It is a fairly unusual
surface is needed than for a conventional Tower of Abu Dhabi”), broadcast in more than
technique in this part of the world, which 166 countries to an estimated television
floor plate of identical area. The result is that ADNEC has employed with much success on
fewer materials are required for structure and audience of more than 200 million.
all of its construction projects. Essentially, all
façades. This is a reduction in concrete, steel the key organizations working on a project The people of Abu Dhabi feel a sense of
and glass, materials which all have high are located together in one location. The honor in Capital Gate. They are confident
carbon content and embodied energy. architect sits next to the project manager, Capital Gate’s aesthetic splendor and technical
Landscaping around Capital Gate creates a who sits next to the quantity surveyor, who achievement will generate admiration and
vegetated roof over the basement, increasing sits next to the contractor and the rest of the discussions around the world for years.
the thermal insulation and reducing the need team. The objective is simple: to remove
for air conditioning. Native plants are used, confrontation and create a single team
Project Data
which require less irrigation than conventional mentality with one single goal – to get the
landscaping. To further reduce potable water project completed in the most effective way. Completion Date: 2011
use in this desert context, low-flow water JCP International, the partnering consultants Height to Architectural Top: 165 meters
fixtures are installed in the public areas and who worked at a strategic level with the joint Stories: 35
washrooms, including WCs and faucets. leadership team, worked from the project and Total Area: 53,100 square meters
construction management level to the front Primary Uses: Hotel/Office
District cooling is provided by Abu Dhabi
line supervisors and staff to instill a culture of Project Developer: ADNEC Group
Municipality, a more energy-efficient means
collaborative working within and across Architect: RMJM
of obtaining chilled water than installing
organizational boundaries. Structural Engineer: RMJM
chillers on site. The chilled water is distributed
MEP Engineer: RMJM
by variable speed pumping, which reduces
Façade Consultant: Hyder Consulting
energy use in operating the air conditioning. Conclusion Landscape Consultant: Al Khatib Cracknell
Heat recovery wheels reduce energy use for
While clearly a unique structure was built Main Contractor: Al Habtoor Engineering
ventilation by exchanging hot and cool air
using some of the world’s most advanced Steel Contractor: Eversendai
during the intake and exhaust process. Energy
construction techniques, ADNEC believes the Façade Contractor: Waagner Biro
monitoring and controls in the Building
tower’s appeal goes far beyond an Project Manager: Mace
Maintenance System further reduce energy
use by implementing efficient operation of architectural and engineering marvel.
lighting, air conditioning and other power- Functionality and purpose have been a prime
consuming and heat-generating functions. focus.