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Arch 613-Structures research Prof. Goetz Schierle
Term Project Phase I: Case Study Fall 2001
Commerzbank- Frankfurt,Germany
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
Sreemathi Iyer Oct 16
th
2001
Suganya Thiagarajan
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Architect : Sir Norman Foster and Partners
Client : Commerzbank Ag
Structural Engineer : Ove Arup & Partners
Year Completed : May,1997
Occupancy Type : Office
Construction type : Mixed(reinforced concrete
foundation,steel frame with
vierendeel principle)
Height : 258.7 metres(853.71 feet);298.74
metres(985.8 feet) upto the top of
Antenna
Stories : 63
Area : 120,736 sqm(1,314,815 sq ft)
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Design Analysis- general aspects
concept - layers of transparency surrounding the workplace.
Europe's tallest office building at 60 stories and just under 300 m
stepped top of the building has a strong visual impact from a long
distance- a distinct symbol for the banking district
claims to be the greenest
has gardens in the sky
operable windows for ventilation
triangular tower incorporates passive lighting and climate control
systems, including chilled ceilings for cooling
Structural columns, staircases, elevators, and utilities are located at
the corners, leaving the building's core open as a continuous atrium
and natural ventilation shaft.
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Design Analysis- Floor Plan organization
floor plan of the tower is an equilateral triangle(each side
approximately 64 meters) with rounded corners and slightly convex
sides
floors of the building as well as the cores at the three corners are
organized around the central atrium
Each floor has three wings, two of which serve as office
villages; the third forms part of one of the 4-story-high sky
gardens
atrium is separated horizontally every 12-storeys at the village
boundaries to limit stack pressures and smoke spread
principal entrance to the new tower is from the north, up a grand
flight of stairs
The tower makes an open and transparent impression thanks to
the atrium, which is also triangular in shape
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
Plan - Level 1
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
Plan - Level 19
Plan - Level 27
Plan - Level 11
Plans of different levels
with the garden in each
wing of the building
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
Typical floor Plan
Plan - Level 51 and 52
Plan - Level 43
the total height rose to 221 m at its
western core
A penthouse for mechanical
systems and an antenna extend the
tower's total height to 300 m (984
feet).
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
Construction progress in lower
floors
Two storey high link frames that
connect the main composite
megacolumns
Picture taken during construction
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
Passenger lifts in each core serve a distinct group of floors
the combined service/firemens lifts in the north and west
cores stop at every level
interchanges at levels 7,19 and 35 simplify travel between
floors for those people working in the building
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
Though the basic theme is
followed, variations in the choice
of plants and in the planting
layouts ensure no two gardens are
alike
Generous interior "sky gardens" are a
fundamental element in the architect's conception
There are nine 14m high gardens spiraling up
the atrium in plan
gardens change in design and vegetation
according to orientation: three each facing
eastwards, southwards and westwards
As each garden faces a different direction, the
microclimate of each is also different
Botanically,the vegetation reflects the
geographical orientation:
-gardens facing eastward are Asian, with
bamboo, magnolias, hydrangea and oriental pines
-southward are Mediterranean, with citrus and
olive trees, thyme and lavender
-western gardens are North American, with
grasses, maple, rhododendrons and cedar
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
gardens to be used by the employees for relaxation, lunch
breaks and meetings
Through the atrium and the gardens, a direct relationship is
established with the outside and natural lighting is provided
for
the atrium offices
The gardens provide the inner offices with daylight
they create a feeling of openness and space and form part
of the system of natural ventilation
Energy consumption is also minimized by the reduction in
heat transfer between the gardens and atria offices
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Natural Ventilation
The building was designed to function in the mixed mode- i.e. both
natural and artificial ventilation
Requires 160 days of of air conditioning in a year
Atrium designed as a giant chimney, using stack effect to draw in air
through openings
The building is divided into 12-storey high sections by decks which
have gardens on each face of the triangle.
Windward gardens admit air and leeward gardens exhaust it
Occupants have the power to control their environment by manually
opening windows
Offices on external facades can be naturally ventilated by openable
windows
Internal offices facing atrium naturally ventialted by the air that flows
through the atrium
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Air-conditioning:
A new system introduced for Cooling - separation of the
cooling and ventilation processes
Coolness is provided by water and not air, as water as a higher
specific capacity
Also water can be re-circulated and so the cooling medium is
not thrown away
Chilled floors are provided to act as negative radiators
Indicator lights to to notify occupants of the ventilation mode -
natural or mechanical
Heating:
Heating is provided by ordinary thermostaically controlled
panel radiators
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Structure:
Designed as a hollow tube standing on end
Two major structural elements - corner columns and eight-
storey high bridge-like steel structures
Concentration of vertical loads on the perimeter to get best
resistance for horizontal loads
Spiral configuration of gardens to maintain structural
stiffness, every fourth floor is continuous to act a stiffening
diaphragm
To have column-free gardens, further concentration of
loads on the corners of the triangle necessary.
Six main columns, two in each corner, made up of two H-
section steel members
Foundation consists of 111 piles clustered in 3 groups
resting on a relatively stable layer of porous limestone
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
Section through office
cladding
Plan - Level 51 and 52
Picture shows the ventilation
cavity office cladding
Office cladding highlighting
the small aerofoil section
positioned above and below
the ventilation slots to
improve the air flow
During construction
cladding was done in all 3
sides simultaneously but at
different levels
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Commerzbank - Frankfurt,Germany
Seismic Factors
C
t
= 0.035
R
w
= 9 (Special Braced Frame)
Wind Factors
Wind Speed = 70 mph
Exposure factor = C
Site Conditions
Flat
Prototype for an Ecological High-Rise
