THE BANK OF CHINA THE BANK OF CHINA TOWERTOWER
Background InformationBackground Information• Located in the Heart of Downtown Hong KongLocated in the Heart of Downtown Hong Kong• 1208 ft. tall1208 ft. tall• 72 Floors72 Floors• Commercial Use, Bank BranchCommercial Use, Bank Branch• Hybrid of Hancock (X Brace) and Sears Tower Hybrid of Hancock (X Brace) and Sears Tower
(Tapered)(Tapered)• 55thth Tallest When Built Tallest When Built• 1111thth Tallest Currently Tallest Currently• Steel, Concrete, Glass, AluminumSteel, Concrete, Glass, Aluminum• Cost of Construction: Approx. $150 MillionCost of Construction: Approx. $150 Million
• Chinese-AmericanChinese-American• Harvard & MITHarvard & MIT• Famous ArchitectFamous Architect• Most Famous Works Most Famous Works
IncludeInclude– Pyramide du LouvrePyramide du Louvre– Hancock Place (Boston)Hancock Place (Boston)
• Sharp geometrySharp geometry• Conceived Idea for Conceived Idea for
Tower HimselfTower Himself• Worked with Worked with
Robertson previouslyRobertson previously
Leslie RobertsonBerkley- Civil Engineer Owns Structural
Engineering FirmWorld Trade Center
Twin TowersENR Constructions
Man of the Year 1989Figured out how to
Support Pei’s Inventive idea
Utilizes innovative forms (3D Space Truss)
ThesisThe Bank of China Building is the most unique
work of Structural Art of its kind, ever.IM Pei has the ability to create simple yet
unbelievably exciting forms which enthrall the viewer and satisfy the ideals of Society and Symbolism.
Pei’s genius however would never be portrayed if not for the incredible technical imagination of Leslie Robertson, responsible for the Scientific aspects of the building.
Social/EconomicSocial/Economic Very EconomicVery Economic
• $150 Million to Build$150 Million to Build• Uses Much less Steel Uses Much less Steel
than similar buildingsthan similar buildings• Only Excess is Only Excess is
Aluminum CladdingAluminum Cladding Open Floors—Many Open Floors—Many
UsesUses Open to PublicOpen to Public Easily ExperiencedEasily Experienced
Scientific/EfficientScientific/Efficient MaterialsMaterials
• SteelSteel• GlassGlass• AluminumAluminum• ConcreteConcrete
3-D Space 3-D Space Truss DesignTruss Design
Withstands Withstands • Winds 2x NYCWinds 2x NYC• Earthquakes 4x Earthquakes 4x
LALA
Support Column Comparisons
Traditional Tube (Hancock)
Bank of China
Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4
Video
Live Load vs. Height BOC TowerLive Load vs. Height BOC Tower
0
5,000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000
20,000,000
25,000,000
30,000,000
35,000,000
40,000,000
45,000,000
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Height (ft)
Live
Loa
d (lb
s)
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3Tier 4
Load/Column
Symbolic/ElegantSymbolic/Elegant The Pride of ChinaThe Pride of China Designed, Financed Designed, Financed
and Built by Chineseand Built by Chinese Sharp, SmoothSharp, Smooth Visually IntriguingVisually Intriguing UniqueUnique Began Hong Kong Began Hong Kong
Tower RaceTower Race Built and Modified to Built and Modified to
Pass Fung ShuiPass Fung Shui• X’s turned to X’s turned to
DiamondsDiamonds• Chopsticks on topChopsticks on top• Sharp Edges Under Sharp Edges Under
FireFire
Scientific ComparisonScientific Comparison Hancock TowerHancock Tower Cross BracingCross Bracing
• Hancock’s Hancock’s Supports Building Supports Building from Wind Loadsfrom Wind Loads
• BOC’s Supports BOC’s Supports Wind Loads and Wind Loads and Building Forces Building Forces while being more while being more Artistic & Artistic & PleasingPleasing
Hancock uses Hancock uses much more Steelmuch more Steel
Form ComparisonForm Comparison
Sears TowerSears Tower Similar FormSimilar Form
• Bundled TubeBundled Tube• Smaller Towers Smaller Towers
abruptly end as abruptly end as Building RisesBuilding Rises
However BOC However BOC maintains Fluidity as maintains Fluidity as tower risestower rises
BOC more ArtisticBOC more Artistic
Cost ComparisonCost Comparison HSBC TowerHSBC Tower Bank Bank
Headquarters Headquarters Norman Foster Norman Foster
DesignedDesigned Believed $1 Believed $1
Billion CostBillion Cost Same Floor Same Floor
Space as BOCSpace as BOC
Structural Art?Structural Art? YOU KNOW ITYOU KNOW IT First of its kindFirst of its kind Building Integrates Aluminum and Glass as Building Integrates Aluminum and Glass as
oneone Sharp edges as insisted by PeiSharp edges as insisted by Pei Peak Blends into Backdrop (Mt. Victoria)Peak Blends into Backdrop (Mt. Victoria) Geometry is not rigid—Form FlowsGeometry is not rigid—Form Flows Makes you want to experience the building Makes you want to experience the building