Believe it or not, it’s normal for skyscrapers to sway. If you were near the top of the world’s tallest skyscraper — the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which has 163 floors — you would feel the building sway about two metres! This swaying doesn’t mean the building is unsafe. Experts say all tall structures are bound to sway a little bit in the wind. But builders have to be sure that super-strong winds don’t topple a skyscraper. So the concrete that’s used to make these tall buildings is strengthened with steel rods and beams. This steel makes up the “skeleton” of the skyscraper. It stops the tall building from swaying too much, helping the structure withstand heavy winds.
For a skyscraper to be stable, it must be built on a strong foundation. The part of the building that’s found below the ground is called the substructure. It supports the entire skyscraper and keeps it standing tall and strong. Workers must blast into the bedrock — the solid rock found deep beneath the soil — to build the sturdy base of the skyscraper. The part of a skyscraper that you see above the ground is known as the superstructure.
Elevators are a must-have in a skyscraper. Imagine how long it would take to reach the 100th floor without travelling by elevator! It’s fair to say that the invention of the elevator in 1852 led to buildings getting taller and taller, paving the way for today’s skyscrapers. Elevators make up the core of the building, which means architects pay close attention to their placement when designing a skyscraper. As for the fastest elevator in the world? It’s found in a building in Shanghai and can transport passengers from the basement to the 119th floor in 53 seconds flat. Zoooom!
It seems bugs have a lot to teach us. Mound termites, which live in Africa, South Asia, and Australia, build mounds that are covered in tiny holes. These holes allow fresh air to enter and cool down the structure. Now architects are studying the termites’ design skills to create a skyscraper with a ventilation system that’ll work like the walls of a termite mound.