The impact of service core reduction in supertall buildings: a study on structural design, embodied carbon, and leasable floor area

Abstract

Optimizing the building core is a fundamental goal in tall building design The area dedicated to elevators, which are among the most area-consuming elements in the core, might be considerably reduced with recent technological advancements. This study investigates the trade-offs of core reduction resulting from the elevator footprint decrease in supertall buildings since the core usually serves as a significant member of the structural system. An analytical model with an outriggered frame system representative of supertall office buildings is generated, and then a second model is reproduced by reducing its core. Structurally modified reduced core models satisfying lateral drift limits are produced and evaluated in terms of architectural, economic, and environmental aspects. The results showed that a gain in the leasable area is possible but at the expense of higher cumulative embodied carbon and material consumption. These outcomes provide a comprehensive perspective for structural design considerations, particularly core optimization for tall buildings with outriggers.