Visitors take the elevator up the top floor’s observatory deck to see the breathtaking city panorama. Families and couples dine or drink champagne by the window glistening with city lights. It is the celebratory scene of US National Skyscraper Day on September 3.

This rather glamorous day commemorates the birthday of an American architect, Louis H. Sullivan also known as “father of skyscrapers” who built one of the earliest. Since then, the onset of skyscraper construction has brought about the advanced construction technology around major cities of the world.

As skyscrapers are typically approximately 40 floors (492 ft, 150 m) or taller, its construction involves impeccable framework and state-of-the-art technology for upmost safety— to support its weight and protect its habitants from natural disasters. To achieve such a feat calls for steel, the sole material relied for its unique high-strength-to-weight ratio.

Empire State Building, Landmark of the City that Never Sleeps

Originated from “Empire State”, the nickname of New York, this sparkly landmark featured in the silver screen to popular songs is the prestigious international icon of New York City. A reason why we are probably most familiar with this particular skyscraper. Located at the heart of Manhattan, the west side of Fifth Avenue, the multi-colored tower lights of the Empire State Building take the lead in decorating the city’s night skyline. Originally built as a symbol of hope during the nation struggling through the Great Depression, this famed landmark has been recorded as the tallest building in the world for 40 years in between 1931 to 1971 with its magnificent 102-story status and height reaching up to 1,454 feet (443.2 m) including its antenna.

All the while it had exceeded the height of the tallest skyscraper in the vicinity, the Chrysler Building, by as much as 204 feet. It took a tremendous amount of manpower of 3,000 workers to complete the construction in record time—as short as 13 months. The Empire State Building set the record as the tallest skyscraper in the world, a title retained until the completion of the World Trade Center in 1972.

Visitors to the 360-degree open-air observation deck on 86th and 102nd floor observatory attracts around 4 million visitors where expansive sunrise and night view of the entire city and beyond is visible, overlooking the Central Park, Hudson River, and Statue of Liberty.

Designed to withstand the building’s heavy gravitational pull and strong winds, the structural frame of the building took 57,000 tons of steel columns and beams that formed a 3-D grid throughout.

Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the Mega Tower Overlooking the Earth

Located in the exuberant city of Dubai, this thin, needle-shaped skyscraper is gaining more and more prestige each year as millions of visitors marvel at its glamorous status of 829.8 meters (2,722 feet). This $1.5 billion-worth super scraper is currently the tallest architecture in the world since its construction in 2009. Taking five years to complete, more than 12,000 workers took part in the process for what is twice the height of Empire State Building and three times that of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

This superstructure taking center stage in the scenes of “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”(2011) where Tom Cruise pulls an edgy stunt scene moving about the walls of the building with suction gloves, gaining further worldwide stardom.

The city’s breathtaking skyline is observed  from “At the Top” deck on the 124th floor where the neighboring country, Iran’s shores can be seen during days of high visibility. In the making of this magnificent structure, 31,400 metric tons of steel rebar was used.

Lotte World Tower, Guaranteed Security among the Clouds

POSCO provided 41,000 ton-worth of high-strength steel for the construction of Lotte World Tower(Source: Tourmate)

Soaring 555 meters into the clouds, Lotte World Tower situated in Jamsil, Seoul, is the fifth tallest skyscraper built incorporating the newest cutting-edge technology. It is the home to world’s highest glass-floored observation deck creating a thrilling sensation of vertigo on the 117th to 118th floor. The observation deck reveals Seoul’s mountainous landscape afar during the day.

Leading edge construction technology from around the world was integrated into the process, and POSCO’s exclusive technology played a considerable part in the project. Thick plates (usually over 100 mm) applied in the domestic market was no more than 80 mm. However, to construct the highest building in the domestic scene, POSCO supplied 41,000 ton-worth of 120 mm thick plates and HSA800 high-strength steel. HSA800 is POSCO’s world premium product of which is highly suitable as the construction material for high-rise buildings. Even a 1mm² amount of HSA800 could support a human being weighing 80 kg (176 lb) without trouble.

Shanghai Tower, the World’s Greenest Skyscraper

Shanghai Building is spotlighted as a sustainable mega-tall tower(Source: Asiantowers)

China’s tallest, and the second tallest in the world, the Shanghai Tower is one of the recent high-rise construction recognized for its efforts in sustainable architecture. Towering 632 meters high, this China’s newest architectural invention prides on the world’s fastest elevators, highest hotel, and restaurants, as well as the tallest observation deck.

By reducing the amount of construction material needed by 25 percent, it saved approximately $58 million in construction costs. It collects rainwater and reduces wastewater for energy conservation while combining the cooling and heating power system that cuts tons from carbon footprint. Furthermore, the engineers installed 200 wind turbines at the top of the power which generates about 10 percent of the building’s electricity.

Quintessential Steel in High-rise Buildings

Use of steel delivers a range of advantages aside from stability. High-tech steel used for construction enables thinner walls making for more spacious interiors and more windows. The most crucial element is the safety aspect which steel delivers. Natural disasters pose a great threat to tall buildings from typhoons to fire hazards. As the quality of steel high-strength steel used in the construction of mega buildings is high, the resilience and ductility provide a significant advantage.

POSCO’s exclusive technology, HAS high-strength steel is an example of a material that is resistant to earthquakes. It is 1.7 times stronger than regular steel while 30 percent lighter in weight. A perfect high-strength steel that absorbs strong vibration.

In Japan, the country often hit by earthquakes, high strength steel is highly preferable for good welding and economic value. Up to 880 N/mm² in yield strength (tensile strength 1,000 N/mm²) is highly preferred.

The tense competition for reaching new heights in mega-tall buildings are still underway. Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower will soon become the tallest in ranking, setting aside Burj Khalifa. Its expected height reaches above 1,000 meters, and Dubai’s Creek Tower is expected to be completed in 2021 as an observation tower rising up at 1,300 meters. With the advent of Jeddah Tower towering above 1 km, an even newer era of skyscrapers will begin where steel frames will play an even more significant part of the future’s architecture—raising efficiency in limited city spaces while creating installation artwork befitting in the creation of the Megacity.

Having discovered the architectural wonders of the world that have reached new heights through the application of steel, a tour to any of the tall buildings may now hold new meaning. Cheers to the pinnacle of human design.

Scientists predict 2018 may be a tumultuous year for earthquakes. (Source: Take Two)

As structural damage is the leading cause of injury and deaths during an earthquake, architects, engineers and builders need to make sure buildings are built with the right materials and design.  

SEE ALSO: What it Takes to Build a Natural-Disaster-Proof House

The Materials

The most dangerous type of earthquakes are ones that trigger horizontal movements, because tall buildings are better at resisting vertical loads than horizontal ones. These ground motions can damage building foundations in a matter of minutes, causing severe injuries and deaths. Building a structure to withstand seismic waves starts with the right materials with the right properties, and steel is by far the most widely used material for building earthquake-resistant buildings.

According to the World Steel Association, ductile buildings are safer as they dissipate energy from seismic waves. A building will typically have ductile parts that can undergo plastic deformations without complete structural failure during an earthquake. Steel is the most common type of material for such parts.

Moreover, due to the law of inertia, the lighter the building, the less force seismic waves will exert on the building. That’s why it’s important, especially for taller buildings, to be made of light and flexible materials such as steel that can “bend” with the movement of earthquakes. On average, multi-story steel buildings are 60 to 70 percent lighter and 10 times stronger than concrete-framed buildings of the same size.

The Design

With steel, builders can add vital designs and reinforcements to keep the structure standing through an earthquake. Here’s some of the most widely-used measures.

Cross braces transfer the force of an earthquake to the ground. (Source: Earthquakes in India)

The structural integrity of buildings can be reinforced with steel cross braces that frame the exterior of a building in an x-shape. Ultimately cross braces can transfer the force of seismic waves back down to the ground, instead of letting the building take the hit. Builders can also reinforce the walls of buildings with additional vertical walls, or shear walls, that add stiffness to the frame of the building, allowing it to resist swaying or horizontal movements.

Base isolators absorb much of the shock of seismic waves. (Source: Embelton)

Base isolation involves separating the building from the foundation so that the isolators to absorb shock from the earthquake. The isolators allow the building to move at a slower pace because they dissolve a large part of the shock. Moment-resisting frames also effectively dissipate energy from floors and roofs to the building’s foundation and the stiff yet flexible frames can change shape during an earthquake. Although more costly, moment-resisting frames enable buildings to withstand an earthquake with excessive horizontal movement.

Putting it into practice with POSCO’s Steel House

In September 2017, Young Bae Kim’s home in Gyeongju province, Korea was hit with a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, just 8.9 km from where the earthquake started. Surprisingly, Kim’s home was unscathed. “I could feel the ground shake, but the house was completely under control.” Kim expressed.

Kim lives in one of the Steel Houses built by POSCO employees who volunteer to build homes and bridges for communities in need. Each Steel House is made with POSCO’s lightweight structural steel known for its durability, fire resistance and vibration resistance. The homes also incorporate PosMAC, a specialized galvanized steel that is 5 to 10 times more corrosion-resistant than standard steel and is more durable and affordable.

POSCO Employees volunteer their time to build steel houses in rural communities.

Because all the Steel Houses survived the Gyeongju earthquake while other homes were damaged, more and more people in Korea are choosing steel for their homes over traditional building materials such as wood and concrete. The same trend can be observed in Japan, where earthquakes are much more frequent. In order to build more earthquake-resistant buildings, steel is still the best solution available.

Cover photo courtesy of CNN.

Steel and Skyscrapers: A Brief History

The history of skyscrapers dates back to the second half of the 19th century when steel became a cornerstone of the world’s industrial economy. Steel framing and steel reinforced concrete made “curtain-wall” architecture possible, which led to the world’s first skyscrapers. Steel further evolved the capabilities of skyscrapers, allowing them to reach new heights. From the humble beginnings of the first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, built in Chicago in 1895 and standing 42m, skyscrapers now reach extraordinary heights.

Here are the four tallest skyscrapers in four of the regions of the world today. 

Burj Khalifa, Dubai, Middle East

Rising to 829.8m over the gulf city of Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. Designed by Skidmore Owings and Merill (SOM), the Burj Khalifa used a bundled tube design and a composite of steel and concrete to reach its record height. The Burj Khalifa employed a bundled tube system which is a system of construction that uses an interconnected frame of steel tubes. Thirty-nine thousand tons of steel rebar was needed for the construction. The Burj Khalifa houses a mix of residential, corporate and retail space.

Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, Asia

Standing 632m, the 128-story Shanghai Tower is located in Shanghai’s financial district of Lujiazui, Pudong in China. Though currently still under construction, following its topping out in 2013, the Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the second-tallest building in the world, surpassed only by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The Shanghai Tower is the tallest of a group of three adjacent supertall buildings in Pudong and is composed of three important design strategies, the asymmetry of the tower’s shape, its tapering profile and its rounded corners, all of which will allow it to withstand typhoon wind forces common in Shanghai. 

One World Trade Center, New York, North America

Designed by the same firm that designed the Burj Khalifa, the 104-story One World Trade Center reaches a height of 417m. Including the spire, its total height is 541m (1,776 ft.), a tribute to 1776, the year the U.S. won its independence. Surpassing the Willis Tower (formerly Sear’s Tower) in Chicago, the One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the U.S. The tower’s structure is designed around a strong, but lightweight, steel frame made of beams and columns. The lighter structures enabled savings in greenhouse gases and a 30 percent decrease in carbon emissions during construction. There are 70 elevators and nine escalators in the One World Trade Center. (Image: http://bit.ly/1DsqmBK)

The Shard, London, European Union

The Shard is a 72-story glass pyramid tower, rising above the city of London. It was completed in 2012, and stands 245m. The design uses an intelligent combination of steel and concrete. Steel structures were used from the ground floor to the 40th floor. From there to the 69th floor, concrete replaces the framing material, before the design reverts back to steel. Construction required 12,000 tons of steel.

As the world continues to grow and urbanize the ability to adapt building structures and materials will continue to evolve. Steel will continue to be essential in helping the world’s buildings reach new heights.

The infographic below shows how each of these four gravity-defying structures compare. See how each stack up in height and the amount of steel necessary to make each possible. (Image: http://bit.ly/1eUAFTc)

Both individuals and corporations must become more environmentally responsible, being mindful of the levels of waste water, trash and emissions produced both at home and in the office. Considering these factors in the architectural designs of the future, we can ensure a healthy and sustainable planet. Yet, a number of buildings are a step ahead and have already incorporated sustainability into their own designs, setting the precedent for future architectural endeavors. On this World Environment Day, let’s take a look at a few of them.

Northeast Asia Trade Tower (NEATT)

Standing 68 stories tall, the Northeast Asia Trade Tower in Songdo International Business District, Incheon, is the tallest structure in South Korea. It is also the crown jewel of POSCO’s leading innovative technology, utilizing revolutionary features such as a 3D exterior design, a seismic force resisting system and high level security and anti-disaster measures.

Yet, NEATT, which is a mix of office spaces, a luxury hotel, serviced residences and retail stores, also serves as a model of sustainable design strategies, carefully balancing energy conservation, increased indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort. Its range of passive design strategies, which include daylighting, natural ventilation and energy efficient HVAC systems, as well as its eco-friendly, non-toxic construction materials, have ensured that the skyscraper is not only friendly to the environment, but to its human inhabitants, too.

Monte Rosa Hut

Perched above the skiing mecca of Zermatt, Switzerland, the Monte Rosa Hut is a lodging space used by hikers in route to the summit of the same name on icy glacier treks. The five-story crystal-shaped building was constructed on stainless-steel foundations with a wooden spiral interior covered by a silver aluminum shell. During its construction, materials and workers were transported by train to Zermatt, requiring 3,000 helicopter trips.

The hut uses solar power for about 90 percent of its energy and heat requirements. Excess energy is stored in valve-regulated lead-acid accumulators, which ensure power in all kinds of weather. Large windows allow the sun to heat air inside the building, and melting glaciers in the area provide the lodge’s water supply, which is collected and stored in a nearby reservoir. (Image from http://bit.ly/1AJVsUa)

Meera Sky Garden

Perhaps no other building on this list is as one with nature as the Meera Sky Garden in Sentosa, Singapore. This eye-catching, eco-friendly home was designed by Guz Architects, and it overlooks the island’s harbor.

Divided into four distinctive floors, each of which is covered with a grass roof, the home appears as if it is four separate houses, yet is still seamlessly connected by a natural element. Not only are these garden-like spaces visually pleasing, but the grassy roofs help to keep the interior temperatures at a minimum, saving energy. (Image from http://bit.ly/1ddeBTx)

Pixel

While Pixel’s chaotic, colorful exterior is the first thing one might notice about the small office building in Melbourne, Australia, its sustainable design is what really makes it noteworthy. Some of its design innovations include a panel shade system that allows natural light into the office, while at the same time, reducing glare and heat. More impressively, Pixel utilizes wind turbines to generate its own electricity.

As Australia’s first carbon neutral office building, Pixel was also the first building to ever be granted a perfect score on the country’s Green Star sustainability rating system. (Image from http://bit.ly/1JoxIpS)

Bank of America

When the Bank of America building was erected in Manhattan, New York in 2009, it set the standard for all environmentally responsible buildings to come. Its base-to-roof insulating glass external structure enhances heat insulation while creating a large source of natural light, while the building’s extensive solar panels produce energy for the building.

And the Bank of America knows how to save water. Its greywater system collects and recycles waste from sinks and water fountains into the refrigeration system, while its catchment systems collect and save around 45 inches of rain that fall on the site each year. Such sustainable features landed the skyscraper the LEED Platinum Award, the highest level of the internationally recognized green building rating system.

The Change Initiative

In a city that is seemingly ever under construction, The Change Initiative (TCI), an eco-lifestyle shop that stocks everything from environmentally-conscious detergent to greywater recycling tools, sets itself apart from other buildings in Dubai.

Often noted as one of the most sustainable commercial buildings in the world, the majority of the materials used to create TCI are recyclable. The roof is coated with heat-reflective paint and is embellished with solar panels that generate about 40 percent of the building’s energy, while the building’s outer structure has three times the insulation of the average building. (Image from Gundeep Singh) 

For more information about current worldwide green initiatives and for ways that you can “consume with care,” check out the World Environment Day website.

The images that cross your mind may seem apocalyptic, or even impossible to fathom. There is barely a part of our lives today that is not influenced by the metal, and it is not an exaggeration to say that steel is perhaps the most significant component of the modern world. Without it, civilization as we know it would cease to exist. Let’s take a look at a few ways the world would be a different place without steel.

Skylines would be incredibly boring.

Structures such as skyscrapers and towers would be inconceivable without steel supports and cables. Therefore, buildings would be low-rise at their tallest, making densely populated cities devastatingly uncomfortable. It’s hard to imagine a world without the likes of the Burj Khalifa, the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building, all of which utilize steel as a main construction component.

We’d have very few options for dinner.

The food we eat today has been refined in factories with steel tools, processed with steel equipment, baked in steel ovens and preserved in steel cans. It is delivered to us via steel trains on steel rails, or by steel trucks over steel-reinforced roads. As such, in a world without steel, our food sources would be limited to what could be cultivated locally and the possibility of faminewould be persistent.

Getting in touch would take for-ev-er.

(Image source: http://bit.ly/1dgLFuc)

Without steel to manufacture telephones, computers or even mail trucks, we would be stuck relying on less than efficient carrier pigeons (which were actually a thing a few thousandyears ago) or the pony express. So much for instant connection.

Reading material would be extremely limited.

(Image source: http://bit.ly/1tNFW6q)

Newspapers, magazines and books we read today are mostly printed on a steel press. Even the paper is made from wood which is cut with steel implements and processed in steel machines. Mind you, there wouldn’t be any steel-plated pens, either, so quills would be used to write and copy the material. Of course, there might be bronze movable type printing, but it would still take a very long time and amount of patience to carry out.

Disease would run rampant.

Stainless steel has contributed greatly to improved sanitation in hospitals, restaurants and other public environments, and has helped to save the lives of millions. Easy to clean, it is more hygienic, impervious to corrosion and scratch-resistant, and is capable of standing up to harsh sterilizers, heat and heavy use, preventing deadly bacteria from surviving on its surface. Without it, the constant threat of diseases such as Ebola and measles would be very real.

Unemployment would rise and the economy would crumble.

Crude steel production reached 1.66 billion tons worldwide in 2014 which only says one thing about our world… it’s growing. It’s estimated that more than 95 countries are producing steel today, with more than two million employees worldwide, and a further two million contractors and four million people in supporting fields. Without this vital industry, the world economy would suffer and many people would be without jobs.

A glimpse into the world of steel

Fortunately, we do live in a modern world where steel does exist and its importance is clear. Yet few people tend to notice it, or understand how it works. Which is why TenarisUniversity, in conjunction with the World Steel Association’s steeluniversity, has launched the massive open online course (MOOC), “Introduction to Steel.”

This lively online learning program will feature the basics of steel melting, steel’s historical and cultural context, its relationship with society and the sustainability of a world supported by steel by utilizing everyday examples, demonstrations and film footage of steel making. Additionally, it will encourage community interactions between students and the professor.

“We believe in the highest standards of education to develop people all around the world,” Rolando Lange, Director of TenarisUniversity noted. “With this MOOC, we hope students will get passionate about steel as a material and learn about the critical role it plays in our society.”

Comprised of a four-hour framework, the course is open to all free of charge. It starts on June 2 and will run for two weeks. Registration is now open. Click here to enroll in the class, or for more information.

2. The tin can was first patented in 1810. Today about 200 billion tin cans are produced each year, and 600 steel and tin cans are recycled every second.

3. The amount of daily steel production is enough to build 548 Eiffel towers. However, the development of modern steels means that if the Eiffel Tower was rebuilt today, it would only require one-third of the steel that was originally used.

4. Global steel production almost doubled between 2001 and 2014. Today about 8 million people work in the steel industry, which is about the same as the population of Switzerland.

5. The first steel-made automobile was introduced in 1918. Modern cars are built with new steels that are stronger but also up to 35% lighter than in the past.

6. Steel made the modern skyscraper possible. The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, completed in 1885, was the world’s first skyscraper. Today the housing and construction sector uses about 50% of world steel production.

7. The amount of energy needed to produce a ton of steel has been reduced by 34 percent since 1972.

8. Steel can be recycled endlessly with no detrimental effects on its properties. All steel created as long ago as 150 years can be recycled and used in new products and applications.

 *All information provided by the ‘World Steel Association’ and ‘American Iron and Steel Institute’.

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