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)

Thesis

The 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

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5,000,000

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15,000,000

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0 200 400 600 800 1000

Height (ft)

Liv

e L

oad

(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