CANTILEVER ARCHITECTURE AS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM: STUDY OF MARINA BAY SANDS AND CCTV HQ

Abstract

Cantilevers are a type of structure that is held up at one end and is not held up at the end. This means that Cantilevers can stick out a way to the side without needing any more support. Such structures give us open spaces with no columns allowing architects freedom for innovated architectural designs but structurally, they have to deal with forces that try to bend them. The buildings they built, including the CERN accelerator in Switzerland, are a testament to their ability to tackle complex engineering challenges, such as span and load dynamics and structural stability, in modern mega-projects. This paper explores design, structural behavior and engineering approaches for extreme cantilevered forms through a comparative study of two iconic buildings: the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, Singapore and the CCTV Headquarters, Beijing. The 340-meter long 64-meter cantilevered SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands is supported by three 200-meter-tall towers. On the other hand, the CCTV Headquarters restates the typology of the high-rise with its looped structure – two leaning towers are connected together by a large 75m cantilevered overhang, achieved by a diagrid structure and deep transfer structures. The study explores wind loading, gravity forces, seismic performance and the use of tuned mass dampers to address the inherent challenges of each large-scale cantilever. This paper offers an analytical discussion of the use of advanced structural systems, materials and construction methods to realize these complex cantilevered forms.