Buttressed core is a

structural system The term structural system or structural frame in structural engineering refers to the load-resisting sub-system of a building or object. The structural system transfers loads through interconnected elements or members. Commonly used structu ...

for high buildings, consisting of a hexagonal core reinforced by three

buttresses A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient (typically Gothic) buildings, as a means of providing support to act a ...

that form a Y shape.

Properties

The buttressed core supports itself both laterally and torsionally. It also eliminates the need for column transfers, and moves loads in a smooth path from the building's top into its foundations.

Origin

The buttressed core was invented by the

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill SOM, an initialism of its original name Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, is a Chicago-based architectural, urban planning, and engineering firm. It was founded in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings. In 1939, they were joined by engineer ...

engineer Bill Baker. It was first used in Tower Palace III in

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

but its ability to support higher buildings than ever before was first demonstrated in

Burj Khalifa The Burj Khalifa (known as the Burj Dubai prior to its inauguration) is a megatall skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With a total height of 829.8 m (2,722 ft, or just over half a mile) and a roof height (excluding the antenna, but inc ...

Dubai Dubai (Help:IPA/English, /duːˈbaɪ/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''doo-BYE''; Modern Standard Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic: ; Emirati Arabic, Emirati Arabic: , Romanization of Arabic, romanized: Help:IPA/English, /diˈbej/) is the Lis ...

.Higher and Higher: The Evolution of the Buttressed Core
, Civil Engineering, October 2012

Uses

* Tower Palace III in

, South Korea, completed in 2004 *

, United Arab Emirates, completed in 2009 * Crown Las Vegas in

Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

, USA (never built) *

Jeddah Tower Jeddah Tower or Burj Jeddah (, ) is a skyscraper under-construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is planned to be the first building and would be the world's tallest building or structure upon completion, standing taller than the Burj Khali ...

Jeddah Jeddah ( ), alternatively transliterated as Jedda, Jiddah or Jidda ( ; , ), is a List of governorates of Saudi Arabia, governorate and the largest city in Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia, and the country's second largest city after Riyadh, located ...

, Saudi Arabia, construction restarted in January 2025, estimated to be completed in 2028 or 2029.

Advantages

The buttressed core structural system offers several advantages over traditional methods: * **Stability:** It provides excellent resistance to lateral forces, such as wind and seismic activities, enhancing the overall stability of the building. * **Efficiency:** The system allows for a more efficient use of materials, reducing the overall weight and cost of the structure. * **Flexibility:** It enables architects and engineers to design taller and more slender buildings without compromising on structural integrity. * **Aesthetics:** The Y-shaped design offers unique architectural possibilities, contributing to the visual appeal of skyscrapers.

Disadvantages

Despite its benefits, the buttressed core system also has some drawbacks: * **Complexity:** The design and construction process can be more complex and require specialized knowledge and skills. * **Cost:** Initial costs may be higher due to the need for precise engineering and high-quality materials.

References

{{Reflist Structural system