We are pleased to present this book which showcases ... - WSP Group

The 55-storey twin towers of Time Warner Center are an exciting
new addition to the New York skyline.The mixed use ‘vertical village’
contains 260 000 sq m of space and sits on a 14 000 sq m site at a
prime location adjacent to Columbus Circle on the south-west
corner of Central Park.
The 230 m high towers are topped by 20 m tall lanterns and contain
luxury condominiums and the Mandarin Oriental hotel.They sit on a
podium base containing a luxury shopping mall,Time Warner offices,
large span studios, CNN broadcasting facilities, classroom facilities,
parking and a performing arts centre for jazz.
In effect, the complex contains a number of different types
of building, all designed by different architects according to
the requirements of the various end users.These are stacked
above each other, and WSP Cantor Seinuk’s task was to select
a structural system and construction materials that would support
the different layout requirements as well as providing maximum
flexibility for each unit.
The main spine of the development comprises two concrete
cores, one in each tower, passing down through the podium to the
foundations.They house the elevators, stairs and mechanical plant
rooms.The towers are framed in reinforced concrete, whereas the
podium is a steel-framed structure.The podium consists of 24 floors
on the south side and 17 floors on the north, each topped by
double-storey height transfer trusses, which serve as the foundation
for the towers above.The transfer truss levels also serve as floors for
mechanical plant.
The ‘double-spine’ cores resist all lateral and torsional forces.
This allows the design of the columns to be adapted in the most
efficient way according to the different uses of the building. Some had
to be inclined, some were split “A” shapes, while others that could
not be extended to the foundations became hanger columns
supported from the transfer trusses.To resist the large horizontal
forces produced by the sloped columns, a horizontal truss system
within the floors was also introduced.The major compression
columns, known as ‘boomers’, and the major transfer trusses were
encased in reinforced concrete to provide increased rigidity and
better protection for fireproofing. Furthermore, this value engineering
design also resulted in a major reduction in steel tonnage.
Nestling in the centre of the podium is “Jazz at Lincoln Center”,
a 1200-seat multipurpose concert hall.To prevent the transfer
of noise and vibrations, the structural solution resulted in the
construction of a separate box supported on neoprene pads that
provide acoustic isolation from the rest of the building as well as
vertical and horizontal support.
Time Warner Center is the collective effort of a wide spectrum of
participants resulting in a new jewel in the crown of New York City.
Time Warner Center Awards
Diamond Award 2004
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) New York
Best Project of the Year 2003
New York Construction News
Client:
Columbus Centre, LLC (a partnership comprising The Related Companies,
L P and Apollo Real Estate Advisors L P)
Project team:
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Construction manager: Bovis Lend Lease
Project Value:
£1000M
Project size:
Two 55-storey towers of 230 m
260 000 sq m floor space
Status:
Completed 2004
WSP Cantor Seinuk services:
Structural engineering
41