3 minute read
Embracing ESG trends
Tall buildings require excessive building materials and use of sophisticated structural systems so that they are able to endure greater wind pressures at high altitudes. Construction, operation and maintenance of tall buildings are megascale energy-consuming activities. Therefore, tall buildings themselves have been traditionally known for their rapacious energy intake.
While such an analysis might be accurate in a literal sense, a more wide-ranging and holistic examination of tall buildings points to the fact that they are indeed sustainable – unlike low-rise buildings, the sustainability impact of tall buildings goes far beyond their physical boundaries. If we consider a low-rise apartment building with about 500 units, it would require a more complex network of infrastructure which includes roads, sidewalks, drainage facilities, water supply, electricity and gas lines, etc., compared with a compact tall building which allows the integration of all these services in an efficient manner.
In addition, a newer generation of tall buildings that are incorporating latest technologies and design standards to build smart and energy-efficient structures is evolving. For instance, use of locally sourced materials can reduce environment damage during construction by cutting down energy usage as well as emissions involved in transporting materials from further afield. On the other hand, use of low-carbon construction materials – such as timber or steel that has a high recycled content, or more sustainable concrete – can also help reduce carbon footprint. Sky / vertical gardens, rainwater harvesting, advanced air filtration systems, use of renewable energy systems (solar panels, wind turbines, etc.) are some of the key features that could help tall buildings achieve their sustainability goals.
Shanghai Tower Shanghai, China
~632 m
Bank of America Tower
New York, US
~366 m
Salesforce Tower
San Francisco, US
~326 m
Oasia Hotel Singapore
~193 m
Curved spine building design to redirect typhoon-level wind force, also allowing for a less resource-intensive construction
Built with 40% locally-sourced materials
Rooftop ‘City Park’ii
Much of the building’s volume dedicated to sky terraces – green plot ratio (GPR) of 1000+ percent**
Presence of 200 wind turbines at the top of the structure that generate approx. 10% of the building’s electricity
Water management and recycling system to harvest rainwater; waterless urinals and low-flow fixtures Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system*
Water management and recycling system that reduces water use by 54%ii
Highly e icient variable chilled water system to facilitate natural ventilation
While tall buildings are not free from some basic issues and the current real estate landscape of India may not be very favourable to their construction and maintenance, the benefits of tall buildings certainly outweigh their demerits in the long run. Most studies indicate that urban populations are expected to rise significantly over the next few years. By 2050, nearly 68% of the population in the world is anticipated to live in urban areas16 and the world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion.17 India has already overtaken China to become the most populous country in the world.18 Accommodating this population in our cities that are already bursting at the seams will become a colossal challenge.
Figure 5.1 shows some measures that are likely to aid and promote the construction of tall buildings in India:
While growing outwards is possible for most major Indian cities at the moment, it is not likely to be sustainable in the long run. Therefore, developers, architects, planners and policymakers will have to draw up plans to manage growth vertically. In India, such a scenario has already been witnessed in Mumbai across some locations, but it is yet to transpire in other cities where outward development continues to remain the norm. Apart from Mumbai, Hyderabad is another city where developers and other stakeholders are keen to grow vertically in a bid to move closer to the city centres by utilizing the generous FSI norms in the state of Telangana.
16. World Cities Report: Envisaging the Future of Cities, UN Habitat, June 2022
17. World Population Prospects 2022; United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Population Division
18. 1,425,775,850 and counting, India Economics Weekly, Capital Economics, April 2023
Key Parameter Steps To Be Taken Stakeholders
Unified Building Code & Guidelines
Formulate stringent national / state level guidelines regarding choice of materials, vertical transportation, methods of design and construction, etc. for the developing residential, commercial, hotel, mixed-use tall buildings
Develop planning guidelines that encourage the integration of tall buildings into the existing urban patterns
Support top institutions / research organizations and enable industry collaborations to drive innovation and build indigenous expertise among architects, engineers, etc.
Invest in safety training exercises of:
Skill Development & Safety Training
• Construction workers to facilitate incident-free sites
• Safety personnel to formulate e ective evacuation plans in case of an emergency
Educate stakeholders regarding the benefits of tall buildings and address concerns related to safety and anticipated impact on local communities
Create Awareness
Emphasize sustainable aspects of tall buildings and enlighten stakeholders about e ective tools to reduce their ecological footprint
Forge International Alliances
Foster collaborations with international organizations and experts who have made advancements in construction of tall building technologies
Partner with international developers / architects / planners who have delivered successful projects in other countries and adapt these best practices to the Indian context
Upgrade Infrastructure Network
Source: CBRE Research, Q2 2023
Ensure the availability of e icient infrastructure network in terms of emergency services, transportation, water supply, sewage systems, power supply so as to support tall buildings
Upgrade existing networks to accommodate future demand in the vicinity of tall buildings
