MEP ENGINEERING
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SUPER TALL TOWER IN CHINA -
A SINGAPOREAN ENGINEER’S INVOLVEMENT AND PERSPECTIVE by Yap Chuen Meng, WSP Singapore This article documents the Author’s involvement in the Construction Administration and Site Supervision stages of a super tall tower project, in Tianjin, China. The challenges during these stages included facilitating cross-office collaboration, BIM-related collaboration with the Contractors, and managing the design changes with the Contractors. Also, some technical design challenges are briefly discussed, such as stacking three functions in a single tower; Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) floor considerations; and designing for a cold climate.
INTRODUCTION The Tianjin CTF Finance Centre, a 530 m super tall, mixed-use tower, is a 380,000 m2 development comprising multiple function Grade A offices, a 5-Star hotel and apartments, and sitting over a 5-storey retail podium and basement carparks. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) recognises the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre as one of the world’s tallest completed buildings. WSP provided MEP System Engineering Design, Procurement, Construction Administration and Site Supervision services. Engineering Design started from 2009 and the project was completed in 2019. The WSP Hong Kong team conceptualised and developed the MEP systems design with the Architects, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and Ronald Lu and Partners (RLP). The MEP systems included HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing and Sanitation, Fire protection, and Extra Low Voltage (ELV) systems. The Author was involved in the project while working in the WSP Beijing Office. He was involved in the project’s Construction Administration and Site Supervision stages. The involvement period was from 2013, which covered the project’s basement excavation to substantial completion. The Main Contractor for the project was China State Construction Engineering Corporation, 8th Engineering Division Corp (CSCEC).
Aerial view of the super tall Tianjin CTF Finance Centre. Image: CSCEC.
Area
Description
291,500 sqm above ground And 98,000 sqm below ground
530meter tall tower and 103 floors
Grade A Office
141.000 sqm
L7 to L43
Apartment
48,500 sqm
L49 to L70
Total
5 Star Hotel
64,000 sqm
L46 – 48 and L73 to L93
Retail
38,000 sqm
B1 to L5 Retail
Basement carpark and back of house
98,000 sqm
Project data. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER April 2020
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