Layout of Skyscappers?

Question

What is in the bottom, middle, and top?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Do we mean skyscrapers, the buildings?

In the bottom of a skyscraper is a lot of space occupied with material that must be there to support the building, infrastructure like plumbing and electrical, elevators, and a very little space occupied by prestige businesses.

As one goes up, the ratio of space changes so that less material needs be present to support the weight above, less infrastructure, and more business space. In the middle area we still see the  steel structure covered heavily with concrete to protect the steel from fire, and to provide strength and rigidity. Concrete is still giving a lot of compressive strength, even though it is requiring al lot of compressive strength in lower levels.

Up through lower and mid levels it is a widespread practice to use asbestos coatings covered with plaster to provide further heat protection with little extra weight.

When we get a long way up, designers may forgo extensive heat protection to keep the upper layers light. Remember that with any sort of seismic shock, mass represents the enemy, the risk of complete collapse.

Many design analysts remark that a building like the world trade center towers could not be built to adequately provide both heat protection and stay light enough to withstand moderate seismic shock. So WTC towers were built to withstand all expected seismic forces. They avoided risk of fire by ensuring that volumes of combustible materials were kept moderate.

Right up at the top we can tolerate a fire because there is so little weight to bring the building down. So we can have prestige restaurant space where patrons can look out over the city and watch the planes go by.