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In this episode, I talk with Phillip Quach, BASc, MASc, P.Eng., a structural engineer at RJC Engineers, about how tall buildings are transforming our approach to urban density. We also dive into why it’s crucial to validate design material standards through research and real-world testing to ensure they perform as intended.
***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:
Here Are Some of the Questions I Asked Phil:
- How does the rise of tall buildings in Toronto address the city’s increasing density, and what long-term effects do you foresee for urban development?
- In 2023, Toronto had 240 active cranes, while the next-busiest city had just 50. What factors contribute to this significant disparity?
- With your focus on high-rise buildings, what are the typical height ranges of the projects you work on, and what are the main structural challenges you encounter?
- How do wind tunnel tests influence the structural design of tall buildings, and is this analysis typically handled in-house or outsourced?
- For most of your tall building projects, do you rely on wind tunnel testing, or do you sometimes use standard code-based wind loads?
- How have skyscraper designs become more complex over time, and how has this affected material standards and construction methods?
- Have current building codes resolved the issue of overestimating capacities, or does this problem still persist?
- For someone unfamiliar with high-rise design, how many viscous coupling dampers are typically needed for a 60-story residential building?
- How does the leaning design of Park Road introduce additional structural challenges, particularly in managing the forces on columns and walls?
- Was the construction slab used during the build integrated into the final structure of the building?
- How is the construction industry addressing the reduction of embodied carbon in building structures, and have you observed a growing trend toward more sustainable practices?
- What key advice would you offer to young engineers, particularly those interested in the tall building sector, to help them succeed in their careers?
- Your advice emphasizes lifelong learning, considering grad school for complex projects, and doing a gut check — do you find that gut-checking becomes easier with experience?
Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About How Skyscrapers Excel in Surging Urban Density Areas:
[Read more…] about TSEC 136: How Skyscrapers Excel in Surging Urban Density Areas
