Raffles City Chongqing tops out

Raffles City Chongqing topped out successfully, following the structural completion of its 250m high skybridge which links six of the eight skyscrapers of the development.

Arup is providing structural engineering services for all design stages for this largest ever Raffles City development in the world. In collaboration with Safdie Architects, the complex has an ambitious structure with eight towers gently arcing towards the water, forming the ‘apex’ to the city’s peninsula – like the great masts of a ship with its sail pulling the city forward. The two central 350m towers, accommodating offices, serviced apartments and hotel facilities, boast a slenderness ratio over 9.5. To tackle this structural challenge, we adopted four mega corner columns connected to the central core wall via diagonal outriggers and belt trusses, forming an effective mega frame structural system.

The Conservatory taking its final shape - Raffles City Chongqing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEBFVeUwuiM

To realise the high curvatures along building height for the four residential towers, we used the curving perimeter columns which are tied up with belt trusses to provide the lateral stability. The four buildings will be capped by a conservatory, providing various amenities, green spaces and 360 degree views of the city.

The mega-scale development has become an icon of the booming Chongqing, and will also serve as an important transportation hub integrating bus terminal, subway station and ferry terminal.  The project is expected to be completed in second half of 2019.