How do they build skyscrapers?

jsmoke · 19 May 2019 at 18:02

Some very mature responses here. It was a genuine question, so the cranes are kind of bootstrapped however could a crane 300-400m up high have a cable that pulls many tons of material up to the same height or is there some kind of intermediate platform.

Diddums · 19 May 2019 at 18:05

There are many ways to do it, depending on the situation. This doesn't answer your question but it's interesting nonetheless:

Quartz · 19 May 2019 at 18:06

jsmoke said:
And as I said how do they keep getting the cranes higher and higher up,

The cranes are self-jacking.

builder22 · 19 May 2019 at 18:13

jsmoke said:
Some very mature responses here. It was a genuine question, so the cranes are kind of bootstrapped however could a crane 300-400m up high have a cable that pulls many tons of material up to the same height or is there some kind of intermediate platform.

https://www.rbauction.com/blog/five-of-the-world-s-largest-cranes-

tallest one there is 550ft so as long as there's enough cable it could lift from the ground...

jsmoke · 19 May 2019 at 18:23

builder22 said:
https://www.rbauction.com/blog/five-of-the-world-s-largest-cranes-

tallest one there is 550ft so as long as there's enough cable it could lift from the ground...

These are vessel cranes though not tower or mobile cranes. And also building such as the bionic tower have been proposed which are more than 1km high.

NoobCannon · 19 May 2019 at 19:03

G-MAN2004 said:
They build them inside a massive hole in the ground, then use a helicopter to lift the building out ready to put into place. It's fascinating stuff.

Great post lol have a cookie

koolpc · 19 May 2019 at 19:12

They go to B&Q and buy 'crane feed'. Mix with water and apply twice a day! Helps them grow quickly

Randomface74 · 19 May 2019 at 19:18

They build them underground then water + sunlight and they grow up like plants.

Hades · 19 May 2019 at 19:20

They have missed a trick. It would be much easier if they built the too story first and then gradually built downwards.

Somnambulist · 19 May 2019 at 19:24

Dis86 · 19 May 2019 at 19:26

Can find any CT theory on the web - can't find how to build a skyscraper.

Stephanie Peterson · 19 May 2019 at 19:27

Helicopters, the sky scraper is built on its side so say its 500m high they build it 500 along a big long factory then lift it up with a chopper or two.

If its a really big one they lower it from the ISS.

AhhBisto · 19 May 2019 at 19:30

Got to say I never really though about cranes much other then having some family in industry, watching videos made me want to join myself even though I hate heights (well falling from heights)

Werewolf · 19 May 2019 at 19:33

I've never had a problem with heights myself.
I have a mortal fear of grounds though.

Derek W · 19 May 2019 at 19:34

Saw a documentary on the shard. The link below may be it but I googled it without watching it

They built the shard differently cos of site limitations so they couldn't dig the foundations first as folk normally do. They then started a continuous pour of the core as they raised it out the ground. Once they reached the top of the crane limit they then craned a smaller crane onto the lifts within the core and raised it up as the building continued up the final storeys. I'm sure the crane remains on top. But that's how they build them.

theone8181 · 19 May 2019 at 19:43

Is interesting stuff, but like others day, what do they do with the crane, or does it just go down in parts?

Raymond Lin · 19 May 2019 at 19:51

theone8181 said:
Is interesting stuff, but like others day, what do they do with the crane, or does it just go down in parts?

You break it down, large parts get helicopter off or service elevator for smaller parts.

Or they builds smaller crane to lower parts down then break down the smaller crane and elevator down.

What you should ask is how do Hong Kong build skyscrapers with bamboo sticks

NoobCannon · 19 May 2019 at 20:02

Raymond Lin said:
You break it down, large parts get helicopter off or service elevator for smaller parts.

Or they builds smaller crane to lower parts down then break down the smaller crane and elevator down.

What you should ask is how do Hong Kong build skyscrapers with bamboo sticks

Easy. They plant the bambo under a building and add more floors as it grows.

Werewolf · 19 May 2019 at 20:05

NoobCannon said:
Easy. They plant the bambo under a building and add more floors as it grows.

Don't be silly, no one can build that fast.

Malevolence · 19 May 2019 at 22:22

jsmoke said:
But how do they get the crane up there, do they have to move the crane each level, and as I said the crane surely can't reach the ground after a certain height?

It's simple. They build the roof section and attach the cranes, then as they build each floor they use the cranes to lift the building and slide each new floor under the previous one.