Structural Developments in Tall Buildings: Current Trends and Future Prospects

Tall building developments have been rapidly increasing worldwide. This paper reviews the evolution of tall building’s structural systems and the technological driving force behind tall building developments. For the primary structural systems, a new classification—interior structures and exterior structures—is presented. While most representative structural systems for tall buildings are discussed, the emphasis in this review paper is on current trends such as outrigger systems and diagrid structures. Auxiliary damping systems controlling building motion are also discussed. Further, contemporary “out-of-the-box” architectural design trends, such as aerodynamic and twisted forms, which directly or indirectly affect the structural performance of tall buildings, are reviewed. Finally, the future of structural developments in tall buildings is envisioned briefly.