Stacy Monsman - Engineering Marvels: Stand-Out Skyscrapers: Area

0covercover.xhtmlEngineering Marvels Stand-Out Skyscrapers Area Stacy Monsmancover1page0001page0001.xhtml22page0002page0002.xhtml33page0003page0003.xhtml44page0004page0004.xhtmlTable of Contents Towers to the Sky 4 Tip-Top Tech 6 The Natural Look 14 Animal Power 21 What's Next 26 Problem Solving 28 Glossary 30 Index 31 Answer Key 3255page0005page0005.xhtmlTowers to the Sky "Going up! " can be heard in elevators in most buildings. Some buildings have only a few floors. But some are so high they seem to touch the sky. That is why they are called skyscrapers! Some skyscrapers are places to live. Some are places to work. Others are places to shop. Some even have roller coasters that speed through the air. And many skyscrapers have all of these things (and more) under one roof! Dubai66page0006page0006.xhtmlThere are skyscrapers all over the world. But some skyscrapers stand out for more than just their height. They can be some of the most unusual buildings a country has to offer. From Chicago to Dubai, and cities in between, there are a few skyscrapers that are known for being unique. Which towering treasure will be your favorite? Chicago77page0007page0007.xhtmlTip-Top Tech All buildings need some type of technology. It helps to make them solid and support weight. It allows for a supply of energy, air, and water. But, those are basic things. Technology can be used in some exciting ways. It can make some skyscrapers even more special. And, it may also help give them a more unique look. Some were even inspired by it! Lloyd's of London88page0008page0008.xhtmlInside Out Lloyd's of London has been in the insurance business since 1688. But, its building is much newer. Lloyd's wanted more space inside. So, the building's planners turned it inside out! Most of the stairs and elevators are on the outside. So are the air, water, and power systems. This gives more space for business. The inside of Lloyd's is special, too. Its three main towers are topped by a 200-foot (60-meter) high atrium. It has a glass roof that lets in natural light. There is also a dining room from 1763! It was put in the new building one piece at a time. the atrium at Lloyd's of London99page0009page0009.xhtmlSomething Old, Something New Castalia, a government building in the Netherlands, was meant to blend in with the rest of the city. But at 340 ft. (104 m) tall, it could not help but stand out! Triangle peaks top this skyscraper's 20 floors. The rooftops are just some of the building's distinct features. They have helped make it a landmark. Castalia1010page0010page0010.xhtmlThe original Castalia was built in the 1960s. The owners wanted something newer and bigger. But, the planners did not want to knock it down. So, they built a new building around the old one. They covered the walls and the roof. Then, they placed the new triangle towers on top. Putting the old and new parts together seemed like a tough job. But, the planners had the right technology for the job. And it worked! Can you tell the old from the new? Let's1111page0011page0011.xhtmlPants for a Giant What size pants might a giant wear? Take a trip to China to find out! Some people think the China Central Television (CCTV) Headquarters in Beijing looks like a pair of big pants. But, the 44-story building was really made to look like a giant loop. It is meant to show that television is an endless loop of things to watch. CCTV Headquarters1212page0012page0012.xhtmlSince the building is in a seismic zone, it had to be built with earthquakes in mind. The finished building now has six sections. Visitors can make the trek up to a viewing deck. Once there, they can look out at the skyline. The bravest visitors look through three round glass plates in the floor straight down to the ground! Would you be brave enough to do the same? Let's1313page0013page0013.xhtmlRobot on the River Thailand is a country made up of small towns. In fact, Bangkok is its only big city. Bangkok is known for its ancient palaces and temples. But these sit among new technology. On the banks of the Chao Phraya (JOW PRY-uh) River stands a huge robot! How did it get there? One day, architect Sumet Jumsai saw his son's robot toy. Just like that, he was inspired, and an idea was born! That idea became this 20-story structure. This kind-looking robot reminds people that the bank it houses is modern and uses technology. The Robot Building is fun to look at. But its parts also serve a purpose. The eyes are windows. The eyelids keep the sun out. The antennas are lightning rods. At night, the robot comes to life! Wellsort of. The eyes entertain people by "winking" along to music. the Robot Building1414page0014page0014.xhtmlLet's1515page0015page0015.xhtmlThe Natural Look Skyscrapers are often in cities. But, these next buildings take their cues from nature. They also boast eco-friendly designs. Making Waves Aqua Tower in Chicago has a water theme. The balconies are meant to look like waves. But, they also serve a purpose. They try to buffer the loud winds of the city. That way, neighbors can stand on their balconies and talk to each other without having to yell. Aqua Tower1616page0016page0016.xhtmlAqua Tower is eco-friendly, too. It has a way to collect and reuse rainwater. And the glass windows are heat resistant. They make it so the building uses less energy to cool down. Today, Aqua Tower is the tallest building in the world designed by a woman. Jeanne Gang led the team who planned Aqua Tower. They built shops, offices, and apartments. At the top is an outdoor space. It has gardens and a track. And Aqua Tower wouldn't be complete without its pool and hot tub. Jeanne Gang Let's1717page0017page0017.xhtmlSideways Skyscraper China is home to many super skyscrapers. But one is not famous for its height. It is a horizontal skyscraper! The Vanke Center is in Shenzhen, China. Its towers do not stand upright. Instead, they are turned on their sides. There are offices, apartments, and a hotel inside. The sideways towers are propped up on eight legs. They look like they are floating! At night, lights make the underside of the building glow. Vanke Center1818page0018page0018.xhtmlThe building hovers above landscaped areas. This green space is open to the public. It provides open space and shade for people to rest. The gardens have tropical vegetation. There are native grasses, shrubs, and jasmine. There is also a farm area. The food that is grown is eaten at the Vanke Center. All of this plant life is kept healthy by rainwater. The water is filtered on the roof of the building and used for the green spaces. Let's1919page0019page0019.xhtmlGreen and Clean Commerzbank Tower soars about 850 ft. (260 m) over Frankfurt, Germany. That makes it the tallest building in Europe. It is also one of the greenest! It was designed a bit like a flower. The offices are the "petals. " They surround a large atrium, which is the "stem. " The atrium has sky gardens to help keep the air fresh. The whole building uses natural ventilation. All of the windows can open to let in fresh air and light. So, the building does not use as much power. People rarely need to run the heat or turn on a fan. In fact, the building uses half the power of other skyscrapers. And, only biodegradable products are used to clean. They do not harm nature. There is no question as to why the tower was given the Green Building Frankfurt award. the view inside Commerzbank Tower2020page0020page0020.xhtmla garden space at Commerzbank Tower Commerzbank Tower2121page0021page0021.xhtmlAldar Headquarters2222page0022page0022.xhtmlAnimal Power In homes, the wild, or zoos, animals are a big part of the world. They are a big part of some skyscrapers, too. Happy as a Clam Rising 360 ft. (110 m) above a beach in Abu Dhabi is the Aldar Headquarters building. It was the world's first skyscraper shaped like a circle. The unique building has diagonal grids of steel that hold it up. Looking at the building closely, you'll notice it is made of two circles. A thin strip connects the two sides. Some people think it looks like a big plate. But, it was actually inspired by a clamshell. Building a huge circle was tough. But, the architects had technology on their side. They made 3-D models in each phase. This helped them solve likely problems. It also helped them make sure they were on track to form a perfect circle. Drawings like this helped the architects form a perfect circle.2323page0023page0023.xhtmlClimbing Koalas In Australia, you might find koalas in eucalyptus trees. They live in them, eat the leaves, and sit on the branches. One thing koalas usually do not do is climb the sides of buildings. But, it looks like some koalas are doing just that at the Lippo Centre in Hong Kong! The two towers are shaped like octagons. Groups of windows jut out from the rest of the building. Some people think the windows look like big letter Cs. Others see koalas grasping tree trunks! Regardless of what the windows look like, there is plenty to see! People at the back of the building have a view of the sea. People at the front have a view of a spacious park. Inside, people are kept busy in offices, a bank, and even a bookstore.2424page0024page0024.xhtmlLippo Centre Let's2525page0025page0025.xhtmlEnormous Elephant There is an old saying that "an elephant never forgets. " And visitors to Thailand will never forget that the elephant is the national animal. Elephants are on shirts, mugs, and pens. But just in case they do forget, a skyscraper is there to remind them. Elephant Tower2626page0026page0026.xhtmlSumet Jumsai built the Elephant Tower. That's right! He is the same architect who made the Robot Building! Jumsai and his team used three blocks to form the "body. " They made its "eyes" out of round windows. Then, decks became the "ears. " The team even built parts that look like tusks and a tail. The 32 floors host apartments, offices, and a mall. There is even a school inside. While this building is a wonder to behold, some people just don't like it. In fact, it was once voted one of the world's ugliest buildings! Sumet Jumsai2727page0027page0027.xhtmlWhat's Next? For many years, skyscrapers were all about height. Teams competed to build the tallest one. It seemed like they were just going to keep going up and up! As soon as one skyscraper was built, a taller one was already being planned. But, things have changed. It looks like just being tall is not enough for the newest skyscrapers. Skyscrapers soar over London.2828page0028page0028.xhtmlInstead, skyscrapers are getting attention for being unique. Weird shapes and special designs are what get buildings noticed. New technology is changing the way skyscrapers look. It also helps planners use space better. Buildings that are eco-friendly are also on the rise. Even animals are making their mark! In the past, architects have asked, "How high? " Now, many are asking, "What's next? " sketch of a business center2929page0029page0029.xhtmlProblem Solving Every skyscraper you see was first planned by an architect. They start by making a blueprint, or floor plan. It is a detailed drawing of a building. It includes measurements of all of the rooms. Now, it is your chance to be an architect! Your challenge is to design one floor of your own super skyscraper. What inspires you? Are you a tech pro? Maybe you are a fan of nature? Perhaps a favorite animal is going to be your inspiration. Use your imagination! Make sure your rooms are rectangles, or shapes that can be made from rectangles. And, make sure you draw an outline of each room on graph paper. After you have drawn the floor plan for one story of the building, answer the questions. 1. How many rooms did you include? 2. Find the area of each room in square units by counting the squares. 3. Now, find the area of each room in square units using a different strategy. Explain how you know your strategy works. 4. What is the total area of your floor plan?3030page0030page0030.xhtml3131page0031page0031.xhtmlGlossary architect a person who designs buildings atrium an open area inside of a building that has windows which allow natural light to enter from above biodegradable capable of being broken down by natural processes and bacteria blueprint a detailed plan that shows how something will be made buffer to act as a protective barrier distinct noticeably different eco-friendly not harmful to the environment heat resistant not easily warmed landmark a structure or object that is easy to recognize seismic relating to an earthquake strategies careful methods for achieving particular goals vegetation plants that cover a specific area ventilation a system that allows fresh air to enter and move through a space3232page0032page0032.xhtmlIndex Abu Dhabi, Aldar Headquarters, Aqua Tower, architect, Bangkok, Beijing, Castalia, Chicago, China Central Television (CCTV) Headquarters, Commerzbank Tower, Elephant Tower, Frankfurt, Gang, Jeanne, Hong Kong, Jumsai, Sumet, Lippo Centre, Lloyd's of London, Netherlands, Robot Building, Shenzhen, Thailand, Vanke Center,3333page0033page0033.xhtmlAnswer Key Let's Explore Math page 9 : 1. 2; 3 2. 6; Strategies will vary but may include adding and skip counting. 3. 12; Strategies will vary but may include counting or tiling. page 11 : 1. Strategies will vary but may include repeated addition or multiplication. Yes; Multiplying is the most efficient because it is the fastest. 2. Yes, all the TVs will fit, but there will not be room for any more. page 13 : 1. 15 square units; Strategies will vary. 2. 18 square units; Strategies will vary. 3. Meeting room page 15 : 1. 90 sq. ft.; Strategies will vary. 2. Rug 1 because the area of Rug 2 is greater than the area of the floor. page 17 : 1. The areas of the rectangles are 40, 12, and 12 sq. units. 2. 40 + 12 + 12 = 64 sq. units 3. Yes, different rectangles can be used and the area will remain 64 sq. units. page 23 : Possible answers : 1 ft. by 80 ft.; 2 ft. by 40 ft. ; 4 ft. by 20 ft.; 5 ft. by 16 ft.; 8 ft. by 10 ft.; 10 ft. by 8 ft.; 16 ft. by 5 ft.; 20 ft. by 4 ft.; 40 ft. by 2 ft. ; 80 ft. by 1 ft. Problem Solving 1. Answers will vary. All rooms should be rectangles or composed of rectangles. 2. Answers will vary but must be in square units. 3. Strategies will vary but should include an explanation about why it works. 4. Answers will vary. Total area can be found by adding the areas of all the rooms.3434page0034page0034.xhtmlMath Talk 1. The bulletin board in a skyscraper's meeting room has a length of 5 feet and a width of 2 feet. How would you use this information to find the area of the bulletin board? 2. What phrase would you use when describing area : "covering a shape" or "surrounding a shape"? Why? 3. How would you explain the size of a room to someone who has never seen it? 4. How can squares help you find the areas of other shapes? 5. When might you estimate the area of a space? When might you calculate the exact area of a space? 6. How can you draw a rectangle or square with an area of 16 square units? Is there more than one possibility?3535page0035page0035.xhtmlEngineering Marvels Stand-Out Skyscrapers Area Mention skyscrapers and words like animal, robot, and water are probably not what come to mind. See how imagination and inspiration can combine with technology, area, and design to change the world of skyscrapers. Excitement is on the rise! Measurement and Data36