We are witnessing a major change within the residential sector, with private apartment blocks, private rental sector, student accommodation or hotels increasingly turning to high-rise. The changes occurring in urban living have brought a raft of new materials and building techniques. Traditional concrete has, however, stood the test of time in the high-rise residential sector. One of the areas where modern analysis techniques can bring the biggest value is in the cores. Concrete stability cores are the preferred solution for most medium- and high-rise framing systems as they allow for the most efficient design. In buildings over 25-30 storeys, the structural considerations often start to dictate that the core is larger than that required for vertical transportation (lifts and stairs). However, by embracing the latest design technology and the efficient use of outriggers, cores can be reduced to the minimum. This produces a very real commercial benefit as the core area is not lettable, which increases the net internal area/gross external area (NIA/GEA) ratio, one of the acid tests developers use to assess financial efficiency and viability.
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