The structure of the ""Puerta de Europa"" towers

Abstract

The project ""Puerta de Europa"", in Madrid, is composed by two sloped towers 115 m in height avobe the ground level. They have a slope of 14,3 degrees, that produces a displacement from ground level to roof of 30 m approximately. The structure is composed by a concrete services core and a system of steel beams and columns that due to the slope acts as a triangulated braced frame. The concrete core acting as a cantilever and the steel braced frame together, are the primary lateral force resisting system for both lateral wind foreces and those due to the slope. To control bending stresses a postensioning system has been built along back façade that acting on the top of the building reduces the lateral displacements.