New Skyscraper Design Could Cut Building Sway by Up to 71%

Tall buildings naturally sway when exposed to strong winds. Their design separates several usable floors near the top of a tower from the building’s central structural core. During simulated earthquakes, movement at the top of the tower decreased by an average of 42%. The relative movement between these floors and the building’s core was small enough that occupants would not normally notice it. One major advantage is that the same system can protect buildings from both strong winds and earthquakes.