Skyscraper Design Learns to Work with Movement

Newsweek examines a new damping system, with HED Operations Leader Yu-Ming Wei weighing its practical implications.

Engineers have traditionally controlled skyscraper sway through structural stiffness or large, dedicated mass dampers. New research proposes using occupied upper floors as part of the damping system, reducing wind and seismic movement while potentially requiring less material.

Yu-Ming Wei, AIA, HED Principal and National Sector Operations Leader for Housing, spoke to Newsweek to place that promise within a whole-building context. She noted that façades, fire safety systems, and infrastructure would need to accommodate the movement, while sustainability benefits should be evaluated across the building’s full lifecycle.

In “Skyscrapers Sway in High Winds: Engineers Just Found a New Way to Stop Them,” research is examined alongside commentary from industry practitioners. The article considers the system’s early performance results and the practical questions that remain around constructability, code acceptance, maintenance, and real-world validation.

View the original publication here:
https://www.newsweek.com/skyscrapers-sway-high-winds-engineers-find-new-design-approach-12405344