Instead of using more land, construction goes upward, allowing more usable area on a smaller footprint.
Key features
- Multiple floors: Ground floor + one or more upper floors
- Vertical circulation: Staircases, lifts (elevators), and sometimes escalators
- Strong structural system: Designed to carry loads from all upper floors safely to the foundation
- Efficient space use: Ideal for residential, commercial, and office purposes
Structural components
- Foundation: Transfers total building load to the ground
- Columns & beams: Support and distribute loads
- Slabs (floors): Provide usable floor area
- Shear walls / bracing: Resist wind and earthquake forces
Types of multi-storey buildings
- Residential buildings: Apartments, flats
- Commercial buildings: Offices, malls
- Mixed-use buildings: Combination of residential and commercial
