Three towers, up to 55 stories high, support a 340-meter-high aerial platform weighing over 7,000 tons at a height of 200 meters: a building that defied engineering by eliminating columns and transferring loads at the top.
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Three towers, up to 55 stories high, support a 340-meter-high aerial platform weighing over 7,000 tons at a height of 200 meters: a building that defied engineering by eliminating columns and transferring loads at the top.
Written byValdemar Medeiros
Published in 07/01/2026 at 22:51
With three inclined towers and a 340-meter aerial platform suspended 200 meters above the ground, Marina Bay Sands redefined the limits of modern structural engineering.
The Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is not just an iconic hotel complex. It represents one of the boldest structural decisions ever made in contemporary civil engineering.Transferring thousands of tons of cargo to the top of three independent towers., completely eliminating any traditional vertical support under most of the upper structure.
The project consists of three asymmetrical towers, with heights reaching 55 floors, on which a continuous platform was installed340 meters long, known as SkyPark. This “inhabitable bridge” houses gardens, restaurants, viewpoints, and the famous infinity pool, all within approximately200 meters above ground level.
The detail that makes the work truly extraordinary is its weight:more than 7,000 tons concentrated at the top, distributed unevenly among the three towers. In structural terms, this means that the building operates as a system of reverse charge transfer, something extremely rare in buildings of this size.
How to support 7,000 tons at the top without continuous columns.
Unlike conventional skyscrapers, where loads descend vertically to the foundations, the Marina Bay Sands was designed to…to absorb horizontal and vertical forces at the top of the structure.Each tower functions as a partially independent structural element, but they are all connected by the upper platform.
The SkyPark is not rigidly attached to the three towers at the same time. It is structurally supported by…only two towers, while the third remains connected by sliding joints. This solution allows the assemblyMonitor thermal expansion, seismic vibrations, and wind-induced displacements.without generating destructive internal tensions.
On hot days, the platform can move.up to several centimetersRegarding the towers, something imperceptible to users, but essential for the structural integrity of the building over the decades.
Inclined towers and asymmetrical loads
Another critical challenge of the project was the fact that the three towersThey are not perfectly vertical nor identical. They exhibit slight inclinations and distinct geometries, which creates asymmetrical load distributionsThis forced engineers to adopt advanced high-strength reinforced concrete systems, as well as rigid cores capable of absorbing torsional stresses.
The foundations had to be oversized to handle not only the weight of the towers themselves, but also the…moments generated by the aerial platform, which functions as a gigantic structural lever.
Deep piles were driven into the coastal subsoil of Singapore to ensure stability in land partially reclaimed from the sea, another factor that drastically increased the complexity of the project.
The swimming pool that became an engineering problem.
The famous infinity pool at SkyPark is more than just an aesthetic element. It contains hundreds of tons of moving water, which generates additional dynamic loads.
The system needed to be designed to handle internal waves, user movement, and level variations without compromising the structure.
For this purpose, damping systems and auxiliary reservoirs were used to redistribute the weight of the water according to usage, preventing excessive load concentrations at specific points on the platform.
Modular construction and overhead assembly
The construction of SkyPark required unprecedented logistics. The platform was manufactured in large metal and concrete modules, lifted individually by cranes with very high capacity.
Each segment was positioned with millimeter tolerances, since any misalignment would compromise the final structural fit.
Only after the complete installation of the main modules were the architectural elements, gardens, and hydraulic systems added, reducing risks during the critical phase of construction.
A building that operates as a living system.
Sensors distributed throughout the towers and platform continuously monitor the system.vibration, displacement, temperature and structural stresses.
In practice, Marina Bay Sands functions as a structural organism monitored in real time, allowing for preventative interventions and operational adjustments throughout its lifespan.
This level of instrumentation is more common in cable-stayed bridges and dams than in buildings, which reinforces the hybrid nature of the construction:Part skyscraper, part habitable aerial bridge..
Why did this project change the engineering of tall buildings?
The Marina Bay Sands proved thatSkyscrapers don’t need to obey the classic vertical logic.He paved the way for projects that explore overhead load transfer, flexible connections between towers, and the intensive use of aerial platforms as elevated urban spaces.
More than just a tourist icon, the complex has become…a must-see case study in structural engineering, cited in universities, conferences and technical manuals as an example of how physical limits can be redefined when architecture and engineering work at the same level of ambition.
Original:
https://clickpetroleoegas.com.br/55-andares-sustentam-uma-plataforma-aerea-de-340-metros-e-mais-de-7-mil-toneladas-a-200-metros-de-altura-vml97
