Structural Engineering for Skyscrapers and Tall Buildings Training Course
1Summary
Every extra floor in a tall building changes the rules of structural design: loads multiply, wind becomes a governing force rather than a side consideration, and the ground itself starts pushing back differently during an earthquake. This training course equips structural and civil engineers with the practical, modern tools needed to design buildings where height is the central engineering challenge, not an afterthought.
Across the programme, participants examine how skyscrapers stay upright and comfortable under wind loads, how seismic design keeps tall structures safe in earthquake-prone regions, and how concrete structures remain the backbone of most of the world's tallest buildings. The course also connects these technical threads to real coordination challenges between structural, architectural, and MEP teams.
Delivered by Arab British Fellowship Training Academy, the Structural Engineering for Skyscrapers and Tall Buildings Training Course builds the advanced, specialised capability structural and civil engineers need to take on high-rise projects with confidence.
2Objectives and target group
This training course helps participants to:
- Recognise what makes tall building design fundamentally different from low-rise construction
- Select and evaluate structural systems used in skyscrapers based on height and function
- Analyse and design against wind loads, including drift control and occupant comfort
- Apply seismic design and ductility principles to high-rise buildings in earthquake-prone zones
- Design reinforced concrete cores, shear walls, and columns for tall structures
- Manage lateral stability and dynamic behaviour, including resonance and stiffness trade-offs
- Coordinate structural decisions with architectural and MEP requirements on live projects
Who Should Attend
- Structural and civil engineers designing skyscrapers or tall buildings
- Engineers working on projects in seismic or high-wind regions
- Design consultants and reviewers on high-rise developments
- Mid-rise structural engineers moving into high-rise design
3Course Content
Module 1: Why Height Changes the Design Equation
- What distinguishes high-rise design from conventional buildings
- Design codes and standards governing high-rise structures
- Key structural challenges introduced by height and slenderness
Module 2: Structural Systems for Skyscrapers
- Frames, cores, and outrigger systems
- Selecting a structural system based on height and function
- Structural efficiency and material considerations
Module 3: Wind and Lateral Dynamic Behaviour
- Static and dynamic wind analysis methods
- Managing wind-induced drift and occupant comfort
- Dynamic response, resonance, and balancing stiffness with strength
Module 4: Seismic Design for Tall Structures
- Seismic design principles for high-rise buildings
- Ductility, damping, and energy dissipation
- Applying seismic codes to high-rise projects
Module 5: Concrete Structures in High-Rise Construction
- Design of concrete cores, shear walls, and columns
- High-strength concrete applications in tall buildings
- Constructability considerations in high-rise concrete work
Module 6: From Design to Delivery
- Case studies in high-rise building design
- Coordinating structural decisions with architectural and MEP teams
- Lessons learned from real high-rise structural projects