Deep Foundations for High-Rise Buildings in Hong Kong

Abstract

Hong Kong is famous for being geographically small yet densely packed with skyscrapers. So it comes as no surprise that heavy duty foundations or even "mega-foundations" are necessary to support these numerous structures. To cope with the rapid pace of construction, several deep foundation types have been widely adopted according to prescribed design guidelines.

This paper has selected two commonly adopted but distinctive foundation types, namely, large diameter bored piles and percussive steel H-piles to illustrate the special design and construction considerations related to these pile types and the local context of the building. The supervision requirement for foundation works, which is unique to Hong Kong, will also be highlighted. A case history is discussed at the end of the paper to illustrate the application of one of these foundations and to highlight the importance of considering foundation design and the basement excavation method in a holistic manner.