Doka’s formwork solutions deployed for special design of two towers of New VakifBank headquarters
With the new headquarters of VakifBank, Istanbul is now in the process of becoming a financial capital. Covering a total area of 690,000 m² with 257,464m² of usable area, the office construction will be one of the most spectacular buildings in the Istanbul Finance Centre. Doka offered a suitable formwork solution for the design of the two towers, whose shape will vary between rectangles and hexagons.
Covering a total area of 690,000 m² with 257,464m² of usable area, the towers will reach heights of 221.3 m and 151.6 m respectively upon completion, covering 52 and 36 storeys. - Copyright: Doka
Fact File
Project: VakifBank Headquarters
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Type of structure: High-rise, Office building
Height: 221.3 m & 151.6 m
Number of storeys: 52 & 36
Developer: VAKIF GYO
Main Contractor: REC Uluslararası İnşaat Yatırım Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş
Architect: Tabanlıoğlu Mimarlık A.Ş
Start of construction: 05/2017
Scheduled completion: 08/2020
Systems used: Doka Protection Screen Xclimb 60
Services: Engineering, Formwork instructor services
Acknowledged as one of the biggest state-owned banks in Turkey, VakifBank was established in 1954 and has since become an international institution with offices in New York, Bahrain and through participation in Vienna, Cologne and Frankfurt. The bank decided to build a brand new headquarters that drew on “Islamic patterns born out of mathematical wisdom,” according to architects Tabanlıoğlu Mimarlık A.Ş. However, finding a formwork solution for this striking design had its own set of challenges, and was one of the reasons why the engineering hours on the project exceeded 4500 hours.
Working with main contractor REC Rönesans Uluslararası İnşaat Ticaret A.Ş, both Doka Turkey and Doka’s high-rise engineering department were challenged to find a suitable formwork solution for the two business towers, which resulted in the team having to draw on their extensive experience and resources. Finding a suitable formwork solution for this project was extremely challenging. Firstly, the shape of the towers varied between rectangles and hexagons, which also varied from floor to floor. In addition, the design meant typical slabs were missing which complicated things even further. Furthermore; post-tensioning cables of slab and steel plates of facade application required special solutions for protection screen designs.
Central to the brief was to provide maximum safety, which led to Doka using its Xclimb 60 Protection Screen. - Copyright: Doka
Covering a total area of 690,000 m² with 257,464m² of usable area, the towers will reach heights of 221.3 m and 151.6 m, respectively, upon completion, and covering 52 and 36 storeys. Central to the brief was to provide maximum safety, which led to Doka using its Xclimb 60 Protection Screen. Thanks to its slab-to-slab coverage, site teams were not only protected from fall risk, but also from Istanbul’s inclement winter weather.
Speaking on behalf of the contractor Sinan Sungur, site construction chief said, “Working with the Xclimb 60 Protection Screen not only provided the high levels of safety we were looking for, but also allowed us to get on with the job in hand. Site teams work a lot more efficiently when they feel secure.”
Doka was able to secure this project thanks to its tailored safety, sophisticated engineering, and onsite instruction. The project will be handed over in August 2020.
Doka, a part of the Umdasch Group, is a world leader in developing, manufacturing and distributing formwork technology for use in all fields of the construction sector. With more than 160 sales and logistics facilities in over 70 countries, Doka has a high-performing distribution network which ensures that equipment and technical support are provided swiftly and professionally.
Covering a total area of 690,000 m² with 257,464m² of usable area, the towers will reach heights of 221.3 m and 151.6 m respectively upon completion, covering 52 and 36 storeys. - Copyright: DokaFact File
Project: VakifBank Headquarters
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Type of structure: High-rise, Office building
Height: 221.3 m & 151.6 m
Number of storeys: 52 & 36
Developer: VAKIF GYO
Main Contractor: REC Uluslararası İnşaat Yatırım Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş
Architect: Tabanlıoğlu Mimarlık A.Ş
Start of construction: 05/2017
Scheduled completion: 08/2020
Systems used: Doka Protection Screen Xclimb 60
Services: Engineering, Formwork instructor services
Acknowledged as one of the biggest state-owned banks in Turkey, VakifBank was established in 1954 and has since become an international institution with offices in New York, Bahrain and through participation in Vienna, Cologne and Frankfurt. The bank decided to build a brand new headquarters that drew on “Islamic patterns born out of mathematical wisdom,” according to architects Tabanlıoğlu Mimarlık A.Ş. However, finding a formwork solution for this striking design had its own set of challenges, and was one of the reasons why the engineering hours on the project exceeded 4500 hours.
Working with main contractor REC Rönesans Uluslararası İnşaat Ticaret A.Ş, both Doka Turkey and Doka’s high-rise engineering department were challenged to find a suitable formwork solution for the two business towers, which resulted in the team having to draw on their extensive experience and resources. Finding a suitable formwork solution for this project was extremely challenging. Firstly, the shape of the towers varied between rectangles and hexagons, which also varied from floor to floor. In addition, the design meant typical slabs were missing which complicated things even further. Furthermore; post-tensioning cables of slab and steel plates of facade application required special solutions for protection screen designs.
Central to the brief was to provide maximum safety, which led to Doka using its Xclimb 60 Protection Screen. - Copyright: DokaCovering a total area of 690,000 m² with 257,464m² of usable area, the towers will reach heights of 221.3 m and 151.6 m, respectively, upon completion, and covering 52 and 36 storeys. Central to the brief was to provide maximum safety, which led to Doka using its Xclimb 60 Protection Screen. Thanks to its slab-to-slab coverage, site teams were not only protected from fall risk, but also from Istanbul’s inclement winter weather.
Speaking on behalf of the contractor Sinan Sungur, site construction chief said, “Working with the Xclimb 60 Protection Screen not only provided the high levels of safety we were looking for, but also allowed us to get on with the job in hand. Site teams work a lot more efficiently when they feel secure.”
Doka was able to secure this project thanks to its tailored safety, sophisticated engineering, and onsite instruction. The project will be handed over in August 2020.
Doka, a part of the Umdasch Group, is a world leader in developing, manufacturing and distributing formwork technology for use in all fields of the construction sector. With more than 160 sales and logistics facilities in over 70 countries, Doka has a high-performing distribution network which ensures that equipment and technical support are provided swiftly and professionally.
NBM&CW December 2019
