Case Study: Central Bank of Azerbaijan achieves a striking, high-performance twisting headquarters with Thornton Tomasetti

Central Bank of Azerbaijan builds a 164-meter twisting tower with Thornton Tomasetti

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan required a new iconic headquarters, a 164-meter twisting tower for the Baku skyline that had to withstand intense wind and seismic forces. Thornton Tomasetti was engaged to provide structural design and construction engineering services, utilizing seismic performance-based design to meet the challenge of the site's demands and the building's complex geometry.

Thornton Tomasetti implemented a solution that modeled the rotating floors and columns as a single 3D system, using performance-based design to optimize the core walls and foundations. This approach ensured the structure met all strength and serviceability requirements while keeping predicted accelerations comfortable for occupants. The successful collaboration resulted in a structurally efficient and architecturally expressive tower, which was recognized with a Gold Award for Engineering Excellence.

Central Bank of Azerbaijan