The Benefits of Podium Slabs It creates a solid barrier between parking areas and residential areas, providing sound and fire protection as a result. The use of a post-tensioned two-way podium slab allows the total thickness of the frame to be reduced. This reduces material costs and the overall weight of the building. The podium acts as the base for elevators, stairs, and other amenities that will be common in high-rise buildings. A podium can also provide space for shops or restaurants on its ground floor, which would not be possible otherwise. The size of the podium determines how many floors it can support. For example, a 1,000-foot-tall skyscraper with 50 feet of depth for the podium supports only five floors instead of six. A podium is usually made of concrete, but it can also be made of steel or wood. Concrete is used because of its durability and resistance to corrosion. Podiums are often color-coded to indicate different levels of security, with red being the lowest level and green being the highest. Buildings with penthouses or apartments raised above the main body of the structure are sometimes called "tower houses". However, this term can also refer to any house with additions attached to one side, so it is not specific to podium buildings. Towers are often considered an architectural style rather than a specific type of construction.