Marriott Hotel at Penn Square and
Lancaster County Convention Center

Lancaster, PA

Trevor J. Sullivan
Construction Management

 
Welcome to Trevor Sullivan's Senior Thesis e-Portfolio
 

User Note:
While great efforts have been taken to provide accurate and complete information on the pages of CPEP, please be aware that the information contained herewith is considered a work-in-progress for this thesis project. Modifications and changes related to the original building designs and construction methodologies for this senior project are solely the interpretation of Trevor Sullivan. Changes and discrepancies in no way imply that the orginal design contained errors or was flawed. Differing assumptions, code references, requirements, and methodologies have been incorporated into this thesis project; therefore, investigation results may vary from the original design.

Thesis Proposal

The proposal outlines issues faced on the project and proposed changes to remedy the issues that will be analyzed to add value, decrease schedule and cost to the project.

Proposal (click to download .pdf of proposal)

Executive Summary (click to download .pdf of executive summary of proposal)

Revised Executive Summary (click to download .pdf of revised executive summary)

----- Latest Proposal and Executive Summary with Revisions (posted 3.2.08) ---

Proposal (click to download .pdf of Proposal)

Executive Summary (click to download .pdf of Executive Summary)

Three technical issues will be analyzed and one industry issue will be researched and applied towards the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center Project. All of the following issues will be addressing construction difficulties that arose in the
lower levels of the project, in particularly the convention entry level of the project. These technical and industry issues include:

Proposal Topics (12.16.07):

Breadth #1 - Structural Redesign
The structural system of the convention entry level will be redesigned from a cast in
place concrete structure to a steel structure. The steel structure will allow for the super structure
to be erected prior to all underground and unforeseen issues being complete in the museum and
convention entry levels.

Breadth #2 - Mechanical Redesign
The ceiling will be redesigned from a hard ceiling to a balloon type ceiling. This
redesign will yield a savings in smoke evacuation ductwork by utilizing the plenum space as
means of smoke evacuation. The proposed change will also provide a savings in material costs,
design costs and time, and schedule. Additionally, in switching from a concrete structure to steel
structure the required ductwork will be evaluated for the potential in having the entire ductwork
run through the joist openings and thus not losing floor to ceiling height.

Breadth #3 - Construction Sequencing
A micro-pile foundation system will be designed and evaluated as an alternative to
decrease the schedule for the foundation work from the existing caisson foundation design.
Additionally, the convention entry (south end of the site) will be evaluated and re-sequenced to
implement all the proposed changes. With the implementation of all proposed changes the south
end of the site will be a cleaner more efficient work area that will also reduce the schedule.

Research - BIM Implementation
The BIM processes that will be researched for this project will include the effectives and
advantages of having a 3D electronic survey of existing conditions imported into a BIM
model/3D model of the structure when an existing building is on the proposed building site.
Additionally the use of BIM for the coordination of MEP systems and for the design and
coordination of the structure will be evaluated for potential advantages with using BIM.

Revised Proposal Topics (1.17.08):

Breadth #1 - Structural Redesign
The structural system of the convention entry level will be redesigned from a 13 inch thick cast in place concrete floor slab and concrete structure to a composite steel joist structural system.  A composite steel joist system will be designed to support the required 350psf live load of the exhibit space.    

Breadth #2 - Mechanical Redesign
In the Convention Entry Level the smoke evacuation ductwork is very large and cumbersome.  With review of Marriott Standards for smoke evacuation requirements the ceiling will be redesigned from a hard ceiling to a balloon type ceiling.  The space will be analyzed for the new smoke evacuation requirements and a resulting smoke evacuation system will be designed including the fans and ductwork sizes.  The proposed change will also be analyzed for potential savings in material costs, design costs and time, and schedule.  Additionally, in switching from a concrete structure to steel structure the required ductwork will be evaluated for the potential in having the entire ductwork run through the joist openings and thus not losing floor to ceiling height.

Depth #1 - Construction Sequencing
An equivalent micro-pile foundation system will be designed to support the required loads that the current caissons support.  This system will also be evaluated as an alternative to decrease the schedule for the foundation work.  In large part, the convention entry (south end of the site) will be evaluated and re-sequenced to implement the proposed changes of the foundation system, superstructure structural system and mechanical ductwork installation.  With the implementation of all proposed changes the south end of the site will be a cleaner more efficient work area that will also reduce the schedule. In utilizing a steel structure it will allow for the super structure to be erected prior to all underground work and unforeseen issues being completed in the museum and convention entry levels.

Research - BIM Implementation
The BIM processes that will be researched for this project will include the effectives and advantages of implementing a 3D electronic survey of existing conditions into a BIM model/3D model of the structure.  The existing buildings made it difficult to design and construct the new Marriott Hotel and Convention Center with traditional surveying techniques.  The required learning curve, costs and time will be evaluated against the advantages in having the 3D electronic survey imported into BIM/3D model for design and coordination.

Revised Proposal Topics (3.2.08):

Breadth #1 - Structural Redesign
The structural system of the convention entry and museum levels will be redesigned from a cast in place concrete floor slab and concrete structure to a composite steel joist structural system with W-shape columns and girders.  Additionally, cantilevered retaining walls will be designed using Ivany block to replace the pinned cast-in-place concrete retaining walls utilized. 

Breadth #2 – Mechanical/Plumbing Redesign
The original groundwater lift station system will be redesigned to account for additional water flow required; due to the discovery of a natural underground spring encountered during the excavation process. 

Depth #1 - Construction Sequencing (Research #2 = Minipile)
An equivalent micro-pile foundation system will be designed to support the required loads that the current caissons support.  This system will also be evaluated as an alternative to decrease the schedule for the foundation work.  In large part, the convention entry (south end of the site) will be evaluated and re-sequenced to implement the proposed changes of the foundation system, retaining walls and superstructure structural system construction. 

Research #1 - BIM Implementation
A specific BIM processes that will be researched for this project will include the effectives and advantages of implementing a 3D electronic survey of existing conditions into a BIM model/3D model of the structure.  The existing buildings on site made it difficult to design and construct the new Marriott Hotel and Convention Center with traditional surveying techniques.  The costs and limited availability of the new technology will be evaluated against the advantages in time savings and in having the 3D electronic survey available for incorporation into a 3D model of the superstructure to avoid conflicts.

 

   

This Page was last updated on March 2, 2008 , by Trevor J. Sullivan and is hosted by the AE Department ©2007.