The Woodley
Woodley Park, Washington, DC

 
 

 
 

 

 



Kevin Kroener
Construction Option
     
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Thesis Proposal

 
 

 

This Thesis Proposal will provide an overview of the four analyses that will compose the Spring 2014 thesis work for The Woodley. Also included are descriptions of any breadth studies and a thesis work schedule. In order to view please click on the below image.

 
       
         
Thesis Proposal - 12/16/13
   
Revised Proposal - 1/17/14
     
   

Analysis #1:

One of the major problems during the construction of the Woodley was the lagging brick masonry construction for the building’s brick exterior façade.  Brick exterior skin was significantly running behind schedule for the planned duration of one year from November 2013 to November 2013 and became a risk to meeting substantial completion in early March of 2014.  Therefore, this analysis will focus on the implementation of off-site prefabrication using brick wall panels to shorten the construction schedule and yield potential cost savings to the owner.  Prefabrication has been proven to save time and money when used effectively on projects in the construction industry.  It reduces the amount of on-site work required to install a particular scope of work and provides a more productive and safer construction sequence.

 

 
Analysis #2:  

A SIPS has also been proven to shorten a project schedule for a given scope of work and produce cost savings by increasing worker productivity with a repetitive and efficient work flow sequence.  They are most advantageous when used for repetitious buildings such as residential high-rises, apartments and prisons.  The repetitive nature of The Woodley’s exterior façade welcomes the use of a SIPS, especially when used in conjunction with the installation and erection of prefabricated brick wall panels proposed in the first analysis.

 

 
Analysis #3:  

The Woodley’s jobsite has very tight site constraints that presented the project team with many safety concerns.  A safety evaluation will be performed to prove the safety benefits of prefabrication over the traditional masonry construction methods used. A matrix scoring system will be developed to evaluate with method is safer and therefore more beneficial to the project.  In addition, an erection and installation specific safety plan will be developed which will uphold and improve upon current OSHA standards.

 

 
Analysis #4:  

There can be many unforeseen challenges associated with the implementation of prefabrication that can potentially outweigh its benefits for a project team.  In-depth research will be conducted to assist in developing an implementation and coordination plan for prefabrication that can be used as a standard by contractors in the construction industry to address these unforeseen challenges. 

 

 

 
Breadth #1:  

A structural breadth will be performed to analyze the anchoring system that will be used to tie in the prefabricated brick wall panels proposed in the first analysis.  An anchoring system will be chosen through determining the range of different loads expected to be placed on the building’s exterior concrete columns and slabs by the prefabricated brick panels when tied in.  If the chosen or specified anchoring system and resulting loads of the brick wall panels cannot effectively be supported by the buildings concrete structural, either a new panel layout breakdown will be developed or a proposed structural redesign will be detailed.

Deliverables:

    • The selection of an anchoring system if not specified by the brick wall panel system manufacturer.
    • Calculations for all anticipated loads for brick wall panels.
    • Details for the anchoring/tie-in system to the building.
    • Detailing of any structural redesign needed to effectively support the brick panels.
 
Breadth #2:  

.A mechanical breadth will be performed to evaluate the thermal energy performance of the chosen prefabricated brick wall panel system used in the first proposed analysis for the off-site prefabrication of the building’s brick exterior skin.  The thermal performance of the brick wall panel system will also be compared to that of the original wall system, also requiring the original system’s performance to be calculated. Thermal gradient calculations will be used to evaluate the energy performance for the most typical weather conditions throughout the year for the Washington, DC area.  This breadth will ensure that the chosen brick wall panel system maintains the required quality per the original design of the building’s exterior envelope and if needed the reselection of a product that is adequate once comparison is complete. 

Deliverables:

    • The thermal energy performance comparison for this mechanical breadth will be executed using thermal gradient calculations.  Therefore, a series of calculations will be documented and illustrated using the wall sections for the brick wall panel system and the original design.  If needed, more calculations will be performed based on different materials being added to the proposed brick wall panel system to ensure that its thermal performance is no less adequate than the original wall design.

     

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
     
     
     
 

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 thesis project are solely the interpretation of Kevin Kroener. Changes and discrepancies in no way imply that the original 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.

 
This page was last updated on 1/17/2014 by Kevin Kroener and is hosted by the AE Department ©2013