Nathan Braskey

Construction Option

Hotel - Sunnyvale Plaza

United States

This is a student-generated Capstone Project E-Portfolio (CPEP) produced in conjunction with the AE Senior Thesis E-Studio

Thesis Proposal

 

Thesis Proposal Report

 

Thesis Proposal Report - Revised

The Thesis Proposal explains in detail the four analysis topics for evaluation during the spring semester. The evaluation of these analyses is expected to render schedule and cost savings for Sunnyvale Plaza. The analyses were specifically chosen  due to unique problem areas defined by the project team and through technical exploration during the fall semester. The primary target of the spring analysis consists of an early forecasted opening of the hotel for a national festival. The analyses evaluate the benefits in this target and several methods to achieve the target. A fourth analyses is evaluated to consider long-term cost savings for the hotel manager.

 

Analysis 1 - Profitability of Early Scheduled Opening:

An analysis will be done to determine the profit increase obtained through an earlier opening date. The hotel is set to open just one month after a national festival. Due to the primary focus of the hotel being a convention headquarters, a forecasted opening was not entirely explored. The financial benefits of opening early based on monthly durations will be analyzed. This would be acquired through any of the three other analyses or by increasing the work shifts. Research will be conducted to gain a better understanding of hotel operations and expectations. This will help improve the final process in which to forecast the hotel opening.

 

Analysis 2 - Removal of Renovated Building Section:

The brick union building that is located on the southeast corner of the project site will be renovated and included in the new hotel construction. This existing building created a large amount of deconstruction work and temporary structural requirements throughout the lower levels. Complicated concrete construction also took place within the lower levels of the existing structure. This created a lengthier construction process and delays. Analysis 2 will evaluate the schedule and cost benefits of utilizing facade retention to destroy the existing building while maintaining the historic brick facade.

 

Analysis 3 - Alternate Excavation Methods:

The project team was required to utilize top-down excavation for Sunnyvale Plaza. This excavation process took an extensive amount of extra time to complete. The duration was estimated to be an entire year more than typical excavation methods. The only benefit of utilizing top-down excavation was to allow the team to begin construction upward before the excavation was complete. Analysis 3 will evaluate alternative excavation methods available due to the removal of the existing building in Analysis 2.

 

Analysis 4 - Stormwater Harvesting System:

Water utilities within the city that Sunnyvale Plaza is located are be very expensive. With such a high volume of restroom facilities located within the hotel, the water utility is a major expense to the hotel manager. The hotel consists of 1,175 guestrooms, 49 suites, 5 restaurants, and 5 below-grade levels of meeting rooms and ballrooms. Stormwater harvesting systems can create a large amount of reusable water for the mechanical system. With such a high volume of restroom facilities located in Sunnyvale Plaza, utilizing a water recycling system can be of great benefit. Pursuing a stormwater harvesting system will also earn several LEED points that can improve the overall certification and the overall value of the hotel.

 

Breadth 1 - Structural Analysis:

The structural breadth will consist of an analysis and design of a new structural system for the southeast corner of the building in conjunction with Analysis 2 & 3. This corner of the project site was originally an existing brick building that was stripped and renovated to tie into the new construction. The structural breadth will complement the analysis of destroying the original structure and implementing the area into the new construction. This will include the design of the foundation, footings, floor slabs, beams, and columns for the area. The structural breadth will also include analysis of the shoring utilized during excavation.

 

Breadth 2 - Mechanical Analysis:

The mechanical breadth will consist of an analysis of the plumbing elements throughout the hotel. In conjunction with Analysis 4, a greywater capacity analysis will be conducted for the fixtures throughout the building. The annual rainfall will be measured and evaluated to determine the amount of city water that can be saved by recycling stormwater. The sizing of equipment and piping necessary for the system will also be determined utilizing estimating resources.

 

 

 

 

This page was last updated on January 17, 2014 by Nathan Braskey and is hosted by the AE Department ©2005

User Note:

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 Nathan Braskey. 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.