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Thesis Proposal
Updated Final Proposal –
3/17/2010
Updated
Final Proposal – 2/2/2010
Updated
Final Proposal – 1/12/2010
Final
Proposal - 12/07/2009
This
proposal is an introduction to four technical analysis topics of the
Pearland Recreation Center and Natatorium building that will be
researched in more depth. These research topics include a
comparison of steel versus a glulam structural system, comparison of a
cooling tower versus a chiller system, analyzing project team
interaction, and a comparison of a welded versus a bolted connection for
glulam arches.
Analysis
#1 – Breadth Topic #1
Pearland
Recreation Center and Natatorium is currently designed with a glulam
structural system in the natatorium while the rest of the building uses a
structural steel system. A comparative analysis between steel and
concrete and glulam structural systems focusing on construction cost, schedule,
constructability, and life cycle costs could produce useful results. This
research will involve calculating the structural building loads and will
therefore constitute a structural breadth topic.
Analysis
#2 – Breadth Topic #2
Currently
the Pearland Recreation Center and Natatorium has a chiller system,
however initially the owner insisted on using a cooling tower
system. It would be interesting to compare the cost, schedule, and
constructability issues associated with each type of system. This comparison
will require calculating the building’s cooling loads and will
consequently be a mechanical breadth topic.
Analysis
#3 – Critical Industry Issue, MAE Graduate Level Component
Project
team interaction has become a popular topic of discussion in the
construction industry. Various project delivery methods, including
the ambiguously defined Integrated Project Delivery Method, have been
experimentally applied to projects internationally in an effort to
identify the ideal delivery method. Other aspects of team
interaction, including contract types and project team selection, are
also being researched. Analysis of Pearland Recreation Center and
Natatorium’s success could glean some useful conclusions that would be
useful to future owners in selecting their project team and developing
their contracts.
Analysis
#4
Erection of
the glulam arches in the natatorium of the Pearland Recreation Center and
Natatorium was problematic due to the bolted connection that connected the
glulam to the concrete footers. Glulam arches have small
tolerances, which causes aligning a bolted connection to be difficult.
Analyzing the alternative of using a welded connection at this
location could prove beneficial to future project teams facing a glulam
structural system.
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Breadth Topics and MAE
Graduate Level Component
Technical
Analysis #1 – Structural
Currently,
the Pearland Recreation Center and Natatorium is designed with a glulam
structural system in the natatorium and a structural steel system in the
recreation center portion of the building. A glulam structural system
costs more to construct, however it is argued that compared to structural
concrete and steel, the glulam material holds up better in the humid environment
of a natatorium.
This
technical analysis will look at the structural redesign necessary to
convert the structural system from glulam to structural concrete and
steel construction. In order to obtain a useful cost comparison, it
is necessary to know what type of concrete and steel members would be
needed in order to support the building’s loads. This data will be
provided from this technical analysis.
Technical
Analysis 2 – Mechanical
During
the design phase of construction the owners of the Pearland Recreation
Center and Natatorium insisted on using a cooling tower system to cool
the water for the building’s mechanical system. PBK, the project
architect and MEP engineer, convinced the owner that using a cooling
tower system would be unreasonable since the building was only 105,000
SF. Instead they suggested using a chiller system, which would be a
more economical choice given the size of the building.
In order
to select the correct cooling tower system, it will be necessary to
identify the building cooling loads. This technical analysis will
focus on calculating the building cooling loads for the Pearland
Recreation Center and Natatorium.
MAE
Graduate Level Component
Research on
the critical industry issue of project team interaction will apply
concepts learned in CE 531 – Legal Aspects of Engineering and
Construction and AE 572 – Project Delivery and Development
Planning. Concepts that were learned in CE 531, which dealt with
contracting and litigation, will serve as a foundation of knowledge with
which to base contract analysis while comparing different contract
types. Aspects of delivery methods learned in AE 572 will be
applied while analyzing the success and failure of various project
delivery methods.
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