PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
With the recent completion of
the region’s new state-of-the-art
Convention Center and Global
Center for Health Innovation, there
was a need for a lodging tied into the
complex. Cuyahoga County took the
roll as developer for a new first-class
hotel.
The Hilton Cleveland Downtown project provided Cleveland with a first-class, 600 room
hotel tied into the Convention Center and Global Center for Health Innovation. Barber &
Hoffman, Inc. served as structural Engineering of Record.
Responsibilities included all aspects of the Construction Document production and
construction administration. During development of the GMP, multiple foundations systems
were evaluated in collaboration with the Construction Manager and Geotechnical Engineer
of Record to select the most cost efficient solution. The coordination and communication
continued throughout the project allowed an early deep foundation package to be released
one month prior to final Design Development documents. The full foundation package was
issued one week after the final the Design Development documents.
The project included heavily loaded deep foundations interacting with shallow foundations.
The design team took careful consideration of differential movement due to the differing
foundation types. Specialized wind tunnel testing was performed to reduce concrete core
wall requirements while maintaining occupancy comfort in the harsh winds coming off of
Lake Erie.
The hotel tower consists of conventionally reinforced concrete two-way slabs at the lower
six levels and post-tensioned concrete slabs above the sixth level. The adjacent podium
structure utilizes 120’ long-span steel trusses to support ballrooms on two levels. The
long-span steel trusses were designed for occupancy comfort due to vibrations of rhythmic
dancing.
The tight schedule, driven by an ambitious deadline, posed the most significant challenge.
In order to facilitate meeting this schedule, permits were issued in stages. For example,
the podium steel permit was issued months prior to the concrete permit. Throughout the
project, the design team worked with the demands of completing design, shop drawings
review, and construction administration simultaneously.