Structural
Musaed Alhajeri |
Remington Row
Baltimore, MD
Advisor: Dr. Aly M. Said
Proposal
Structural Depth
The podium structure in Remington Row has some drawbacks such as the use of a transfer slab which is not ideal because of the cost and the increased structural depth. The transfer slab in Remington Row is 12” with drop panels that are 12” as well giving a structural depth of 24”. Another issue that arises is the multitude of different lateral resisting systems that have to be implemented including moment frames which are not cost-effective. The objective of the design alternative is to eliminate the need of a transfer slab and unify the building’s lateral elements to minimize the coordination needed between trades.
The design alternative proposed is a flat plate concrete system that would eliminate the need of a podium building and a transfer slab. The proposed lateral system would be concrete moment frames. Since concrete is a rigid material and the building is 60 feet tall, no significant lateral forces are expected so concrete moment frames should suffice. The perimeter columns along with slab edge beams would act as a moment frame, so the lateral system blends in with the gravity system. With this design, the structural system devised would rely on one main material rather than multiple and would therefore require less coordination between trades. In addition to that, the existing system already consists of a concrete podium, so there is a baseline for the design with preliminary sizes and column locations that could offer an easy entry into the design.
Existing Conditions Report and Proposal
Sustainability Breadth
The transition from wood construction to concrete construction poses some issues with sustainability. The extent of that effect will be explored in this project. Factors such as production and transportation will be studied to determine how to build more sustainably with concrete. Another aspect that will be analyzed is the building’s LEED score. Since Remington Row received a LEED silver score, it is important to check if this score would be maintained and possibly improved with the new design. The current LEED score will be reviewed to determine what criteria are still applicable and what would be affected. In addition to that, the possibility of capitalizing on more LEED criteria will be assessed. Additional recommended LEED criteria will be thoroughly analyzed and assessed to determine feasibility, estimated cost, and whether their implementation is recommended based on the research done. Based on the LEED score card of the current design, it seems that water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and energy performance are areas that could possibly be addressed.
Revised Proposal
Construction Breadth
The proposed design would incur a lot of changes in construction that require assessment. The construction cost will be analyzed using RS Means data for both assemblies and unit costs. The final costs will be compared to the cost of the existing structure. Some online research discusses the economy of podium buildings, but with the addition of a transfer slab and moment frames in Remington Row, that economy might not have been achieved. The cost analysis is intended to see if the proposed design offers any financial benefits. Construction schedule is another important factor to be considered, especially because the proposed system is going to be entirely cast in place concrete. The effect this has on the construction schedule and the total cost has to be explored in order to properly assess the adequacy of the proposed system. In addition to that, the cost difference incurred by changes in construction time and schedule will be included to ensure accurate total costs.