Thesis Proposal

Hakuna Resort Swift Water, Pennsylvania

Image Courtesy of LMN Development LLC

Young Jeon
Structural Option
Advisor: Heather Sustersic
12 December 2014
 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Table of Contents
Thesis Proposal ............................................................................................................................... 1
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 2
Executive summary......................................................................................................................... 3
Purpose and Scope .......................................................................................................................... 4
Building Background Description .................................................................................................. 4
Structural System ............................................................................................................................ 6
Brief Description of Structural System ....................................................................................... 6
Foundation ................................................................................................................................... 6
Floor Systems .............................................................................................................................. 8
Lateral Load Resisting Elements ................................................................................................. 9
Framing System ......................................................................................................................... 11
Typical Bay ............................................................................................................................ 11
Columns..................................................................................................................................... 13
Roofing System ......................................................................................................................... 14
Joint Details ............................................................................................................................... 14
Problem Statement ........................................................................................................................ 16
Proposed Solution...................................................................................................................... 16
Breadth Studies.......................................................................................................................... 16
Architecture............................................................................................................................ 16
Construction Management ..................................................................................................... 16
Solution Method ........................................................................................................................ 17
Tasks and Tools ......................................................................................................................... 17
Timetable ................................................................................................................................... 19
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 20

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Executive summary
Hakuna Resort is a jungle/safari theme hotel that includes a 217,703 square feet indoor water
park as well as outdoor pool. The other side of the resort is convention centers which provides
multiple meeting spaces. Divided into three distinctive spaces, the hotel is in between the indoor
water park and convention space. These spaces are connected with expansion joints, therefore,
can be looked at as three separate buildings.

The hotel building has total of eight stories above ground with total height of 101-5 to the top
of roof excluding the basement. With each floor having approximately 45,000 SF, the hotel
portion of the resort has 395,938 SF by itself. The scope of this thesis project is limited to the
hotel portion of the site; however, future assignment may incorporate an impactful design of
hotel to improve cohesiveness of adjacent buildings.

The proposed thesis will include an investigation of an alternate lateral resisting system as
staggered steel truss system. The existing structure contains extraordinary number of load
bearing masonry shear wall in a non-seismic zone, which raises a question about the efficiency
and necessity of all shear walls the structure has. With the repetitive floor layout of residential
hotel building, staggered truss was chosen to take the advantage of layout and minimize the
design conflicts. To compare the existing lateral system and the alternate system, the existing
load bearing masonry shear walls and moment frames will be examined, steel staggered truss
system will be investigated and designed.

During this redesign process, other breadths require careful considerations. The floor plan layout
of lower floor of hotel which uses steel moment frames for lobby spaces may need readjustment
with staggered truss system implementation. As an architectural breadth study, redesign of floor
layout of lower levels and change in faade design will be investigated.

With the change in lateral resisting system material, difference in cost of alternate system and
scheduling of different sequencing method need to be investigated as well. Therefore, cost
analysis and scheduling will be studied and compared to the existing structure as construction
management breadth topic.

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this proposal is to describe existing structural condition, state the potential
problem of it and redesign existing load bearing masonry shear wall to staggered steel truss
system as an alternate lateral system for hotel structure of Hakuna Resort at Swiftwater, PA. This
proposal also includes two breadth topics that must be examined along with the alternate lateral
system design, architectural and construction management.

Building Background Description

Hakuna Resort is a jungle theme resort which includes both indoor waterpark and outdoor pool
as well as convention centers while providing luxury hotel space. The indoor waterpark, located
north-west to the hotel, has square footage of 143,798 SF in first floor and 73,905 SF in second.
As can be seen in figure 1, the convention center is located the opposite, south-east side of the
hotel. With basement space of 18,802 SF, the convention center has first floor space of 92,668
SF. The biggest space, however, is the hotel with total of 394,938 SF distributed throughout
eight stories and a basement.

Waterpark

Hotel

Convention

Figure 1 Project Floor Layout

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Started constructing in March 2014, Hakuna Resort is to

be completed and be open to public in summer of 2015.
The project is also looking ahead for potential of three
additions in the future (figure 2). The hotel, tallest part of
the project, is 101-5 tall and has the most visual impact
when confronted to the site.

The faade of hotel building has color tone of brown, red,

and grey to give earth-like feeling. Custom ancient stone
architectural finishes, applied at the corners of the
building, will keep the consistency of tribal jungle theme
faade finishes. Also little more distinctive color finishes
will be used at the top of hotel faade to give tribal
character to the building. The interior designs are also
jungle theme. Most of the furniture in hotel have bark
surface finishes.

The floor plan layout is very simple in hotel building.

Most of the hotel rooms are identical in plan, repeated in
a regular array at each floor level. The rooms facing
southern side of building has balconies and northern side Figure 2 Project Future Additions
does not. Also, the rooms at the angled middle corner
section and all rooms in the top floor have bigger suite.

Figure 3 Hotel Building Rendering (looking from south)

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Structural System

Brief Description of Structural System

Hakuna Resort is composed with three major components: indoor waterpark, hotel, and
convention center. These components are connected by expansion joints, which allows each
section to be looked at as separate independent buildings. As stated before, only hotel building
will be described in this report due to its size. The main structural system used in this building is
masonry shear walls and precast planks. There are also concrete piers, spread and strip footings,
walls and masonry walls in the foundation and steel framing system in areas that require more
flexible open spaces. The roof system is also precast hollow core planks.

Foundation
The foundation of Hakuna Resort has spread and strip footings or varying sizes to support
concrete columns, exterior walls, steel columns and concrete shear walls. According to the
geotechnical report done by Pennoni Associates Inc., spread footing foundations is feasible in
dense natural soils, weathered rock or compacted load-bearing fill. Both spread and strip
footings have allowable bearing pressure of 4,000 and 6,000 psi with varying steel
reinforcements.

4 slab on 1st floor

5 slab on foundation

Figure 4 Partial Foundation Plan (S0.1)

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

For floor slabs, the geotechnical report approved using slab on grade with the usage of 4 inches
thick layer of granular, free draining aggregate base course directly below the bottom of the slabs
to provide a uniform bearing surface and improve overall slab performance. Figure 4 illustrates
areas where 4 or 5 slab on grade is used.

A typical section of strip footings supporting the 1 wide concrete shear walls is shown in figure
5. Because these footings are supporting the lateral resisting system, their thickness range from
2 to 3-6 whereas the strip footings of exterior walls are below 2. The width of footings for

Figure 5 Concrete Wall Footing Section (S12.01, Drawing 14)

shear walls are also 12-6 wide compared to exterior wall strip footing width, 2-6. Similarly,
the spread footings supporting concrete columns and steel columns are shown below in figure 6
and 7.

Figure 7 Typical Concrete Column Footing (S12.00 Drawing 10) Figure 6 Steel Column on Footing (S12.00 Drawing 16)

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Floor Systems
Hakuna Resorts main floor system is prestressed precast hollow core planks. The hotel is a very
narrow rectangular building with slight turn at the south-east end. The north-west side is about
501-6 by 69 and south-east is 151-6 by 69. Having precast planks spanning long direction
allowed usage of load bearing walls in the other direction. This is a very effective choice of
system while utilizing the architectural layout of hotel. Because the floor layout is repetitive with
identical hotel rooms next to one another, putting loadbearing walls in between the rooms to
support the precast planks is efficient approach.

There are two different thickness of precast planks. As shown in figure 8, there are 10 and 12
thick precast planks. 10 thick planks have six prestressed strands and are used throughout the
building typically spanning 28. The 12 thick planks, which also uses six strands, are only
placed at the 45 corner highlighted in orange in figure 8 below. At this location, bigger suites
that have maximum span of 40 were designed. The balcony is also precast but solid plank that is
1- thick which is supported by 1 x 1 precast columns at each exterior corner.

Loadbearing wall 12 plank

Balcony 10 plank

Figure 8 Partial First Floor Plan (S1.3)

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Lateral Load Resisting Elements

The main lateral force resisting system for Hakuna Resort consists of solid grouted 12 thick
masonry walls. These concrete masonry units are structured to have masonry piers at each ends
and sometimes in the middle as well instead of steel columns. The masonry pier schedule can be
found in figure 10. The blocks have Fm of 2000 psi which requires a net area compressive
strength of 2800 psi and grouted with 3000 psi grout. The typical layout of masonry shear walls
can be found in figure 9.

Figure 9 Masonry Shear Wall Figure 10 Masonry Pier Schedule (S13.3)

(S10.3 Drawing 2)

The size of vertical reinforcement for the masonry shear walls vary from #5 to #8. The spacing
of the reinforcements also vary from 8 to 48 o.c. as the placement of reinforcing become
higher in elevation. #5 bars, which is used the most throughout the shear walls, have 2-4 of
splice and #6 bars have 4-0 splice.

Another lateral force resisting system is reinforced concrete shear walls that erect from the
foundation and up to first and second level of the hotel structure. Varying from 12 to 14 thick,
the concrete shear walls are vertically reinforced in two curtains with #5 or #6 for walls from

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

basement to first floor and #7 for walls from basement to second floor with varying spacing from
12 to 16 o.c. The horizontal reinforcement uses #5 or #6 bars both at 10 o.c. spacing.

The last lateral force resisting system is steel moment frame. Due to the demand and purpose of
certain spaces that require spacious area, reinforced concrete and masonry shear walls were not
adequate. Therefore, to remove the abruptness of blocking space from solid shear walls, steel
moment frames were chosen. Due to this transition, the load from the masonry shear wall will
transfer to the moment frame, which will have an impact on the lateral system analysis. The
spaces which required these moment frames are the theme shop located in the basement level,
service area such as reception, massage, relaxation rooms on second floor, and deluxe suite
located on eighth floor.

The most influential space out of these three is the service area. While the other two spaces only
require moment frame that replaces half of shear walls in one grid line, the service area has entire
gridline to have moment frame as illustrated in figure 11. The frame uses smallest beam of
W27x102 to biggest size of W36x330. The columns of the moment frame vary from W12x65 to
W14x120.

Figure 11 Shear Wall with Steel Moment Frames (S10.2 Drawing 1)

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Framing System
As described above, the structure is mostly comprised of 10 or 12 precast plank supported by
masonry loadbearing shear walls oriented in one direction. The shear walls use 12x8x16 blocks
fully grouted. While this framing system is dominantly present in this project, there are steel
moment frame systems in some portion of the structure as described above section of this report.

Typical Bay
The most replicated typical bay can be found in fourth floor layout, figure 12. This 69 by 28
bay is used from fourth floor to eighth floor. Due to precast planks forming stable frame system
with masonry shear walls only in one direction, any need of beam spanning in the direction that
is perpendicular of shear walls was eliminated; therefore, resulting such large typical bay.

Figure 12 Typical Bay of Fourth Floor Plan (S4.2)

The 12 fully grouted masonry loadbearing shear walls with vertical reinforcement size of #5
with varying spacing per level are supporting 10 prestressed precast hollow core planks with 3
topping and bearing of 5.5. These planks have 1 hour fire rating.

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

To leave the opening for the corridor but to not disrupt supporting planks, lintel system which
consists of HHS 10x4x3/8 and steel plate of 1/2 deep and 12 wide is placed in between the two
shear walls adjacent to the corridor, bearing 4 into the shear walls. As shown in figure 13, this
lintel allows the precast planks to be supported, leaving an opening beneath.

Figure 13 Typical Corridor Lintel Detail (S12.20)

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Columns
Concrete piers were majorly used in basement and first level only where steel columns are
located in order to support them. These concrete piers are in great number of various sizes. It
ranges from a maximum size of 2 by 3-4 to a minimum size of 16 by 16, shown below in
figure 14. The steel columns that sits on top of concrete pier or right above foundation slab on
grade have great number of varieties as well. To a minimum size of W10x49 to maximum of
W14x120.

Figure 14 Concrete Piers (S12.02 Drawing 2 and 19)

There are also 12x12 precast concrete columns that are supporting the balconies. Another
interesting feature in columns from this structure is the canopy to support small roof that sheds
an emergency exit, shown below in figure 15.

Figure 15 Typical Balcony Layout (S4.2)

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Roofing System
Roofing uses exactly the same 10 and 12 thick
precast planks at the same locations as floors below
but except without toppings. As can be seen in
figure 16, 6 galvanized lightgage metal stud
parapet is connected by galvanized steel angle beam
L4x4x3/8. There are also roofing above balconies
(only on eighth floor) and entrances/exits. These hip
roofs are supported by light steel trusses at 24 o.c.

Figure 16 Typical Parapet Section (S12.30 Drawing 11)

Joint Details
As previously described, the precast planks bears
on top of shear walls that are topped with
masonry bond beams and sits on bearing strips
(figure 19). The planks that are connected to the
wide flange beams are set on top of weld anchor
finished with grouted butt joint, shown in figure
18 below. Precast planks supported by steel
column will be connected by steel angle with
stiffener plate in its center, shown in figure 17.

Figure 19 Precast Plank Bearing on Masonry Shear Wall (S12.20 Drawing 10)

Figure 17 Precast Plank Bearing on Steel Beam Figure 18 Precast Plank Support at Steel Column
(S12.20 Drawing 11) (S12.20 Drawing 8)

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

The typical steel framing section is as shown in figure 21. The column web holds double angle
connection as well as clip angle to support wide flange beams. A typical steel moment
connection shown in figure 20 has welded double angle connection with erection bolts.

Figure 21 Typical Steel Framing Section Figure 20 Typical Moment Connection

The steel column is connected to the baseplate shown in figure 22 with non-shrink grout that is
injected between the baseplate and concrete pier. The anchor bolts with leveling nuts are
installed under the base plate to level the baseplate prior to grouting.

Figure 22 Steel Column on Concrete Pier and Base Plate Detail (S12.22 Drawing 10, S13.3 Drawing A)

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Problem Statement
The current lateral system requires more investigation and therefore may need an alternate
design for lateral system. The existing hotel structure of Hakuna Resort contains total of 39 shear
walls. Considering the location of the project, which is not a high seismically active region, this
is too many shear walls. The existing lateral system is combination of load bearing masonry
shear walls, steel moment frames and reinforced concrete shear wall. The load bearing shear
walls support prestressed precast hollow core planks. This may explain the number of load
bearing masonry shear walls this structure has. However, when sorely looked at as a lateral
resisting element, the efficiency of material chose may be questionable.

Proposed Solution
To compare the efficiency of existing lateral system, an alternate lateral system design with
staggered steel truss system will be investigated and designed. By the nature of staggered truss
system, the number of walls created by truss will be greatly reduced compared to the number of
existing load bearing masonry shear walls. However, the size of truss members and
accommodation of hollow core plank support need a further investigation. Despite of this, the
reduction of number of lateral resisting element may have change in the efficiency of lateral
support.

Breadth Studies
Architecture
The implementation of staggered steel truss system may have a big impact on floor plan layout in
lower levels which includes public service areas that require open spaces. The existing structure
handled this problem by using steel moment frame. The second floor contains vestibule, sauna,
reception, relaxation rooms and massage treatment rooms, which does not follow the typical bay
grid layout of hotel rooms above 3rd floor. Hence the floor layout of lower level needs redesign.
Depending on the staggered truss placement decision, the exterior faade may require redesign as
well.

Construction Management
The change in material of lateral system will result change in cost analysis including material
cost and labor cost. Also, because it is a totally different system, it will have different assembly
sequence which affects the schedule of project. After examination, these cost and schedule data
of staggered truss system will be compared to the existing lateral system to determine efficiency
of each design.

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 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Solution Method
Before redesigning the alternate lateral system, the data calculated in Technical Report 4 will be
reevaluated to make sure the calculated value of existing system is accurate when compared with
the new system. Based on the feedback, the ETABS model will be adjusted with more reliable
assumptions and other miscellaneous error must be examined.

The first step before redesign of staggered truss system is to research and gather much
knowledge as possible to be able to design the system. Majorly, the AISC Design Guide 14
Staggered Truss Framing Systems will be used in addition to other available documents related
to the system. After the research and a couple of hand calculation, an ETABS model with the
staggered truss system will be created and compared to the previous model created in Technical
Report 4. During this redesign, new gravity loadings and load paths must be reevaluated. Also,
new structural grid/layout may be implemented and the architectural layout will be redesigned
accordingly. After redesign is done and evaluated its validity, the member strength capacity of
each system will be compared.

Lastly, the cost of both lateral systems will be analyzed using R.S. Means cost data by material
cost and labor cost. The schedule of each system will be analyzed by the transportation of
material, storage of material, and installation process. Then the efficiency of each lateral system
design will be compared based on its cost and schedule data.

Tasks and Tools

1) Reevaluation of Existing Lateral System
a. Check the lateral load calculation
b. Investigate the effect of transition of material (masonry wall to steel moment
frame)
c. Adjust ETABS model
i. Check for better reliable modeling assumptions/decisions for more
accurate output data
ii. Check for any error
2) Staggered Steel Truss Redesign
a. Research and investigate the system using AISC Design Guide 14 and other
resources
b. Design gravity system
i. Size gravity columns and beams
c. Design lateral system
i. Determine staggered truss locations

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Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

ii. Size truss members

iii. Create ETABS model
1. Check for reliability of its assumptions
2. Check for any error
iv. Confirm validity of the model as necessary
v. Evaluate member strength and serviceability
d. Compare redesigned lateral system to original
i. Check strength capacity of member in each system
ii. Check the base shear of each system
iii. Check the center of rigidity of each system
3) Architecture
a. Adjust floor plan layout according to truss placement
b. Redesign exterior faade
c. Create Sketches, Revit Model and renderings
4) Construction Management
a. Calculate a detailed cost analysis data for each system using R.S. Means.
b. Determine project schedule for each system
c. Compare the cost and schedule data and determine the efficiency of each system

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 Proposed Thesis Semester Schedule Young Jeon - Structural Option
January 2015 - April 2015
Hakuna Resort Faculty Advisor - Heather Sustersic
Milestone #1 Milestone #2 Milestone #3 Milestone #4
Jan. 23 Feb. 14 Mar. 6 Apr. 3
Jan. 12 Jan. 19 Jan. 26 Feb. 2 Feb. 9 Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Mar. 2 Mar. 9 Mar. 16 Mar. 23 Mar. 30 Apr. 6 Apr. 13 Apr. 20 Apr. 27
Timetable

In-Depth Existing Lateral

Thesis Proposal

Calculation
Adjust Existing ETABS
Model
Research Staggered Truss
System
Design Gravity System

Design Lateral System T

H
Create ETABS Model of
E
Redesign S
S
F E
Compare Existing vs. Redesign I
S I N
S
P N I
R A O
P
I L R
R
N
E
G R B

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S
E A
E
B P N
Redesign Floor Plans N
R O Q
T
Hakuna Resort

E R U
Redesign Faade A
A T E
T
K T
Create Revit Model & Renderings I
O
Detailed Cost Analysis N

Determine Schedule

Develop and Complete Final Report

Develop Presentation Slides

Finalize Report & Practice ABET Assessment &

Presentaion Update CPEP
Legend Milestone Acitivy Summary
Analysis: Existing System Calculation Check Milestone #1: In-Depth Existing Lateral System Calculation & Revision
Depth: Redesign of Lateral System Milestone #2: Redesign Gravity System Calculation & Architectural Floor Plan & Faade Design
Breadth 1: Architecture Milestone #3: Redesign Lateral System Calculation
Breadth 2: Constrctuion Management Milestone #4: Cost & Schedule Analysis, Final Report & Final Presentation
Final Report & Presentation
Young Jeon
 Thesis Proposal Hakuna Resort Young Jeon

Conclusion
Through this report, the existing condition of structural system was explored as well as the
problem statement with proposed solution was included for Hakuna Resort in Swiftwater, PA.
The extraordinary number of load bearing masonry shear walls in the existing system raised a
potential redesign opportunity of lateral system. To take the advantage of repetitive floorplan
layout of hotel rooms, staggered steel truss system was chosen as alternate lateral system design.

The change of architectural features, such as floor layout of lower level and exterior faade, and
construction management factors, such as cost and schedule, caused by the redesign will be
analyzed and compared to the original system to determine the efficiency of both system and
validate the best option.

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