Tree House Sequence, HD BIM, and PBEE

Hollywood Casino Jamul (HC Jamul) is a three-story entertainment facility, located in Jamul, California, with approximately 200,000 square feet of gaming, restaurants, and lounges atop an eight-story, below-grade, 1,800-space parking garage. The casino structure’s innovative steel lateral force resisting system utilizes rocking braced frames and Krawinkler fuses integrated into Vierendeel trusses to produce a performance-based seismic design. This keeps the integrity of the perimeter cantilevered gravity system protected while the lateral system is repairable after a major seismic event. …

Adding FRP Composite Sidewalks to Vehicle Bridges

“Can I walk there from here?” It’s a question more and more Americans are asking these days. A renewed focus on health and a cleaner environment are partially responsible. This new emphasis is developing into an emerging trend among Millennials, who demographers estimate to number 79.8 million, and is influencing the way developers look at city planning. Because of technologic advances, a significant percentage of the nation’s largest living generation is choosing to hang up their car keys and walk, participate in a bicycle sharing system, or hop aboard public transportation to jump start their workday. …

A Multi-Use Path Curving to the Banks of the Charles River

The Frances “Fanny” Appleton Pedestrian Bridge is a 750-foot long, multi-use path located on the banks of the Charles River in Boston, MA. This contemporary, curving, “ribbon-like” structure will be a signature bridge for Boston thanks to its geometrically challenging form. It will comfortably carry pedestrian crowds to and from the famous Boston Pops 4^th of July fireworks concert. The pedestrian bridge is comprised of 550 continuous feet of elevated steel superstructure, including the 222-foot main span Vierendeel truss arch. …

Hudson Yards, located on the west side of Manhattan, is a 14-acre area experiencing a major expansion. This renewed interest in the parcel is spearheaded by Related/Oxford Properties, who acquired the overbuild rights of the yards of the Long Island Railroad. …

Revitalization of the Hancock Observatory

In early 2013, Thornton Tomasetti (TT) partnered with colleagues at Montparnasse 56 (M56), who had recently purchased the 94^th-floor observatory in Chicago’s iconic John Hancock Tower, with a plan to modernize and revitalize the experience for its visitors. The M56 plan involved gutting and modernizing the interior space and installing a unique attraction that would add an adventure element experience for guests. The concept of “tilting” patrons outside the footprint of the tower was pitched by M56 as a way to provide a one-of-a-kind thrill, taking full advantage of the Hancock Tower’s height and spectacular views of Chicago. …

Use of Innovative Software Helps Reduce Costs and Project Delivery Time

Set to be the United Kingdom’s second tallest building next to the Shard skyscraper, 22 Bishopsgate is a 62-story, 912-foot (278-meter) glass-clad tower that will sit at the center of a cluster of high rises in London’s Financial District. PLP Architecture conceptually designed the building, featuring 120,000 square meters (nearly 1.3 million square feet) of office space, retail shops, fitness centers, educational facilities, restaurants, and an open viewing terrace and observatory, in a bid to create the city’s first vertical village. …

Saving the Path to the Beach

Perched on a bluff along the shore of Puget Sound, Howarth Park is a heavily wooded and frequently used public park in Everett, Washington. With its spectacular views of the Sound and small beach at the water’s edge, the park is very popular. However, like most of the eastern shore of Puget Sound north of Seattle, the actual beachfront is cut off from the uplands by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad line. The public must cross a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks and descend down to the beach level on a wooden stair tower to access the beach. …

On May 27, 2016, Navy Pier unveiled Centennial Wheel, the much anticipated 525-ton Ferris wheel erected in celebration of the Pier’s 100^th year. Both tourists and Chicago natives alike had been anxiously awaiting the reimagined landmark, which stands an impressive 50 feet taller and weighs nearly twice as much as its predecessor. …

Port Bolivar Ferry Maintenance Operations Facility

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Houston District, has provided ferry service across Galveston Bay on SH 87 between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula for over 80 years. This free service represents the only means of public transportation across the Bay. Every year, millions of people, automobiles, and cargo are moved via this ferry route. The 2.7-mile trip takes approximately 18 minutes, saving motorists at least an hour of commute time on alternate local roads north of the Bay. …