By Decire Gonzalez KC'S BLOG • • • • 0 Comments

Adirondack Welcome Center

As part of a Regional Design Services Agreement (RDSA), this project served to construct a new I-87 northbound welcome center in West Glens Falls. The new facility replaced an existing rest area in excess of 25 years old. The new Adirondack Welcome Center included construction of a new building with parking lot and boat inspection areas, lighting, a new septic system, waterline work, and utility upgrades.

As subconsultant, KC was responsible for assisting New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) with reviewing and reapplying for New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES), water connection system, and septic system permitting.

KC also provided detailed design for water supply, wastewater septic, and stormwater systems; design survey and mapping for confirmation of existing infrastructure; preliminary building and site construction cost estimating; and existing utilities identification and coordination. KC also developed site drainage, sanitary system, and grading design alternatives; identified existing drainage basins to determine the impact of proposed construction on erosion and sedimentation; developed the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP); and prepared cross sections to outline existing ground and proposed roadway surfaces.

By Decire Gonzalez KC'S BLOG • • • • • • 0 Comments

The Widening of the Van Wyck Expressway Project

The Van Wyck Expressway (VWE), I-678, is the major gateway into and out of JFK International Airport. It was originally constructed in the early 1950s and is unable to handle current and projected traffic volumes. Congestion and delays are extensive and exist for many hours of the day. This project will widen the VWE by adding a fourth lane (fifth lane at some locations) in both directions to reduce congestion and delays. The added lanes will be operated as Managed Use Lanes that can be dynamically managed.

In addition, operations of the various on/off ramps will be evaluated and elimination and/or relocation will be considered. This project scope included preliminary design services to widen the VWE (I-678) to add a fourth lane from the Kew Gardens Interchange to JFK Airport. The scope also included evaluation of the proposed project on 20 bridges including 4 bridges that carry the Long Island Railroad over the VWE. In addition, operations of the various on/off ramps were evaluated. The length of the project was approximately 4.3 miles.

The bridges and interchanges within the project limits were investigated to determine appropriate work to accommodate the widened VWE. The proper environmental issues were investigated and documented.

KC, as part of the design team, was responsible for the accident analysis, utility relocation, and preliminary design of five structures that are part of the VWE and Belt Parkway Interchange.

By Aliyah Thomas KC'S BLOG • • • • • 0 Comments

Modern Marvel: Morpheus Hotel

The Morpheus Hotel in Macau, China. Photo courtesy of Ivan Dupont.
Zaha Hadid's Morpheus Hotel. Photos courtesy of Virgile Simon Bertrand.
The interior of the Morpheus Hotel. Photos courtesy of Virgile Simon Bertrand

Featuring the self-proclaimed “world’s first free-form high-rise exoskeleton,” Melco Resorts and Entertainment’s Morpheus Hotel in Macau, China officially opened for business as of June 15, 2018.

The hotel was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, spearheaded by the late Dame Zaha Hadid who passed away in 2016. According to South China Morning Post, Hadid’s partner Patrik Schumacher is the new principal of the practice and led the effort to finish the Morpheus Hotel.

With 147,860 square miles of space across all 42 stories of the building, the Morpheus Hotel has over 770 guest rooms, suites, and sky villas, but what really stands out as an engineering marvel is its exoskeleton. Supported by two central towers that connect at the ground and roof, the exoskeleton acts as a strengthened mesh around the building. Additionally, the center of the building has a portion of negative space, where a series of bridges connect each tower (for extra support as well as to provide a unique space for restaurants, bars, and guest lounges).

Moving inside, the internal layout of the building is deeply affected by the external design. With the ability to take on gravitational and lateral loads, the exoskeleton eliminates any need for internal structural support, allowing for open, uninterrupted space – maximizing the building’s interior. The central atrium extends upward the entire height of the building, allowing guests to see exposed space without their view obstructed by support beams.

In addition to high-performance glazing that helps minimize solar gain, the ridging of the exoskeleton also provides shading, allowing the hotel to localize air conditioning only to zones used by staff and guests rather than cooling the whole atrium.[6]

According to Viviana Muscettola, ZHA’s project director, “The expertise of all members of the Morpheus team has created new possibilities for architecture. The comprehensive parametric model combined all of the hotel’s aesthetic, structural, and fabrication requirements and will radically change how our built environment is planned and constructed.”

By Decire Gonzalez KC'S BLOG • • • • 0 Comments

Delaware Valley Job Corps Project

The Delaware Valley Job Corps is a U.S. Department of Labor training center located in the historic St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, a former Roman Catholic seminary, in Callicoon, NY. The property was sold to the federal government in 1977, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

For this design-build project, KC teamed with HVRS, Inc. to provide design services for structural repairs, abandonment, and filling of a below-grade food storage vault.

During the design phase of the project, KC attended a field meeting and reviewed and approved the CLSM mix design. KC also developed construction and modification plans and specifications for the fill area and structural repairs, including restoration sections for asphalt.

KC conducted calculations for loads applied to existing walls. Details and calculations for CMU infill sections in an existing doorway and window opening were provided by KC, as well as sequencing, placement specifications, and notes. KC also provided EPA-compliant guidelines for sand blasting of steel and lead paint.

In the project’s construction phase, KC attended the pre-construction meeting, reviewed shop drawings and submittals, and responded to RFIs. KC also reviewed differing site conditions and suggested modifications for change order processing. KC reviewed test results and placement logs, and is also monitoring progress, as needed. KC has been observing on-site construction activities and will provide final sign-off on the completed project.