Holiday Inn Phoenix
Architect:
GKI Architects
Contractor:
ETW Group, Inc.
Structural Engineer:
Schneider Structural Engineers
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The Holiday Inn Phoenix was originally engineered by another firm as a masonry hollow-core structure, a traditional method for building hotels. The cost to build that design soared well above the client’s budget and the project was put on hold. Schneider Structural Engineers re-engineered the five-story structure, using a combination of cast-in-place concrete and lower-cost wood framing and masonry. This design solution brought the project within budget and enabled the owner to commence construction during a recession.
Looking Beyond Typical Methods to Find Affordable Solutions
- Schneider Structural Engineers looks at design projects from a fresh perspective. We combine creative thinking, new technologies and cost-effective alternatives to meet our clients’ needs and budget restraints.
- The previous engineering firm had used a standard hotel construction method that proved cost prohibitive in the current economy. Schneider Structural Engineers developed an affordable solution that put the project back on track.
- The Holiday Inn Phoenix is a 78,852-square-foot five-story hotel. In re-designing the structure, our engineers combined two distinct construction methods, using cast-in-place concrete for the first floor and wood-frame and masonry for the upper floors.
- This combination of construction materials and methods required much more detailing and two sets of schematics. Our staff used RAM and AutoCAD to create the plans and demonstrate cost savings to the client.
- Our firm’s ingenuity provided a cost-effective solution that allowed the owner to build within budget.
“I’ve worked with Schneider Structural Engineers for years. It’s hard to find a good structural engineering firm. I use them almost exclusively now.”
— Gerry Kessler, GKI Architects