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Exectutive Summary.pdf

Full Thesis Proposal.pdf

Revised Thesis Proposal.pdf (Schedule revised)

This thesis will include alternative designs to some of the structural components of the Borgata Hotel tower, located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The floor system will be redesigned using a filigree system, and an investigation into a different layout of shear walls will be done.

In addition to the main focus of this thesis, two breadth topics will be considered. One breadth in the Architectural field and one in the Construction Management Field will be done.

Breadth Studies

Two breadth studies will be conducted for this thesis. The structural investigation for this project has great implications for other areas of the building. A filigree floor system can substantially reduce the amount of labor, the over all cost, and the time to erect the structure. Since this is true, a breadth in the Construction Management Process would contribute to this thesis well. With a redistribution of shear walls in the building, an architectural analysis of the building must be done. Included in this analysis, it will be determined if the core of the building can be reduced in size.

For the breadth in construction management, a new schedule for the erection of the structure will be determined. The expected outcome will be a shorter erection time. Due to this shorter erection time, the building will be able to open sooner. Since the building will open sooner, the owner can begin to collect revenue sooner and make payments on loans sooner. Both of these effects will increase the overall monetary benefits the owner will earn from the building. In addition to a schedule investigation, an in depth cost analysis will be done for the new system. Included in this cost analysis will be the cost of the new floor system and the reduction in cost of other components due to the decrease in gravity loads.

For the architectural breadth, an in depth analysis of codes, building program and floor plans will be done to determine new locations and sizes for shear walls, as well an analysis in the reduction of the size of the core. If the can be reduced in size enough, it could be possible to fit another room per floor in the building. This would result in about 40 extra rooms in the building. With these extra rooms, the owner can collect extra revenue with minimal initial cost increases.