DESCRIPTION

Luxurious hotel and conference center featuring 447 guest rooms and approximately 50,000 sf of event space adjacent to the area’s metro system. With a 23,700 sf ballroom, 120-seat amphitheater, innovative catering menus, and impeccable guest rooms and amenities, the conference center and hotel is the perfect union of form and function.

CHALLENGE

Column loads range from 100 to 800 kips with maximum column loads at approximately 1,700 kips. Soil conditions at the site consist of residual silts. The original foundation design called for spread footings designed for three ksf for the conference center and drilled shafts or piles for the hotel.

SOLUTION

The geotechnical engineer also provided a Geopier alternate recommendation consisting of spread footings designed for seven ksf supported by Geopier elements. The Geopier alternative provided significant foundation cost savings over the 60 to 70 ft deep drilled shaft and pile options. A total of 947 Geopier elements were installed.