Award of Merit: Safety
Hyatt Times Square (135 W. 45th St.), New York City
This 54-story luxury hotel has 487 guest rooms, a restaurant, fitness center, meeting facilities, six treatment-room spas and a sky lounge with rooftop terrace providing 360-degree views of Manhattan. The concrete superstructure building is clad in a hybrid glass curtain wall system and features a large glass entry with a cantilevered canopy.
One of the biggest challenges faced on the project, which was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, was its Times Square-area location. The team had to be ever mindful of local businesses, which depend on foot traffic, and the theaters, which require minimal acoustical interference during performances. The site also presented logistical hurdles, most notably at the height of construction when deliveries were continuous.
The general contractor created a plan that catered to each type of nearby business. All construction waste was stored inside the building for later loading onto waste carting trucks inside the truck delivery bay. Offices were housed within the building to keep workers off the streets as much as possible. Work that created the most noise was scheduled for the weekends.
Among several steps taken to bolster safety was the use of a perimeter cocoon system for the superstructure's concrete operation. The team also used a hybrid deck to install concrete floor slabs and to help reduce fall exposure of the concrete formwork.
To safeguard the public, welded wire mesh was installed in floor openings in addition to plywood hole covers to protect personnel and prevent materials from falling.
Judges noted that the project was one of the early adopters of the cocoon system, which showed "outside-of-the-box thinking."
Key Players
Developer Extell Development Co.
General Contractor Lend Lease (US) Construction LMB Inc.
Lead Design Firm Lobby & Amenities SPaN
Lead Design Firm Restaurant & Guest Rooms George Wong Design
Architect of Record SLCE
Structural WSP
MEP ICOR Associates LLC
Exterior Wall Consultant IBA Consulting and Engineering PLLC
Building Code & Zoning Consultant Construction Consulting Associates
Site Safety Consultant CR Safety Group Inc.
