Halvorson and Partners News

H+P in London - Roman Przepiorka

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

H+P Regional Director Roman Przepiorka is now permanently in London to service clients throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Roman is working closely with H+P Principals - including founder Bob Halvorson - as well as experts in our Chicago main office and regional offices. You can continue to expect the same high level of expertise that H+P has always provided on such award-winning collaborations as the Index Tower in Dubai and Torre Caja Madrid, but now with even more immediate local service from Roman.

Roman offers a breadth of experience - having lived and worked around the world as an Associate at Buro Happold and Senior Structural Engineer at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). His most recent past projects include the Haramain High Speed Rail Stations in Saudi Arabia with Foster + Partners; Mushereib Heart of Doha Phase 2 with Gensler, Allies and Morrison, and Squire and Partners; and the Zorlu Centre in Istanbul with Tabanlioglu Architects. He has also worked on Broadgate Tower & 201 Bishopsgate in London, Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago, Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai. Please click on the link below to reach Roman's full CV.

Please don't hesitate to contact Roman if we can help you in any way from London. T: +44 (0) 20 7430 5124, M: +44 (0) 7548 679 682, or rprzepiorka@hpse.com.

AMLI River North tower breaks ground

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

H+P joined AMLI - one of the preeminent multifamily companies in the nation - along with the entire development, design and construction team to celebrate the ground-breaking of AMLI's tallest tower to date, the River North in Chicago.

Economy was key to ensuring this 50-story apartment tower came to reality. H+P went through rigorous internal structural reviews and optimizations to ensure absolute efficiency for this structure. Team-mates include SCB and Walsh Construction. The LEED gold tower is set to open in 2013.

Columbus Convention Hotel Tops Off

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The new Hilton Hotel at the Columbus Convention Center in Ohio has topped out. H+P collaborated closely with architects HOK and Moody Nolan, as well as Turner construction - with full design and coordination in Revit. A stunning, structually expressive pedestrian bridge will link the hotel to the convention facilities.

H+P on Studio Gang team for New Performing Arts Facility

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Halvorson and Partners is pleased to be part of the Studio Gang Architects team selected to design the new home for Writersâ�� Theater in Glencoe. We look forward to working with the award-winning theatre company and the entire SGA-led team, which also includes dbHMS Mechanical Engineers and Threshold Acoustic Consultants. For more information, see SGA's website and Writers' Theater website.

Bob Halvorson Lifetime Achievement, Mansueto Library Best Large Structure

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

H+P was a big winner again at the annual Award for The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI).

Robert Halvorson was awarded the John Parmer Award - which is presented to a structural engineer in who has achieved outstanding success and distinction in his or her career, and made significant contribution to the advancement of structural engineering. Past winners include Fazlur Kahn, Hal Iyengar, John Zils and Stan Korista - all of whom were mentors cited by Bob in accepting this award.

The Mansueto Library was named the Best Large Structure. Judges noted: "The site-specific architectural solution integrated both urban and structural design, and was only possible due to the structural innovation," and that "the integration of the basement structure with the dome was remarkable and inspiring."

In addition to these awards, Senior Project Engineer Ken Nizamuddin assumed role of President-Elect for SEAOI.

Recent past H+P award winners include:

2010 - Best Medium Structure: UAE Pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010

2009 - Best Large Structure: The Index Building; Most Innovative Structure: Loyola Information Commons Library; Young Engineer Award: Eric Fenske

2008 - Best Large Structure: Caja Madrid

See the SEAOI website for full awards listing.

Index Named one of "Best Tall Buildings" for 2011 by CTBUH

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Index is one of four skyscrapers named regional "Best Tall Buildings" for 2011 by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). Designed in collaboration between Foster + Partners and Halvorson and Partners, this 330 m mixed-use tower in Dubai is awarded best in the Middle East & Africa region. Other winning buildings include: Eight Spruce Street, New York (Americas), Guangzhou International Finance Center, Guangzhou (Asia & Australasia), and KfW Westarkade, Frankfurt (Europe).

One of these four will be named "Best Tall Building - Wordwide" at the annual CTBUH Awards Ceremony in October. Lifetime achievement awards will also be given to Adrian Smith of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture(Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award) and Dr. Akira Wada of Tokyo Institute of Technology (Fazlur R. Khan Lifetime Achievement Medal).

See the CTBUH Press Release for more information.

Halvorson featured at CCHRB Seminar on Tall Buildings

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Bob Halvorson was a featured speaker at Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings (CCHRB) 2011 Seminar on Tall Buildings, speaking on 'Mitigating Wind Induced Building Movements'.

Traditional design standards called for stiffening the structure to withstand wind loading. Recently however, active, rather than passive, designs to control building motion have been coming into play, and they call for a damping system. There are two types of commonly used damping systems: tuned mass dampers (TMD) and tuned liquid dampers (TLD). Both types are discussed along with case studies on projects where they were used.

Design of Vantone Center Tianjin Announced

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

In collaboration with H+P, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture has announced that it is designing the Vantone Center Tianjin in China. The center will be one of the most sustainable buildings (LEED Platinum or Gold is planned) of its kind and will stand at 185 meters tall.

â��Vantone Center Tianjin will show how much can be done with high thermal mass, self-shading and other passive strategies to create a building as energy-efficient as it is beautiful.â��

HP's Caja Madrid Featured in Steel Australia

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Australian Steel Institute featured H+P's Caja Madrid Tower in an article by Greg Lakota. The article from the March 2011 edition of Steel Australia speaks of the 250 meter tall tower's floor framing system, long-span transfer trusses, and vierendeel frame.

Click the links below for more information.

Central Market's Souk Featured in Architectural Record

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Architectural Record released an article discussing Foster + Partners' Central Market Souk. The piece explores the project's "opening shading system" for roof sunlight:

"As the roof opens, the blades slide back under each other in a smooth motion into the supporting frame and profile, forming a stepped pattern. The opening and closing motion is driven by two hydraulic arms that sit opposite each other within the frame."

HP Published in the International Journal of Architectural Computing

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

H+P's Kermin Chok has co-authored a paper recently published in the International Journal of Architectural Computing. His paper, entitled "Abstractions for Information Based Design", covers how live linkages between parametric geometry, structural analysis, and optimization can be leveraged to explore an architectural massing from the perspectives of different stakeholders (owners, designers, engineers).

The paper was selected for a series inspired by the research of the smartgeometry group.

HP Engineers Present the Latest in Digital Design at IIT

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Kermin Chok, Project Engineer from Halvorson and Partners (H+P), and John Viise, Associate Principal with H+P will be discussing the firmâ��s recent work and processes at the Illinois Institute of Technology, which includes their research into â��Structural Engineering at the Velocity of Architectureâ��. By looking at the firms varied body of work along with various workflow processes the lecture will investigate the topic of structural engineers as part of an integrated interdisciplinary design team. Mr. Chok will also expose how new computational / parametric design tools and structural analysis methods allow structural engineers to better engage / manage their collaborative work.

Click here to view the presentation.

UAE Pavilion from Shanghai Expo 2010 to be reassembled in Abu Dhabi

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The sand dune-inspired United Arab Emirates Pavilion for last years World Expo in Shanghai is in process of being dis-assembled, and will be rebuilt as a permanent structure on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.

Teaming with Foster + Partners, H+P structured this 60-m clear span steel diagrid roof so that it could be easily disassembled and rebuilt after the Expo. Form-finding input from H+P helped the team optimize the contours for shell action to minimize member sizes, and H+P's integration of specialty bolted nodes (by Novum Structures) allowed dis-/re-assembly of the complex steel diagrid form.

Check out more on H+P's form-finding capabilities.

23rd Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards - Takeda wins

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600

The 23rd annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards were announced last week at the annual benefit of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicagoâ��s food bank. The event raised $800,000 to support hunger-relief programs and has raised more than $10 million in the past 23 years.

Halvorson and Partners is proud to be a partner on ongoing work for Takeda Pharmaceuticals' -- winner of the award for "Build to Suit of the Year" - teaming with Hines and tvsdesign for a series of phased developments on this North American headquarters campus. Construction is now underway on a new campus childcare center.

Congratulations to all winners.

Loyola Celebrates Opening of Norville Center for Intercollegiate Athletics

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600

"On March 3, 2011, at 3pm, the Loyola University Chicago community cut the ribbon on the new Norville Center for Intercollegiate Athletics. This three-story home for student-athletes at the Lake Shore Campus represents the first phase of a new era of student life and athletics at Loyolaâ�¦"

Read more from Phase one of reimagine opens.

Modern Steel Construction: "More Room to Run" by Mike Russell

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600

"New athletic facility for the Loyola Ramblers used steel to tackle an aggressive schedule, reduce foundation load requirements, and clear an existing structure."

Abu Dhabi Office - Now Locally Licensed

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Halvorson and Partners office in Abu Dhabi is now locally licensed.

Having maintained active staff there for over four years, this newly registered office allows us to best service our clients in the UAE and greater Gulf region, now and in the future.

Ongoing work handled from this office includes the 700,000 square meter Central Market development, currently under construction in the heart of Abu Dhabi.

Contact Abu Dhabi Office Director Josh Munson or Founding Principal Bob Halvorson to discuss how we might help you with your endeavors in the region.

Abu Dhabi Office: Electra Street, Al Salmeen Tower, 6th Floor, 601/604, P.O. Box 94153, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. phone +971 2 499 8444 x210. Find map here.

HP + AIA: Design Exposed

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Join us at our office for this AIA sponsored presentation: "Structural Engineering at the Velocity of Architecture" February 17th, 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

How can structural engineers help design teams expand and accelerate exploration for optimal solutions in the design process? Greg Lakota and Kermin Chok of H+P explain a streamlined work flow â�� linking geometry platforms used by the design team with structural tools for analysis, design, form-finding and optimization â�� that accelerates generation and transfer of structural information to a fraction of the usual time, offering efficiency in time and product.

From cutting-edge complex forms to more typical structures, this workflow offers efficiencies in both time and product. A key component of this workflow is the visualization and rigorous interpretation of the data generated by the analysis process.

Sign up at aiachicago.org Limited to 25 participants. If you are unable to attend but want to learn more, contact Kermin at H+P.

This event is sponsored by Design KC, Learning units: 1 LU/HSW

HP + SEAOI: Mansueto Library

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

The SEAOI February dinner meeting on Mansueto Library has been resheduled to February 15th. Jim Swanson and Jonathan Sladek will present on this subterranean library addition at the University of Chicago - which features an automated storage and retrieval shelving system for over 3.5 million volumes of print, housed beneath a grand reading room with a 120 foot by 240 foot clear span dome

Feb 15 at Cliff Dwellers (200 S Michigan, 22nd floor)

Cash Bar 5:15, Dinner 6:00, Program 7:00

Visit the SEAOI website for more information and to register.

Columbus Convention Hilton under way

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Construction is under way for this 530-room Hilton Hotel, which will link to the existing Greater Columbus Convention Center. Designed in collaboration with HOK Chicago and fully coordinated in Revit, this efficient structure provides for the high standards of Hilton hotel, while meeting stringent cost and schedule requirements for this publicly funded project.

Vietnam Towers break ground

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

A ground-breaking ceremony was held for VietinBank Business Center â�� a 300,000 square metre mixed-use development in Hanoi designed by Foster + Partners with structure by H+P. A pair of landmark towers anchor the site â�� a 68-story office tower for VietinBank, one of Vietnamâ��s largest banking groups, and a 48-story tower housing a five-star hotel, spa and serviced apartments.

ACADIA 2010: Kermin Chok Presents Latest in HP Digital Design

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Structural engineer Kermin Chok presented Halvorson and Partners' latest developments in digital design at ACADIA 2010, hosted by The Cooper Union in New York City.

The Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture's conference, Life in:formation, on Responsive Information and Variations in Architecture, welcomed attendees from across the country to focus on the changing nature of information with regards to current architectural practices and education.

The video above is a sample from Kermin's demonstration of H+P's parametric modeling, structural optimization, geometric form finding, and custom data management systems. His presentation and paper, entitled "Structure at the Velocity of Architecture," was critically received and highlighted the advances H+P brings to building design.

NCSEA Awards HP for UAE Pavilion

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) awarded H+P as part of the 2010 Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards for international structures. H+Pâ��s work on the UAE Pavilion won the award for its sand dune-inspired exhibition space.

Other award winners in the International category include Burj Khalifa (Dubai) and YAS Marina Link Bridge (Abu Dhabi).

Click here for a full list of awards.

"Structure at the Velocity of Architecture" by Kermin Chok

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

H+P structural engineer Kermin Chok has co-authored a paper entitled, â��Structure at the Velocity of Architecture.â�� Below is the paperâ��s abstract:

This paper outlines a digital design workflow, utilized by the authors, which actively links the geometry platforms being utilized by architects with tools for structural analysis, design, form-finding and optimization. This workflow leads to an accelerated generation and transfer of information to help guide and inform the design process. The engineering team is thus empowered to augment the architectâ��s design by ensuring that the design team is conscious of the structural implications of design decisions throughout the design process.

A crucial element of this design process has been the dynamic linkage of parametric geometry models with structural analysis and design tools. This reduces random errors in model generation and allows more time for critical analysis evaluation. However, the ability to run a multitude of options in a compressed time frame has led to ever increasing data sets. A key component of this structural engineering workflow has become the visualization and rigorous interpretation of the data generated by the analysis process. The authors have explored visualization techniques to distill the complex analysis results into graphics that are easily discernable by all members of the design team.

Click here to read the paper.

The paper was submitted in conjunction with a presentation given at ACADIA 2010, featured here.

HP Wins Design Award for Elysian Hotel and Residences

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The Precast / Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) awarded Halvorson and Partners a 2010 Design Award for the Elysian Hotel and Private Residences, calling it an "elegant mixed-use project both functionally and architecturally."

HP Wins 2010 Engineering Wood Design Award from WordWorks

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

WoodWorks presented a 2010 Design award to H+P for the innovative and excellent work done on the Bolingbrook Farm Museum.

Click here for a video of the award winners.

Central Market featured on Science Channel's Build it Bigger.

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Central Market featured on Science Channelâ��s Build it Bigger.

â��Abu Dhabi City is building, and building BIG. They're hard at work on an incredible $300 billion plan to grow as quickly as possible. But they want to do it while protecting the city's culture, heritage, and natural environment.

The centerpiece of this plan towers over the heart of the city: Aldar's appropriately-named Central Market. A 12-acre urban oasis filling 4 blocks, Central Market is a self-sustainable community for the modern ages, designed with a uniquely Arab point of view. Centered around the tallest residential tower on Earth, Central Market will be the first facility in the world that will take care of every spiritual, material, and relaxation need a person could have. It will also feature one of the world's tallest office towers, entertainment facilities for all ages, sky-high playgrounds for children, high-end shops, Edenesque gardens, hotels, as well as a reinvention of a traditional Arabian Souq â�� complete with a large mosque and vast outdoor market space filled with traditional Arabian goods.â��

Look when episode will be shown again.

NASCC: Eric Fenske's Pecha Kucha on the UAE Pavilion

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Eric Fenske was an invited speaker for this year's NASCC/Structures Congress in Orlando - for their first ever Pecha Kucha session. This is a format where a series of presenters share 20 images, with each slide explained in 20 seconds, for a concise and intense exchange of information.

Eric's presentation on the design of the UAE pavillion was featured on two days, to allow more people to catch this interesting session.

UAE Pavilion Presentation Slides

SEAOI: Ken Nizamuddin's 'Practical Design of Post-Tensioned Buildings'

Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Senior Project Engineer Ken Nizamuddin provided a half day seminar on the use of post-tensioning (PT) for concrete structures - focusing both on the design of systems and on the practical considerations for preventing performance deficiencies and field problems. In his over 20 years of engineering experience, Ken has been involved in the design, detailing and field inspections of numerous post-tensioned buildings - including the recently opened Roosevelt Collection in Chicago's south loop.

The class satisfied engineering continuing education requirements, as well as AIA requirements. See SEAOI's website for more information

Loyola's Norville Center for Intercollegiate Athletics tops out

Wed, 12 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The latest in a series of successful collaborations with Solomon Cordwell Buenz for Loyola University, the Norville Center for Intercollegiate Athletics has topped out. Linked to the adjacent existing Gentile Center basketball arena, this is the first in a multiple phase plan to improve athletics and campus life at Loyola.

For this fast paced project, Halvorson and Partners utilized Revit Structure for internal coordination. 3D PDFs of the Revit model also helped communicate design intent with other members team - which was especially helpful at the 17 foot deep truss coordinated over the adjacent, existing structure.

UAE Pavilion opens at Expo 2010 in Shanghai

Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The largest world's fair in history, Expo 2010 Shanghai opened last week, with the sand dune-inspired United Arab Emirates Pavilion as one of the most visited exhibits.

Teaming with Foster + Partners, H+P structured this 60-m clear span steel diagrid roof â�� which will be disassembled and rebuilt in Abu Dhabi after the Expo. Form-finding input from H+P helped the team optimize the contours for shell action, and H+P's integration of specialty bolted nodes (by Novum Structures) will allow for easy dis-/re-assembly of the steel diagrid form.

Check out more on H+P's form-finding capabilities.

2010 SEAOI Awards: UAE Pavilion, Eric Fenske and Elysian

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Halvorson and Partners is again honored with multiple awards at the Annual Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) Awards.

Best Medium Structure: The UAE Pavilion, an exhibition space highlighting the United Arab Emirates at the Shanghai Exposition in 2010, was awarded Best Structure in the Medium Sized Projects category. This unique shell structure is inspired by the sand dune landscape of the UAE, and spans 60 m with a light steel diagrid shell structure.

Young Engineer of the Year: Eric Fenske was named the Young Engineer of the Year. Eric has been integral in engineering a number of creative structures around the world - including the Central Market in Abu Dhabi, the Index Tower in Dubai and the UAE Pavilion in Shanghai noted above.

Large Structure Merit Award: The Elysian Tower, a slender, high-performance structure in Chicago, won an Award of Merit in the Large Project category - which included the new world's tallest Burj Khalifa. The Elysian features tuned liquid dampers to achieve acceptable motion perception limits.

Winners were announced June 5, 2010 at the annual SEAOI Awards Banquet. For more information, check on the SEAOI website.

Elysian Presentation Slides

UAE Pavilion Presentation Slides

HP's Form Finding Techniques help design teams

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Form finding deals with the shaping of shell structures to enhance membrane behavior. Such structural behavior is dramatically more efficient than carrying load through bending action of elements. Form finding can be utilized in simple 2d problems such as the shaping of an arch for a given span or for 3d surfaces.

H+P has successfully utilized form finding techniques in the UAE pavilion roof structure for the 2010 Shanghai Exposition. Through subtle manipulation of the original architectural form, H+P was able to dramatically reduce the structure system material quantities while improving performance, which resulted in a visually lighter and more efficient structure. H+P can collaborate in any of a number of BIM platforms, iteratively exchanging 3-d models to develop optimal, agreed forms.

CAF 2009 Patron of the Year Award: Loyola's Info Commons and ECD's theWit

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

This yearly awards event focuses on the Patrons of outstanding architecture - as it considers the clientâ��s contribution to a project alongside a projectâ��s design merit.

Loyola University of Chicago was awarded as one of two winners in the Institutional catgory, for the Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons. They comissioned this digital library and worked closely with the design team lead by SCB to efficiently integrate significant energy saving measures in this stunning structure on the banks of Lake Michigan.

And ECD Company and Koo Associates were one of four honorable mention recipients for theWit hotel - citing the strength and relationship between the patron and architect.

Partner Greg Lakota structured both of these award winners, and continues to team on a number of the ventures with Loyola and SCB, and also ECD and Koo.

For full listing of all award winners, see the CAF website.

University of Illinois, School of Architecture: Carrie Warner and Laura Kraft Guest Lecture

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Carrie provided an introduction to stability analysis and showed how H+P needed a method powerful enough to address all of the complexities which surfaced in the design of Russia Tower. Complexities had been introduced by, among other design features, columns at various slants, non-rigid floor diaphragms, building scale, and composite materials having non-linear behavior. Laura presented the details the Direct Analysis Method (AISC's newest), which is the method best-suited for taking advantage of cutting-edge computer programs. Students were provided with a simple example to take home. Carrie concluded by showing how H+P used the method to resolve the stability issues in Russia Tower. A short discussion among professors and students followed.

Civil Engineering: UAE's 2010 Expo Pavilion

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The pavilion's special detailing - which will allow easy disassembly after the Expo Shanghai and re-assebly in Abu Dhabi - is highlighted in this article, which features input from Senior Project Engineer Eric Fenske.

View the full article

Midwest Construction: Mansueto Library at University of Chicago

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The cover feature story described the collaborative teamwork for this subterranean addition to the Regenstein library at the University of Chicago.

Read the article, 'One for the Books'.

Chicago Architect: theWit cover story

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

This new hotel in Chicago's loop and its Architect Jackie Koo are featured in this magazine. Halvorson and Partners worked closely with Koo to structure this tower, which is located on a very tight site adjacent to Chicago's elevated rail tracks.

Civil Engineering: Mansueto Library at University of Chicago

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The collaborative design and engineering effort for this subterranean library at the University of Chicago is shared in this article, including quotes from an interview with H+P Senior Project Engineer Jonathan Sladek. View the full article.

Midwest Construction: Elysian Hotel Tower, and its Tuned Liquid Damper

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500

As one of the nationâ��s first tuned liquid dampers (TLD), the efficient Elysian hotel structure and TLD is described in this feature article.

Read the article, 'Liquid Assets: Roof-Mounted Damper Stifles Sway in the Windy City.'.

Structural Engineer Magazine: Greg Lakota and Loyola Information Commons as Cover Feature with Interview

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500

"â�¦Structural Engineers at Halvorson and Partners collaborated closely with all other design team members to integrate the structure with the other building systems. The building operates in three modes during the year: heating (55 percent), cooling (15 percent), and natural ventilation (30 percent). The system is designed to use 43 percent less energy than ASHRAE 90.1 - 2004 minimum requirementsâ�¦"

Structural Engineer, September 2009

Civil Engineering: Elysian Hotel structure and TLDs

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The integrated wind and structural design effort is described in this article, in which H+P Senior Project Engineer Tim Laken was interviewed. Working closely with the wind engineer, H+P studied options for different combinations of structural stiffness and damping to develop a cost effective structural solution that incorporates a Tuned Liquid Damper (TLD) at the top of the building.

View the full article.

2009 Institution for Structural Engineers (IStructE) Awards: Caja Madrid a Finalist

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Halvorson and Partners was a finalist for the prestigious Structural Awards program hosted by the United Kingdomâ��s Institution for Structural Engineers (IStructE). Caja Madrid, H+Pâ��s 45-story, 820-foot tower in Madrid, Spain, was selected in the Commercial / Retail Structures category.

Caja Madrid joins a roster of other impressive finalists including the Beijing National Stadium engineered by Ove Arup and Partners in the Sports / Leisure Structures category, and The Cathedral of Christ the Light engineered by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP in the Community / Residential Structures category.

One Third of HP Engineers Are Now LEED APs

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500

While we have always been committed to helping design teams create sustainable structures, H+P is proud to announce that one third of our engineers are now designated as LEED APs. More than just ticking away at LEED credits, weâ��re on board to help teams push and re-think standard assumptions while focusing on sustainability--like we did at One South Dearborn (LEED Silver), Center on Halsted (LEED Silver), Loyola Information Commons (LEED Silver), Takeda Pharmaceutical Headquarters (LEED Gold) and Chicago City Hall's green roof.

Modern Steel Construction: "Standing Tall in Madrid" by Gregory Lakota

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Modern Steel Construction July 2009
Gregory Lakota

The article describes the design of Spainâ��s tallest building, the Caja Madrid building, designed by Foster + Partners of London in conjunction with Halvorson and Partners of Chicago. The collaboration created an incredible column free lobby at the base with the entire structure of the building supported on the two end cores of the building. The design helped Caja Madrid capture the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) 2008 Award for Best Large Structure.

Read the article, Standing Tall in Madrid.

HP Participates in Bike to Work Week

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Beyond our green projects, Halvorson and Partners strives to be green in our day-to-day practice as well, and employees often take part in earth-friendly activities. For the third consecutive year, weâ��ve been a top firm in Chicagoâ��s Bike to Work Week Commuter Challenge. Hosted by the Active Transportation Alliance, Bike to Work Week challenges employees to give up automobiles and try bicycle commuting. H+P is proud to be a part of this challenge, and congratulates other participating firms including: Farr Associates, Burns + Beyerl Architects, Demonica Kemper Architects, Ross Barney Architects, Epstein, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Perkins + Will, OWP/P, Harley Ellis Devereaux, DePree Bickford Associates, AECOM, RTKL Associates and Solomon Cordwell Buenz.

2009 SEAOI Awards: Best Large Structure for Index and Most Innovative for Loyola

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Halvorson and Partners won awards in two of the five project categories at the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois' (SEAOI) Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering awards program in July.

The Index Building, H+Pâ��s 85-story tapered tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, received the 2009 Best Large Project Award. With a previous win for Caja Madrid in 2008, this marks the second consecutive year H+P has gained the top spot in the category.

Additionally, the energy efficient Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons at Loyola University, Chicago, won the Most Innovative Structure Award, and is featured on the September cover of Structural Engineer magazine.

View the Index Building presentation slides.

View the Information Commons presentation slides.

For more information, check on the SEAOI website.

The Index Building Tops Out

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Halvorson and Partners is proud to announce the topping out of the Index Building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Index is the most recently completed buildingâ��and tallest to dateâ��in a series of innovative towers developed in collaboration between Foster + Partners and Halvorson and Partners.

Numerous structural concepts were explored before selecting the clear, architecturally expressed scheme for this 80-story, 331 m (1085 ft) tall mixed-use tower. Six major â��finsâ�� carry the weight of the entire tower and resist all wind loadsâ��their tapering form is a direct response to the need for increased area and breadth at the building base

Chicago Tribune: theWit featured as 'Project to Watch For in 2009'

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The ideal hotel simultaneously draws energy from the city around it and constitutes something of a city unto itself. That is certainly true of this building, which, in addition to its 298 guest rooms, has a conference center, a screening room and three restaurants, including one on its rooftop with striking views.

Blair Kamin, Chicago Tribune

Kooâ��s design for the Wit, which opened in late May, revives a once-desolate stretch of North State Streetâ�¦

Jay Pridmore, University of Chicago Magazine

HP Structures Sand Dune-Inspired UAE Expo Pavilion to Allow for Future Reassembly

Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Halvorson and Partners joined architect Foster + Partners in celebrating the recent groundbreaking of the United Arab Emirates Pavilion for the Shanghai Exposition in 2010. The sand dune-inspired form, structured as a bolted steel diagrid, will be among the few national world-expo buildings to be disassembled and reassembled in its home country after exhibition.

To provide column-free space under each of the dunes, Halvorson and Partners worked closely with Foster + Partners through a series of form-finding exercises, optimizing the profile of each dune to behave as an efficient shell form. These forms were then structured with an efficient steel diagrid.

â��H+P has developed in-house form-finding routines to efficiently analyze and communicate how the underlying form can be optimally shaped and utilized,â�� said principal Robert A. Halvorson. â��With minimal changes in the shell profiles and curvature, we were able to significantly reduce deflections of the pavilion, from eight inches to 0.8 inches.â��

To communicate this complex, organic form, Halvorson and Partners and the design team utilized various state-of-the-art software systems in tandem, including Rhino, Microstation and Strand with interoperability and collaboration as a key focus.

After the Shanghai Exposition, the UAE Pavilion will be reassembled on Saadiyat Island, the $100 billion cultural center now under development in Abu Dhabi.

Halvorson and Partners offers comprehensive structural engineering services on a wide range of projects to public and private clients worldwide. Committed to excellence through close collaboration with clients and colleagues the company offers expertise in the design of structures that require a unique vision. Located in downtown Chicago, with branch offices in Atlanta and Abu Dhabi, Halvorson and Partners has completed a number of significant building designs.

2009 ASCE/SEI Annual Congress in Austin, TX: Bob Halvorson and Carrie Warner

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Bob was one of 4 speakers featured in the session â��Challenges of Designing Super Tall Buildings with Current Technologiesâ�� and discussed the Russia Tower, the 600m collaborative tower design by Foster + Partners and Halvorson and Partners.

View the Russia Tower paper for this session.

Carrie presented in the session â��The Direct Analysis Method: Recent Developments and Applications.â�� Her paper offered an applied case study using this design method, which has advantages over current methods and is expected to soon become the standard for design.

View this Direct Analysis case study paper .

theWit Hotel Featured in "Civil Engineering" Magazine

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Project Engineer, Michael Russell, was quoted in "Civil Engineering" magazine for his technical input on the successful completion of the Jackie Koo's theWit Hotel in Chicago. To read more about this hotel's dual cores, bracing for 27-story, sloping, laminated glass, and close proximity to Chicago's elevated train tracks, click the link below.

Structural Engineering: Chicago Hotel Design Overcomes Site Challenges

SmartGeometry 2009 Workshop, San Francisco: Mark Donofrio's project featured

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Staff engineer Mark Donofrio was selected to participate in the exclusive SmartGeometry 2009 Workshop and Conference in San Francisco on March 27 through April 1. The workshop provided Mark with a unique opportunity to explore advanced design objectives with tutors from some of the worldâ��s most prominent architectural practices. With a focus on the integration of Generative Components with structural analysis software, Mark collaborated with Ralf Lindemann of Ian Simpson Architects. As a result of their combined efforts, Mark and Ralf were chosen for a special master class and their project was presented at the conclusion of the conference.

SEAOI Student Chapter at University of Illinois: Adam Gimpert Presents Central Market

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Adam was a featured speaker for the student group of the Structural Engineerâ��s Association of Illinois, presenting â��Building in Abu Dhabi: Concept, Design, and Coordination from Across the Globe.â�� His talk focused on the coordination between structural engineer and architect for the mixed-use, 7.5 million square-foot development in the United Arab Emirates. He presented several unique challenges such as controlling hydrostatic pressures, concrete crack control, buckling analysis, and foundation detailing for a 90-story tower

University of Texas at Austin: Patrick Ragan Presents the UAE Pavilion

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Patrick returned to his alma mater to share current and cutting edge trends with students and faculty in his presentation: â��Beyond the Column Grid: Finding Structural Solutions for Todayâ��s Architectural Geometries.â�� The talk focused on the UAE pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai Expo, where non-linear form-finding techniques were used to achieve a highly efficient shell structure, while still maintaining minimal aesthetic impact to the architectâ��s original dune-shaped forms

Purdue University: Carrie Warner Presents Russia Tower

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Carrie also returned to her alma mater to present "The Russia Tower: Structuring a Super-Tall Icon" to Master's students studying structural engineering in the Civil Engineering department at Purdue. Carrie's talk focused on the challenges and key structural design considerations in building super-tall structures.

HP Partners with HOK, Bovis, GSA team for ACE Mentor Program

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

H+P mentors (Randy Herbstman, Stacy Horan, Jason Cook and Chris Arjona) along with other mentors from HOK, Bovis and GSA are taking 2 hours each week to give a diverse group of local high school students a unique opportunity to learn about the AEC industry. Students are given valuable hands-on experiences each weekâ��on-site in one of the participating firmsâ�� officesâ��while developing their own building design ideas utilizing tools used by professionals. The students also learn to foster teamwork that is essential to this industry, a key aspect to the ACE Program. H+P mentors, along with ACE board member Jim Swanson, appreciate the chance to give back to the community and give these future structural engineers a head start on their careers

University of Chicago's Subterranean Library Breaks Ground

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

H+P and architect Murphy/Jahn celebrated the recent groundbreaking for Mansueto Library, a subterranean addition to the Regenstein Library at the University of Chicago. The elliptical plan calls for 60 feet of the structure to be built below grade, which creates a single underground volume of nearly 1 million cubic feet. Library racks will be 50 feet tall and patrons who request volumes via the Internet will receive them through an automated retrieval system. It is set to open in 2010.

IABSE Annual International Conference: HP Presents Caja Madrid Tower and Central Market

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

One of three presentations in the â��Tall Buildingsâ�� session, Greg Lakotaâ��s paper on â��Design Challenges for the Tallest Tower in Madridâ�� explored some of the key design issues for this 250 m (820 foot) tower which H+P designed with Foster + Partners to be entirely supported on its two end cores, with no additional columns extending to grade. At the conference, Eric Fenske also presented an overview of Central Market.

View the Caja Madrid paper.

View the Central Market paper.

2008 SEAOI Awards: Best Large Structure Award - Caja Madrid

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) presented the 2008 Excellence in Structural Engineering Award for Best Large Structure to Halvorson and Partners for Caja Madrid in Spain at its annual design competition in June. Caja Madrid was recognized for its astonishing column free base that was created by suppo rting the entire weight of the building on only its two end cores, which allows the slender 820 foot (250 m) tower to efficiently resist wind loads and avoid uplifts.

Canstruction® Chicago: HP Wins Structural Ingenuity Award for 2nd Year in a Row

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As participants in Chicago's second annual Canstruction competition, H+P was one of 20 teams that built a structure out of cans to raise awareness for hunger and help stock the Chicago Food Depository. With a â��Hungry Hungry Hippoâ�� sculpture, H+P won the Structural Ingenuity Award for the second year in a row. Last year, H+P's version of the "Cloudgate" sculpture at Millennium Park won the first ever Structural Ingenuity Award

2008 CBC Awards: Loyola Information Commons and Ravinia Dining Pavilion

Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

H+P was proud to have collaborated on two of the four winning projects in the Chicago Building Congressâ�� 2008 Annual Merit Award Program. Loyola University Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons (a project with Solomon Cordwell Buenz) won the Merit Award for New Construction â�� Chicago, and Ravinia Festival New Dining Facility (with Lohan Anderson) won the Merit Award for New Construction â�� Suburbs. The CBC Awards honor the top building and construction projects in the Chicagoland area.

CTBUH International Congress 2008 in Dubai: Robert Halvorson Presents Collaborative High Rise Projects

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Robert Halvorson recently presented a collection of collaborative projects and idea sharing between H+P and Foster + Partners at the Council on Tall Buidlings and Urban Habitatsâ�� (CTBUH) International Congress in Dubai. Featured projects included Caja Madrid in Spain, Russia Tower in Moscow, and Central Market in Abu Dhabi.

View his full paper.

Time Magazine: Caja Madrid one of "10 Best (New and Upcoming) Architectural Marvels"

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Caja Madrid bank's new highrise, designed by Foster + Partners with structural engineering by Halvorson and Partners, shares kudos with other 'Upcoming' marvels - Beijing's Olympic Stadium by Herzog & de Meuron, CCTV Headquarters in Beijing by OMA, Linked Hybrid also in Beijing by Steven Holl Architects and Heathrow Five in London by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

Best 'New' marvels commended are:

#1 - Bloch Building, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art addition in Kansas City by Steven Holl Architects

#2 - Federal Building in San Francisco by Morphosis

#3 - Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle by Weiss/Manfredi

#4 - IAC Headqurters in New York by Frank Gehry Parters

#5 - The New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York by Sanaa

TIME, Time's List's of the Year, December 24, 2007

CTBUH Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings: "Structural Design Innovation: Russia Tower" by Halvorson and Warner

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings:
CTBUH Special Edition, Issue 1, December 2007
Robert Halvorson and Carrie Warner

The striking form for the Russia Tower building evolved through a collaborative process between architect, Foster + Partners of London, and structural engineer Halvorson and Partners of Chicago. The innovative â��braced spineâ�� structural system developed through this process is an efficient concept for super-tall structures and was a direct response to design challenges on this project. These challenges and the design process between Foster + Partners and Halvorson are discussed in this paper.

View the paper, Structural Design Innovation: Russia Tower.

Midwest Construction Magazine - Best of 2007: Merit for Ravinia

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Ravinia Food Pavilion received a Merit award in the institutional category from Midwest Construction Magazine.

This project, designed with Lohan Anderson, fit itself seamlessly to this outdoor music festival - both in integrating within the landscaped setting and in scheduling construction in the off-season.

Read the full story on this project's award.

50 East Chestnut First Tuned Liquid Damper on a Residential Tower in US

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

H+P HAS INTEGRATED two of the nationâ��s first Tuned Liquid Dampers into residential highrise towers in Chicago.

A Tuned Liquid Damper (TLD) is a large tank of water located at the top of a tall building to reduce building movements due to wind below perceptible limits of occupants; it is a low-tech, passive, cost-effective solution for building taller, more slender towers without overly increased structures.

At 50 East Chestnut, a 500 foot tall luxury tower featuring one dwelling unit per floor, the TLD installed in summer of 2007 insures occupants of this slender tower do not perceive motion from winds funneling around adjacent tall buildings, including the Hancock Tower.

At the 700 foot Elysian Hotel and Private residences, now in construction, H+P is again teaming with the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory at the University of Western Ontario to optimally integrate TLDs into the structural design.

Midwest Construction Magazine - Best of 2006, Commerical Project of Year

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Chicago's FBI headquarters at 2111 West Roosevelt Road was named Commercial Project of the Year in Midwest Construction Magazine's Annual Awards competition.

This GSA project, designed with Lohan Anderson, efficiently met stringent requirements for blast and progressive collapse, with little structural cost premium over a conventional office building.

Read the full story on this project's award.

Modern Steel Construction: "Rising High" interview with Swanson, Warner and Beaudoin

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Modern Steel Construction July 2006
Jim Swanson and Carrie Warner

On November 8, 2005 engineers from the Chicago structural engineering firm Halvorson and Partners spoke with the staff of Modern Steel Construction and an AISC Regional Engineer about the structural design of two of the firmâ��s recent high-rise office building projects- Chicagoâ��s Hyatt Center and One South Dearborn. The highlights of their discussion touch on current design issues and trends for composite high-rise office structures.

Read the article, "Rising High" in MSC.

2006 SEAOI Awards: Medium Structure Award of Merit - U-505

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500

The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) presented the 2006 Excellence in Structural Engineering Award of Merit (Medium Structure) to Halvorson and Partners for the U-505 Exhibition Facility in Chicago, IL at its annual design competition dinner in June. The project was recognized for its challenging phasing and interfacing requirements.

Midwest Construction Magazine - Best of 2005: Hyatt and more

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Halvorson and Partners structured three of the award winners in the 2005 Midwest Construction awards.

Hyatt Center at 71 South Wacker, designed with Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, was named Best High Rise of the Year. Read this project's award.

The U-505 Submarine relocation at the Museum of Science and Industry - Award of Merit: Cultural. Read this project's award.

Salem Baptist Church - Award of Merit: Institutional.Read this project's award.

London Sunday Times: Norman Foster cites Bob Halvorson amongst Best Engineers

Sun, 23 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Lord Norman Foster shares that heâ��s been â��privileged to work with some of the best engineers in worldâ�� â�� and cites Bob Halvorson in his list of less than ten. Read Fosterâ��s letter in the Londonâ��s Sunday Times on the importance of engineers in the creating "a new vision of the future".

Since meeting ten years ago for a proposed tower in Chicago, the two Principals and their firms have collaborated on a number of projects â�� each one unique in form and in structural detail, but each fitting into the fundamental pattern of efficient structural design. Some examples are noted below.

Structure Magazine: "An Introduction to High-Rise Design" by Zils and Viise

Sat, 01 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0600

Structure Magazine, 2003
John Zils and John Viise

The article addresses the primary steps and considerations in the design process of tall buildings. This article is a good introductory piece for designers who are beginning their first tall building design project.

Read the article, An Introduction to High-Rise Design.