Four Seasons Abu Dhabi Sowwah Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Courtesy PLP Architecture.
Four Seasons Abu Dhabi Sowwah Island
Overview
Thornton Tomasetti provided structural, civil and façade engineering services for a mixed-use project located on a 10,600-square-meter site on Al Sowwah Island, slated to be Abu Dhabi’s new business district and financial center. The project is a 34-story hotel and serviced apartment building with 200 hotel rooms and 120 apartments. Amenities include valet parking; a separate residential entrance; retail, food and beverage outlets; 1,000 square meters of meeting space, ballroom and conference facilities; a 200-square-meter spa and wellness center; and a 600-square-meter gym and fitness facility.
The tower and podium are constructed from reinforced concrete with the columns, walls and beams as in-situ reinforced concrete, while the majority of the slabs are in-situ post-tensioned concrete. The slender nature of the tower limits the size of the cores that can be utilized for stability. Our design strategy includes coupling the cores with embedded steel link beams and deeper slab zones to increase its utility and efficiency. The podium stability is provided through a combination of moment frame action between the slabs and columns, and a number of cores at various points on the podium.
Our Façade Engineering practice supported the design team by providing façade detailing, structural design of custom steel, aluminum and glass elements as well as construction and testing methods. The intricate façade, which gives this building its unique aesthetic, was driven by environmental concerns balanced with a desire to have unimpeded views from within. The external shading in aluminum and structural glass mitigates incident solar radiation.
Follow these topics:
Team members
Our team
-
Les Postawa Principal and UK Director -
Tanya de Hoog Principal, UK Director & UK Office Director -
Kyle E. Krall Senior Principal & UAE Office Director -
Sergio De Gaetano Senior Principal, UK Director & Façade Engineering Practice Leader -
Reza Farimani Vice President -
Michael Roberts Vice President & Associate Director
Related Projects
Façade Materials & Systems
Brick & Terracotta
Terracotta and brick façades can impart a timeless aesthetic to a building’s vocabulary. For designers who want to marry this aesthetic with new forms, façade systems that use these materials, but with better performance and at a fraction of the weight, are often the solution. Our engineers are experienced in the design of these systems. We have a thorough understanding of these systems, whether used in a traditional cavity wall, as rainscreen cladding or as a high-performing panelized system. The result is a façade that unites classical language with new technology.
Façade Materials & Systems
Composites
Composite materials – fiber reinforced plastics (FRP), glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) and polycarbonate – make for elegant, lightweight and cost-effective enclosures. These materials are well-suited for use in stadiums and long-span buildings, both in new construction and for re-roofing existing structures. Most composites adapt to nearly any complex shape and are available in an array of thicknesses and finish options, from translucent to opaque. Using our 3D form-finding and optimization tools, we can adapt commercial systems or develop customized solutions.
Façade Materials & Systems
Concrete
New technologies have transformed concrete – traditionally a heavy material used for structural elements – into a material that can be used on façades. When reinforced with glass fiber, concrete makes lightweight cladding panels that provide the textures of traditional material with a new flexibility of use. Precast concrete offers efficient panelization and range of finishes and embedment options such as brick or stone. We have experience applying these systems and can use that knowledge to help our clients select the most effective solution for their project.
Façade Materials & Systems
Curtain Wall
Our façade engineering teams advise clients on the best way to develop both conventional and innovative façade systems, applying our knowledge of structures, glazing technology, mechanical shade systems and thermal behavior. We provide design, detailing and engineering support for enclosures of any shape or size, from minimalist to high-tech. We also provide expertise in safety and security glazing, along with glass frits and reflective coatings.