AECCafe Guest Blog Greg Sweeney AIA, LEED AP
Director of Technical Design at Rossetti. Greg’s comprehensive understanding of the building process and passion for quality control guide ROSSETTI’s technical design acumen. With experience ranging from large-scale sports facilities to commercial spaces, Greg drives the firm’s expertise in … More » Integrated Technology Streamlines the Design/Build of Daytona RisingFebruary 27th, 2015 by Greg Sweeney AIA, LEED AP
Race fans at this year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona got a sneak peek into Daytona International Speedway’s DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project. The west end of the frontstretch grandstands, containing 40,000 new seats, wider concourses and two injector entrances officially opened, while construction continues on the reminder of the facility. The project will be complete in time for next year’s 54th running of the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 58th annual DAYTONA 500. What fans won’t see is the behind-the-scenes milestone technology being used. The sheer magnitude and complexity of this project prompted the design-build team of architect ROSSETTI and design- builder Barton Malow Corp., both from Detroit, to utilize the latest Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) technology. While VDC is being used on a variety of building types, the DAYTONA Rising project marks a high point of consultant collaboration and integration of information in a major sports development. Employing VDC for the planning, design and execution of large-scale, complex sports VIRTUAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION EXPANDS THE DESIGN TOOLBOX More than 25 different software programs were used in the project’s technology toolbox, with REVIT/Navisworks being the dominant Building Information Modeling (BIM) platforms. The 3D model enabled the entire project design team to view design virtually and view elements in relation to placement of systems, such as electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, and others. The project team also viewed clearances, spaces and adjacent environmental areas, including the signage, ticket gates, the racetrack and the infield. BIM draws from databases of information about materials, quantities, and allows for takeoffs to verify items, such as concrete slabs, steel tonnage, glass square footage, numbers of doors, metal panel quantities, roof systems, railing and seating counts. A virtual walk-through with the client, International Speedway Corporation (ISC), allowed them to visualize the grandstands, concourse and showed the placement of 11 new “neighborhoods” – rest and relaxation areas the size of football fields with concessions, merchandise booths, eating areas and gathering spaces. #1 CHALLENGE: CREATING THE SIGHTLINE To better appreciate these challenges, the new stadium at 2/3 of a mile in length actually follows the curvature of the earth. It is the equivalent of three Empire State Buildings laid end-to-end. This sets up an entirely different field of play with its own set of design rules. LENGTH: 3 EMPIRE STATE BUILDINGS To study these variables, ROSSETTI used its proprietary Sightline Designer,’ a parametric plug in for Grasshopper, which allowed designers to make decisions in real time to shape the viewing quality the seating bowl and heights of the concourses.
According to Daytona International Speedway President, Joie Chitwood III, the result is “sightline perfection.” CHALLENGE #2 INTEGRATING EXISTING STEEL WITH THE NEW DESIGN To accomplish this new request, a Point Cloud 3D scan of the existing structure was performed and used to create a model of the existing steel. The detailed geometry captured in the laser scan uncovered variations and provided a model of existing conditions, which saved immense field measuring time that would have been required to document all of the various conditions. The process involved setting up a laser every 30 feet or so (each column bay) along the mile long grandstand and recording data. This information was then converted into a 3D model usable by structural engineers, Walter P Moore. However, even with the most sophisticated technology, there are lessons learned. According to ROSSETTI Technical Director, Greg Sweeney, the data still had to be reconciled with some field surveys to get the most accurate information. However, the change saved about 3,000 tons of steel and approximately $10 MM while streamlining the construction sequence, because it allowed the existing seating to remain intact for the first few races. To meld the previous and new design together, the ROSSETTI team created bridges through the existing steel with bracing to reach the new seating/stadia installed onto the existing steel. This redesign maintained the wider seating for an upgraded spectator experience. CHALLENGE #3 SELLING HOSPITALITY PRIOR TO COMPLETION COLLABORATION WITH BARTON MALOW AND SUBCONTRACTORS For subcontractors, BIM showed all the actual elements/ systems, and mounting methods proposed, including underground utilities, concrete piles, foundations, steel, concrete rebar, metal floor deck, CMU, metal studs, stairs, railings, stadia, metal panels, plumbing, fire protection, electrical, mechanical, low voltage, lighting, signage, food service, and more. This method allowed for all parties to be able to better coordinate the installed work and allowed ISC to understand the installed condition before it was built. For example the steel fabrication model alone required 16,000 tons of structural steel and miscellaneous metals. BIM technologies were utilized in the major undertaking for logistical trade coordination, construction management, and RFI communications. This BIM coordination helped shorten the opportunity solving time span in design. VDC + THE FUTURE OF THE STADIUM ROSSETTI is the design architect for DAYTONA Rising. Barton Malow is the General Contractor in the design-build partnership. ROSSETTI is an architectural design and planning firm with a global focus on sports and entertainment. Tags: Architect, Auto, Daytona, Greg Sweeney, Race, Rolex 24, Rossetti, Speedway, VDC Category: Rossetti |