back to basics:T H R O U G H T H E E Y E S O F S T R U C T U R A L E N G I N E E R S

Walking into a glitzy and architecturally stimulating building can be exciting for anyone, but does everyone see all the structural elements that were needed to make the building so appealing to the eye? We decided for this week’s blog it would be fun and interesting to pick a well known project, the Hollywood & Vine, W Hotel and Residences in Hollywood, California and ask some fellow engineers just what they see when they look at some specific pictures from the popular, Drai’s Nightclub that resides on the rooftop of the hotel.

HOLLYWOOD & VINE: DRAI’S

NIGHTCLUB

TEAMPAUL ROGNESS

Associate Principal

Paul, an Associate Principal with DCI was the Structural Lead on the Hollywood & Vine

project.

ROBYN YANGProject Manager

Robyn, a Project Manager, was a Structural Project

Engineer on this headline project. She was one of

our younger team members and offered a different perspective.

BRUCE ZHONGAssociate Principal

Bruce, also an Associate Principal with DCI, didn’t

work on this project. However, he went there for a weekend getaway

and provided his vacationing and

engineering insight.

SO AN ENGINEER WALKS INTO A BAR…

THIS IS WHAT PAUL SAYS:

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DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB(From Below)

1. “The one story (full story) cantilevered truss supports the night club.”

2. “The horizontal braces provide lateral support for signage structure.”

THIS IS WHAT ROBYN SAYS:1. “I notice the exposed

braces of the night club. If I didn’t know this was a cantilevered truss, I wouldn’t be interested to know how it worked.”

2. “I notice the tall billboard sign and the braces back to the building.”

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DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB(From Below)

THIS IS WHAT BRUCE SAYS:1. “When I told the club

manager, ‘I think I need to test this cantilevered floor for vibration by jumping up and down,’ he threatened to throw me out.”

2. “Every night a line forms for the club. It has its own elevator to the roof top club.”

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DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB(From Below)

1.“Cold-formed steel provides framing for the Penthouse. This is supported on the transfer slab below.”

2.“Large concrete beams form step for pool.”

3.“Weight of full pool is about 250psf!”

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THIS IS WHAT PAUL SAYS:

THE ROOF TOP POOL AND BAR

1. There isn’t a whole lot to see structurally in this picture. Most of it is covered up. The temporary tents/cabanas have to be anchored somehow and the overframing and pavers cover up the structural slab.”

2. “This glass handrail is interesting, specifically the support and the connections.”

3. “The pool looks inviting. Its cool how there is a pool on the roof top. Its all over-framed on top of the structural slab.”

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THIS IS WHAT ROBYN SAYS:

THE ROOF TOP POOL AND BAR

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1.“The roof top pool will act as a damper during an earthquake (I don’t think we can count on that for design though.) The pool will also help cool off those people who party too hard!”

THIS IS WHAT BRUCE SAYS:

THE ROOF TOP POOL AND BAR

What do you see?