Project overview
This project covers the steel structure works for an InterContinental hotel in Ras Al Khaimah. The client was RAK Properties and the consultant was P&T Architects & Engineers Ltd. Wrenze Steel was responsible for the steel structural design.
The hotel render shows guest wings set around pools and gardens, with low pavilion buildings and long pergolas between them. Resort hotels of this type rely on outdoor structures that shade guests and frame views, and steel is a natural choice for them.
Our scope
Our scope was steel structural design. On a hotel package, that means taking the architect’s intent and turning it into steel that works:
- choosing a structural system for each element, such as moment frames or braced frames;
- setting the loads, including dead load, imposed load, wind and any hung finishes;
- sizing members and checking them for strength, stability and deflection;
- designing the connections, including the bases where steel lands on concrete;
- issuing design drawings and calculations for the consultant’s review.
Working with the consultant, P&T Architects & Engineers Ltd, the design had to suit both the structural requirements and the finished look the architects wanted.
The structure
Hotel steel works tend to be visible. Pergolas, canopies, pavilion roofs and shading structures are all seen up close by guests, so member sizes and connection details are part of the architecture as well as the engineering.
Slim columns and long beams look good but need care. A light pergola can be governed by wind uplift and sway rather than by gravity load, and an open frame with few walls needs a clear stability system, either through rigid connections or discreet bracing. Exposed steel near pools and the coast also needs attention to drainage details and corrosion protection.
Getting these details right at design stage avoids awkward fixes during fit-out, when finishes are already in place.
Read about our structural steel design and steel connection design services, or request a quote for steel works on your hotel or resort project.
