Metal Construction News, November 2018

Hospitality Market Activity In August lodging construction was 318 billion 106 percent more than 2017 and 21 percent more than it was in July Nonresidential construction and total construction also recorded increases Nonresidential construction was 7627 billion 84 percent more than 2017 and 07 percent more than July At 132 trillion total construction increased 65 percent since last year and was 01 percent more than the month before Value of construction put in place in the U S August 2018 July 2018 August 2017 Lodging construction 31764 21 106 Nonesidential construction 762734 07 84 Total construction 1318485 01 65 Note in millions of dollars seasonally adjusted annual rate as reported by the U S Census Bureau on Oct 1 Percent change August 2018 from PROJECT FOCUS HOSPITALITY MGM National Harbor casino and hotel Oxon Hill Md Prominently perched on a hill overlooking the Potomac River HKS Inc and SmithGroup designed the MGM National Harbor casino and hotel to serve as a landmark to its community and gateway into Maryland Eddie Abeyta principal and senior vice president at HKS the design architect for the project says Inspiration for the project stemmed from the strength and timeless qualities evident in the historical monuments that are focal points across D C Due to the projects high visibility and nearby proximity to our nations capital the architectural vision embodies a modern bold and progressive design while respecting D C s monumental timeless sense of place MGM National Harbor is organized along a central spine similar to the National Mall Abeyta says The project is also inspired by grand urban gestures and organizing principles of the LEnfant and McMillan master plans evident in D C s radiating streets and strong axial alignments To achieve the design goals HKS and SmithGroup architect of record for the project enlisted multiple metal applications Metal panels were used for the casinos roof and soffi t canopies for the casino and hotel cladding on a theater space and signage Durable coatings were specifi ed for longevity One challenging part of the project was the casinos roof edge It has a razor edged curvilinear form that curves through all three geometric axes To produce framework to support the metal cladding a high level of coordination with the structural steel fabricator Banker Steel Co and its 3 D modeling tools was essential For the casinos roof edge and soffi t MG McGrath Inc fabricated and installed Arconic Architectural Products LLCs Reynobond aluminum composite material ACM panels in PPG Industries Inc s Duranar Kuala White Steve Metzger is general manager at Trojan Architectural Coaters Inc which powdercoated 400 panels for the project He says there are numerous pieces with angles custom fi t for specifi c spots on the roof There was a tremendous amount of coordination involved with just this portion of the project but we were able to meet the challenge Abeyta says the roof color was specifi ed for functionality and aesthetics Its refl ectivity meets LEED requirements and it resembles the colors of historic monuments in the vicinity We specifi ed Kuala White for the curtainwall and composite metal panel for the main roof edge because it was not a typical bone white but it was not a cool blue white either he says For the casinos drop off canopy MG McGrath Photos Alex Fradkin 40 METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS November 2018