Colorado Real Estate Journal - May 4, 2016
The Leffler Group Structural Engineers was hired by Spacecon Specialty Contractors LLC to provide engineering and building information modeling services for the South Terminal Redevelopment project at Denver International Airport, including the design of the structurally isolated structure beneath the above-ground transportation system, outdoor escalator enclosures and hotel exterior skin system framing, among others. While working on these projects, the firm was then asked to provide design assistance and extensive BIM services for the sky lobby ceiling structure located on the sixth floor of DIA’s new Westin Hotel and Conference Center. The suspended ceiling is made out of glass-fiber-reinforced gypsum that mimics the shape of the exterior steel diagrid, which overhangs the north and south ends of the building. “The suspended ceiling is a combination of slotted channel framing, traditional wire-hung tee framing and cold-formed steel framing supporting glassfiber-reinforced gypsum shapes, gypsum board and custom fabricated aluminum extrusions and fittings,” said Russ Leffler of The Leffler Group. The barrel-vault facets were created by using the structural steel diagrid canopy spring points located on the floor below, the ceiling ridge point, and the centerline to centerline facet dimensions. From this information we determined the swing angles between facets, which in turn defined the geometry of the break metal reveals, and triangular GFRG pieces.” In addition to the sky lobby ceiling at the Westin Hotel at DIA, the company has completed other signature local projects such as the “Jurassic Leaves” light-rail canopy at the Louisiana/Interstate 25 station, Prowers Medical Center ER and OR addition in Lamar, the Gardens on Havana Retail Center in Aurora, Palazzo Verdi Office building in Greenwood Village and Premier Lofts in downtown Denver.