BASE was originally engaged to only provide a value engineering evaluation of the structural design for the contractor, but based on realized cost savings of several million dollars the State of Hawaii allowed BASE to take over as the structural engineer of record.
This project is a four-level, 1.85 million SF facility that consolidates more than 12 car rental companies into one structure at Kahului Airport on the island of Maui. Designed for high seismic code requirements, this facility houses rental car counters and administrative offices; a ready/return structure for rental car pick up and return and overflow parking; a quick turnaround area for refueling, light maintenance, and washing of vehicles, and a tram system to connect the ConRAC Facility to the airport terminal. The tram system includes vehicles, a 6,000 SF maintenance facility, stations, canopies and boarding platforms, guideway, and all associated equipment and facilities.
The post-tensioned superstructure is supported on augered cast-in-place concrete piles and uses special moment-resisting post-tensioned concrete frames as the lateral load-resisting system. To make the project more interesting a large drainage culvert traverses the site, eliminating the ability to place foundations for one full bay of the structure. BASE worked with the contractor to develop a long span post-tensioned concrete transfer mat spanned 70 feet over the drainage structure to support columns that needed to be located near the middle of that easement.
In addition to being structural engineer of record, BASE also provided contractor support services such as design of tower crane foundations, shoring, and shop drawing submittal reviews.