ROYAL CARIBBEAN NEW BUILDING & CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT

LOCATION: MIAMI, FLORIDA

SQUARE FOOTAGE: 380,000 SF

PROJECT ARCHITECT: REGINA GILFANOVA

ARCHITECTURE FIRM: HELLMUTH, OBATA + KASSABAUM (HOK)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

THE PROJECT IS A NEW 10-STORY, APPROXIMATELY 380,000-SQUARE-FOOT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS FOR ROYAL CARIBBEAN GROUP, LOCATED ON DODGE ISLAND AT PORTMIAMI. DESIGNED BY HOK, THE FACILITY CONSOLIDATES THE COMPANY’S ADMINISTRATIVE, TRAINING, AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS INTO A SINGLE STRUCTURE.

PROGRAM ELEMENTS INCLUDE OPEN-PLAN OFFICE AREAS, CONFERENCING AND TRAINING FACILITIES, TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED MEETING ROOMS, AN AUDITORIUM, TWO CAFETERIAS, AND A TOP-FLOOR EXECUTIVE SUITE WITH EVENT SPACE AND A LANDSCAPED SKY GARDEN. BUILDING SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED FOR RESILIENCE IN A COASTAL ENVIRONMENT: THE MAIN LOBBY IS ELEVATED 15 FEET ABOVE GRADE, AND CRITICAL MECHANICAL SYSTEMS ARE LOCATED ON AN ELEVATED MEZZANINE APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL TO MITIGATE FLOOD RISK.

THE STRUCTURE IS REINFORCED CONCRETE WITH A HIGH-PERFORMANCE CURTAIN WALL AND SHADING SYSTEM. THE PROJECT INTEGRATES SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT DESIGN STRATEGIES APPROPRIATE FOR MIAMI’S CLIMATE, INCLUDING GREEN ROOF ASSEMBLIES, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AND FAÇADE PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

LED AND COORDINATED THE LIFE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT IN COLLABORATION WITH A CODE CONSULTANT FOR BOTH THE MAIN HEADQUARTERS BUILDING AND THE PARKING GARAGE. MY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED OVERSEEING ALL ITEMS RELATED TO THE CORE AND SHELL OF BOTH STRUCTURES, ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH CODE AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS. I ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE INTERIORS TEAM TO CONFIRM THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PLUMBING FIXTURES BASED ON OCCUPANCY CALCULATIONS. IN ADDITION, I CONTRIBUTED TO THE PRODUCTION OF DRAWINGS FOR THE EXTERIOR ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRED A DETAILED UNDERSTANDING OF THE GFRC SYSTEM AND CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING TEAM.