Verifying that unique architectural features do not detract from an upscale hotel’s safety and comfort.
Designed by architects Squire & Partners, London’s contemporary, cylindrical-shaped Art’otel will feature 26 floors and 343 bedrooms with a ground floor restaurant and bar, as well as a spa. The much-anticipated hotel will also feature a public arts center, including an art gallery and space for video artists and photography studios. True to the Art’otel brand, original art from an artist yet to be selected will be displayed throughout the hotel’s guest rooms and public areas. Artwork by renowned artist Banksy will be mounted externally over the hotel’s entrance and exit.
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The Challenge
At 26 stories tall, Art’otel stands quite a bit taller than the five-story buildings that comprise the immediate vicinity. Decorative fins made of twisted tubes line each floor of London’s Art’otel. The combination of the height and these unique architectural features meant that careful attention had to be paid to ensure the building would not be susceptible to wind or create noise that could disturb hotel patrons.
Our Approach
RWDI’s experts were engaged to ensure the safety and comfort of the hotel design. As part of this project, we:
- Provided all necessary studies in-house to eliminate the need for Squire & Partners to engage separate companies for each service
- Leveraged a pedestrian level wind study to assist in the planning stage and verify the design would be safe and comfortable for both hotel patrons and pedestrians
- Reviewed and repeated a pedestrian level wind study after several changes to the initial design to ensure accuracy of results
- Executed testing on structural wind loads for two different configurations to verify the building would withstand strong winds
- Conducted cladding wind load testing to address the local wind pressures acting on the building’s exterior envelope
- Performed an aeroacoustics study to verify unique design elements of the building’s envelope would not be susceptible to wind or create noise disturbing to patrons
- Assessed aerodynamic stability to ensure no vibration fatigue issues with the decorative fins
The Outcome
The combination of RWDI’s studies confirmed the new London Art’otel would not be susceptible to wind and stand up to the quality patrons have come to expect from this prestigious hotel chain.