I have been a member of the Las Vegas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for 11 years. The monthly membership meeting is one of the main AIA functions I try to attend regularly. These meetings are usually held in the same place and follow a uniform format which includes a presentation about an architectural topic usually given by an architect.

This month's meeting, however, was very different. The sold-out event was held at the latest Las Vegas icon, the High Roller Observation (Ferris) Wheel. This exciting attraction is the focal point of the new shopping, dining and entertainment district, known as The Linq. Located at the heart of the Strip across from Caesars Palace, the High Roller opened in late March of this year.

 

This time, the presentation topic was about the engineering, design and construction of the project and was given by a team of structural engineers. It was one of those rare moments when the primary design professional is the structural engineer. The massive structure of the wheel is impressive. It broke records as the world's tallest observation wheel.

 

At the end of the fascinating presentation, I took a ride of the giant wheel and enjoyed killer 360-degree views from 550 feet above Las Vegas with several colleagues. The cabin was comfortably high-tech and the ride was very smooth. It only moves at 0.89 feet per second and takes about 30 minutes to complete a full revolution.

High Roller - View from The Link

A sense of excitement filled the festive scene that night as I walked through The Linq at the end of the ride for the first time. It felt good to see fellow engineers get recognition for their work and contribution in changing the skyline of the Las Vegas Strip, once again.

The Tilt-Up construction method began more than 50 years ago as a novel way to build concrete walls for warehouses and manufacturing plants. The method grew to include most low-rise two to five-story commercial and industrial buildings. Creative design professionals are now applying Tilt-Up to office buildings, shopping centers, schools, prisons, auto dealerships, hotels, and other building types.

The term "Tilt-Up" describes a method for constructing concrete walls rapidly and economically without the formwork necessary for poured-in-place walls. It is a two-step process. First, slabs of concrete, which will comprise sections of wall, are cast horizontally on the building floor slab. Then, after attaining sufficient strength, they are lifted (tilted) with a crane and set on prepared foundations to form the exterior walls.

The Tilt-Up wall panels typically weigh up to 60 tons and average only 6 to 8 inches in thickness. Formwork is only required for the perimeter and openings. Therefore, very little formwork material and labor is needed. 

Once wall panels attain sufficient strength, a mobile crane is brought to the job site to lift and set them on prepared foundations. The erected panels are temporarily braced and typically connected to one another. The roof structure is then attached to the walls, the braces are removed, joints are caulked, and the wall finishes are applied to complete the building shell.

Current projects in design, permitting or under construction: 

• Metro Station Canopy in Compton, California
• University of Nevada Las Vegas Accelerator Lab Building
• McCarran International Airport Terminal 1, B Gates Remodel
• Dior Store at Bellagio Las Vegas
• Saratoga, California High School Space Frames