Chicago, IL
Sophy Hotel
Scope/Solutions
The 100-room Hyde Park hotel offers luxury accommodations to the University of Chicago community, which generally lacked sufficient lodging options. SGH was the structural engineer for the project, including a structural steel podium level and a hybrid structural steel/steel stud bearing wall superstructure for floors two through seven.
SGH designed the structure to maximize the floor-to-floor heights, while keeping the overall building height under the limit that would invoke City of Chicago code provisions for high-rise structures. Highlights of the structural design include the following:
- A structural steel podium level to transfer the superstructure loads to columns set at wider bays to accommodate a restaurant, lobby lounge, and other common areas
- Six-story superstructure with steel stud bearing walls supporting concrete slabs on steel deck with structural steel framing to accomplish longer spans for bigger rooms, such as suites and conferences rooms
- Steel framing embedded into the floor slabs to avoid drops below the ceiling and fabricated with modified shapes, allowing the top flange to be hidden within the walls above (top right image)
- Second floor transfer level designed with large beam openings permitting mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to pass through the structure, minimizing the intrusion into the first floor
- Full-height facade support structure, similar to a balloon frame, outside of the slab edge to support the articulated brick veneer and eliminated relieving angles by engineering the system instead of applying prescriptive code requirements
- Architecturally exposed stainless steel canopies and overhangs
Project Summary
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures
Markets
Commercial
Client(s)
GREC Architects
Specialized Capabilities
Building Design
Key team members

Matthew Johnson
Structural Engineering Division Head, Chicago

Additional Projects
Midwest
John Hancock Center, Scaffold Collapse
On 9 March 2002, a 100 ft long, suspended scaffold platform fell from the 42nd floor of the John Hancock Center. SGH investigated the causes of the failure.
Midwest
111 East Wacker Drive
A law firm occupying two floors of 111 East Wacker Drive was expanding their offices to the floor below. SGH provided structural engineering services for the stair and associated modifications to the existing building.