Starbucks at Waterfront
Expanding expertise to keep a last-minute project on budget and schedule.
Project Facts
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Owner | Oracle Corporation |
| Size | 600 SF |
| Status | Completed 2017 |
Overview
Oracle’s main building was almost complete when the architects decided to veer from the original design plan for an on-site Starbucks. Instead of creating a traditional box kiosk, they wanted a distinctive structure enclosed with a curving cantilevered façade. Walter P Moore helped guide the new design and construction for the Starbucks storefront in an existing lobby within the remaining 69-day schedule.
Services
About the project
To help the architects of the Oracle Waterfront building in Austin, Texas carry out a new design for the Starbucks storefront in the lobby of the building, Walter P Moore expanded their services as the structural engineer for the overall complex to include both enclosure engineering for the kiosk façade and specialized construction modeling.
To help the project stay on schedule, our team developed a digital workflow to model, optimize, and design a fully integrated structural solution, including the structural frame, infill systems, and façade support.
Next, our specialized construction engineering team created a fully connected and detailed model of the steel frame, reinforced concrete foundations, and cold-formed metal system that allowed the subcontractors to skip the traditional, time-consuming steps of preparing, coordinating, and scrubbing shop drawings.
These integrated, fabrication-level models for rebar, cold-formed steel systems, and structural steel frames simultaneously reduced the risk of material conflicts while enabling efficiencies in the construction process. This approach also shortened the time required for steel fabrication to just five days and the erection time to three days.
As a result, the distinctive kiosk was completed on time for occupancy, delighting both the owner and Oracle employees.
