Innovative Design for Hyatt’s Expanding Brand

One of several new cities chosen to support the worldwide growth of the boutique-style Hyatt Centric brand, Philadelphia plans to open the first of its name in the fall of 2020.

The project pushed Bohler’s team to its creative limits, with stormwater management facilities suspended over the entrance of the parking garage for the 13-story tower with more than 300 rooms.

Rethinking Stormwater Management to Maximize Parking

Typical of an urban project, the original stormwater management system was located inside the underground parking garage. Hyatt’s desire to maximize the number of parking spaces for the structure required the design team to come up with a new solution. Architect DAS offered unused space in the ceiling above the entrance to the garage. After careful calculations and forward thinking, Bohler devised a plan for the new stormwater management system.

A deck built over the sidewalk will support two large holding tanks, equipped with a device that slowly releases the water into the City’s public system, preventing it from getting overloaded. A small area with a lower roof was not able to be piped to the holding tanks so a green roof will control the stormwater for that area.

Creative Solutions to Benefit All

This innovative system allows for eight additional spaces in the garage and manages 97% of the site’s stormwater runoff. To finalize the details of the design, the team worked closely with a structural engineer and a plumbing consultant. By collectively putting our heads together, the team found a solution that met the needs of both the client and the City.