Designing of Raheja Imperia- I: A Project Review

This article discusses the project of Designing of Raheja Imperia- I, its objectives, distinctive activities, identified issues and their solutions, and project review. It also highlights the role of the chief structural engineer and the software used for the project.

CE 2.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Designing of Raheja Imperia- I
Location of the project: Shankar Rao, Naram Path, Lower Parel, Mumbai- 400013
Project Duration: November of 2014 to January of 2016
Organization: Mahimtura Structural Consultants Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, India
Role and Designation during the time: Project Developer and Chief Structural
Engineer
CE 2.2 Project Background
CE 2.2.1 Characteristics of the project
While working in Mahimtura Structural Consultants Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, India, I have
been a part of several popular and significant projects. After completing few of these projects,
I got the opportunity to complete a project completely by myself. This project of Designing
of Raheja Imperia- I was the first project that I had designed entirely myself. I was the chief
structural engineer here and was responsible to make it one of the best residential complex in
Lower Parel, Mumbai, India. I wanted to make it the most popular of all residential
complexes in Asia and I was successful in doing so. Since, almost all types of residential
buildings have special amenities for their clients; I was extra cautious about the additional
amenities like swimming pool. I have designed Asia’ highest Infinity residential pool in this
particular project. I have used various languages like AutoCAD, StaadPro and Etabs for
creation of the 3D model of the building. Therefore, in this project, I provided a design for
the Raheja Imperia I for making it more improved in comparison to others.

CE 2.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
I had to ensure that my proposed design is perfect in terms of safety and security and
is quite efficient and effective. I designed the entire building with the core purpose of making
the residential complex extremely advanced and modernized. Hence, to complete the project
with utmost efficiency as well as priority, some of the important objectives were developed
by me.
 To propose a safe and structural design for the entire project of Raheja Imperia I,
situated in Mumbai, India.
 To complete the entire project within the provided time and resources for making it
more effective and efficient.
 To utilize Etabs and StaadPro software for the perfect analyses as well as designing
of building that is being constructed.
 To utilize the software of AutoCAD to draw and reinforce detailing of my project.
 To contrast results, obtained from the software of Etabs and StaadPro with the
manual methodology.
 To ensure that all of my team members and project members are working in safe and
secured working environment.
 To match and contrast the experimental result with my desired results.
CE 2.2.3 My area of work
Being a successful civil engineer, it was quite easier for me to provide the design of
the residential building of Raheja Imperia I and hence I was selected as the chief civil
engineer and project developer. I had been a part of various civil engineering projects in my
professional career for several days and thus, when I got the chance of executing this kind of
large project completely by myself, I ensured that each and every amenity is being taken care

Director of the
Company
Associate Structural
Engineer
Chief Structural
Engineer (Me)
completely. My project supervisor has confidence on me and gave the core responsibility of
designing the building.
CE 2.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 2.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
During the accomplishment of the project, I comprised of various responsibilities. My
most noteworthy duty was to propose a safe structural design for the project of Raheja
Imperia I. Since, I had previously worked with the labors of Mahimtura Structural
Consultants Pvt. Ltd., I did not face any issue in communicating with them. I had coordinated
with architects, site supervisors, structural engineers and client for smooth progress of the
work and even performed certain administrative tasks such as maintenance of regular reports.
I even reported to my project supervisor regularly and gave him significant updates.
Moreover, I also liaised with respective building surveyors for getting approval of this
housing project. Being extremely familiar with 3D modelling software such as StaadPro,

Etabs and AutoCAD, I had to make the prototype of this project with first 6 months and get
approval from client. Since, I wanted to make unique and popular design for the project, I
ensured that the swimming pool was creative. I created Asia’s highest Infinity swimming
pool in the top floor of the building. My other distinctive responsibilities included cost and
quantity analyses of the materials on the basis of several structural drawings from my site
manager. Furthermore, I had the responsibility of ensuring safety precautions for my staffs
and labors so that they do not face any issue while doing their work.
CE 2.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 2.3.1 Comprehending the Theory of Project
I have undertaken the theory of structural analysis and designing while completion of
the project. Since, most of the buildings often face issues regarding error in designing, I
strongly ensured that my project is completely error free. The structure was safe and
economical against any type of gravity loading conditions and even can fulfill the functions,
for which such structures are being built for. To design the entire structure, I have considered
dead load and live load and completed the analysis with the help of Etabs software. In this
specific project of multi storeyed construction, I have adapted the limit state method of
analysis and this design was confirmed with the IS 456-2000 and approved by Mumbai
Municipal High Rise Commission.
I have sub divided the entire process of structural design into some of the few stages
like structural planning, calculation and estimation of loads, analysis of structure, member
designing and finally drawings for construction and preparing the structures. I had used Etabs
version 15 for the project since it features a powerful and an intuitive graphical interface that
is being coupled with the unmatched modelling, designing and analytical processes within

one single database. I have also used V12 for foundation analysis and design and StaadPro
for retaining walls as underground tanks as well as Revit for preparing structural drawings.
The analysis results of 6 columns that were designed are given below:
Table 1: Results Taken for Column Designing
CE 2.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
To execute the project, I had applied my skills of Etabs, Dynamics analysis, wind
analysis, Safe, Revit, StaadPro for executing the software implementation of the project.
Since I have teamwork skills, I did not face any problem in team collaboration and work
execution. Moreover, with the skills of logical reasoning and complex problem solving, it
was much easier for me execute this entire project.
CE 2.3.3 Accomplishment and Task Performed
In the beginning of the project, I at first considered at the base shear values that were
obtained by the manual analysis. I checked that these values gained from manual analysis are
much higher than the software analysis. Grid points were being created by me and hence a
structure was generated. After getting the program, a brand new model was selected and then
Etabs software generated 2D as well as 3D structures by specifications of the building details.

I assigned the dead loads to internal and external walls of the building and live loads to the
entire building structure after inclusion of floor finishing. On the other hand, the wind loads
were assigned for wind angle in directions for X, X1, Z and Z1 as 0, 180, 90 and 270
respectively.
After completion of proper analysis, I collected the data of building. The preliminary
data for first 10 ten floors of my project are as follows:
Length X Width 18m*18m
Number of storeys 10
Number of beams 12
Size of beam 300mm*600mm
Number of columns in (8-9-10) storey 16
Number of columns in (7-6-5-4-3-2-1) storey 15
Size of column 800mm*550mm
Slab thickness 150mm
Support condition for columns Fixed
Thickness Shear Wall 450mm
Grade of Concrete and Steel M 80 - Fe 500
Length of each bay 6m
Table 2: Preliminary Data of 1st 10 floors
Since, I had to deal with a building that was much taller than other buildings, I paid
extra attention to the quality of materials. The height of 1st storey was bigger than the rest.
Following are the storey data of 1st 10 ten floors:

Table 3: Storey Data of 1st 10 Floors
CE 2.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
2.3.4.1 Issues
The most important concern that I have confronted in this project was during
preparing the base. During this he water supply pipe got cracked and hence we had to shut
down supply of water in the entire area. Hence a major issue was raised and the respective
citizens of Worli, Mumbai were facing problems. Moreover, I even faced issue in tension
effect of building in the Etabs model. Another significant issue that I have confronted here
was during analyzing the 3D modeling of structure. The respective drawing of shear forces
was not correct and hence the result was problematic. Soil analysis was the next subsequent
issue faced here and report of soil survey did not provide correct density.
2.3.4.2 Solutions
For the first problem of pipe cracking, I suggested to replace that pipe by transfer of
ample leaker water into sewage system and hence was successful in resolving the issue.
Regarding tension effect issue, I did linear analysis and took frames for both compression and
tension. The next issue was solved for doing shear force diagram and thus making it

successful. For the next issue, I then corrected the errors and hence got correct density of
40KN/m3.
CE 2.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
For completing this project of the Designing of Raheja Imperia- I, I have to create the
distinctive plan to produce outstanding design. Being a structural engineer, I had to make a
proper design for this particular project.
CE 2.3.6 Collaborative Work
I had provided suggestions to my team to work altogether for becoming stress free for
each one of us for making this project effective. I also distributed different tasks equally
amongst my team members and then undertook regular work follow-ups. I have used Revit
tool for updating the drawings like arch, plumbing, electrical and structural in one file which
was constantly updated on the cloud memory.
CE 2.4 Project Review
CE 2.4.1 Project Overview
The key purpose of this project was proposing a safe and efficient structural design
for the Raheja Imperia I. For this particular purpose, I had to use my information of structural
analysis and Etabs, Safe, StaadPro and Revit to incorporate the design. With proper testing
this type of software, I was able to execute the project effectively.
CE 2.4.2 My Contribution to work
I was assigned as the chief structural engineer in this project of Designing of Raheja
Imperia- I. My chief contribution was proposing the accurate and well-articulated design for
this project and also solving the several issues faced by us.