Civil Engineering Career Episode: Apartment Design Project Details

This career episode presents a detailed account of a Civil Engineering project undertaken by the student, focusing on the design and construction of a three-bedroom apartment in Ha'il, Saudi Arabia. As an associate design engineer and site engineer, the student was responsible for various aspects, in...Read More

First Name Last Name
Instructor
Civil Engineering
6 October 2019
Career Episode
Introduction
This career episode is based upon a particular engineering problem that I was required to solve
on August 2018. Friend of mine who is a full-time employee of the BlueTech Company through
the company requested my services in providing them with technical drawings for a three
bedroom apartment as well as assist in supervising the project’s implementation. This project
was conducted at Ha'il in north-western Saudi Arabia. I was associate design engineer and site
engineer in this project from August 2018- March 2019.
Background
As an associate design engineer, I carried out daily engineering activities under the direction of a
senior engineer, while at the same time acquiring the opportunity to independently plan and
manage projects. The project entailed actual design of a three bedroom apartment, preparation of
bill of quantities, certification and approval of the drawings, tendering, and project
implementation in record 5 months.
The project objectives included provision of three bedroom apartment facility based on design
and build philosophy using sustainable construction materials. The design therefore included
sustainable designs and solutions and the construction was heavily green type. Given the hot
weather, the design and construction was conducted such that the house would have a system of
self-cooling based on manually regulated thermostat for each of the rooms in the house. To
check on cost and project schedule timeline, most of the construction materials had to be sourced
locally.
The nature of my work area included: Perform with engineers from other disciplines and
nationalities in a team environment. Solve problems and improve the production and
serviceability of products that work for manufacturing and service staff. Create and suggest
improvements in construction processes if any. Prepare drawings for engineering.
The chart of organization hierarchy highlighting my position is as shown in figure 1.

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Figure 1: organization hierarchy.
Statement of my duties included: Using computer applications in the field of engineering to
create/ develop, read and interpret blueprints. Upgrade the brand and reduce service failures and
sales support staff costs. Provide management technical guidance if needed. Establish and
maintain relationships within or outside of BlueTech Company with individuals and business
units. Provide leadership and management to design the HVAC system design team of engineers.
Identify and procure process equipment that is necessary. Investigate, develop and implement
new large-scale system technologies.
I provided an AutoCAD design of the building with all elevations including but not limited to
west elevation, south elevation, east elevation, north elevation as well as interior elevations,
sections. After approval of the drawing, I was responsible in ensuring that the construction is
done as per the design and approve of any changes before being implemented. In case of such
variations, I was made updated versions of the designs to include any changes (if any). The
selection of the material was every key aspect of this project given that the client needed a
sustainable design using green construction technologies. Therefore, I ensured that correct
materials as per the design specifications were adhered to. This include allowing for suitable
Chief Executive
Officer
Managing
director/ Project
director
Project
supervisor/
cordinator
Finance/ Human
Resources
Manager
Design/
Structural
Engineer
Associate
Design
Engineer/ site
engineer

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allowances for mechanical aspects of the building and louvers, sizing and placement of building
elements such as windows, doors, finishing’s etc.
Personal engineering activity
Knowledge on concrete technology, pre-stressed concrete, reinforced concrete design, steel and
timber designs as well as structural analysis were very relevant in developing a sound design.
Static and kinetic indeterminacies of the structure was keenly analyzed. Knowledge of the layout
of members of RCC and Steel is significant. I performed safety checks in all aspects of the
layout. Apart from this, I determined the vulnerability of the building to wind forces or lies in the
zones prone to earthquake, and designed it to resist these lateral forces during the construction.
Using knowledge of civil engineering, I did setting out of the design and determined the
dimensions to be inculcated with the design. I interacted with the client to determine his
preferences of the design, space, facilities and his opinion on y proposal until he settled on one
out the three proposal designs presented. After settling on the design, knowledge on estimation
of costs came in handy in preparing the bill of quantities for the project. This task was done in
liaison with the design engineer with keen reference to the clients budget and design
specification choices. Availability of these materials was as well evaluated as well as market
costs so as to provide more informed estimation of the project.
From the aforementioned tasks, the project execution commenced with groundwork tasks such as
leveling, grading and earthworks were completed in two weeks. As this continued, procurement
of building stones, reinforcement bars, hiring of equipment and machineries was on course.
Acquiring sufficient and qualified labor was not difficult as the company already had a team of
persons with the needed expertise. Pad foundations were used and concrete forms cast in the
building area. Collaborating and monitoring every aspect of the construction was quite a difficult
task considering I wasn’t familiar with most of the project team. The foundation wall was then
poured after which concrete slab was poured. In pouring a concrete slab, compacted gravel was
underlain then a polythene laid over the area as water barrier. Rigid foam was then built and
Rebar and PEX tubing for radiant floor heating put in place. Concrete slab was then poured.
Provision and installation of utilities such as water, gas, sewer and electrical were done. Then,
the building framing was done including windows, sheathing, balloon framing and roof was
done. Rough plumbing and fitting of mechanical systems followed such as HVAC. Accent

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electrical and lighting was installed. Other activities included air sealing, spray foam insulation,
drywall, sliding, flooring, tilling, painting, fittings of cabinets was done respectively. Electrical
and lighting, and plumbing was finished after which a certificate of occupancy was made ready.
Since no further modifications were required, the house was commissioned for occupancy by the
client.
Summary
The overall project was a success with no major difficulties experienced except for delayed
completion of the project by two weeks due to delay in certain material supplies that could not be
sourced otherwise and hostile personnel that would grow repulsive whenever you seek to guide
or direct them in specific execution procedure of the project. The project objectives were fully
realized in terms of design requirements and considerations of the client specification/need. As
an assistant design engineer, I closely monitored on the project implementation and fro tie to tie
be consulted in cases of technical difficulties upon unavailability of the design engineer on site.