Masonry Magazine September 1976 Page. 21
Hanalei Hotel, San Diego, California
The Hanalei Hotel is roughly L-shaped with all rooms overlooking the central patio. The exterior is painted 8 x 8 x 16 concrete block scored to form a square grid pattern. Walls in motel units facing beds and patio are also concrete grid block, to create a warm interesting interior, something often lacking in many other high-rise structures. All block was manufactured by Hazard Products.
The use of 8 inch reinforced concrete block walls in the 8-story Hanalei project became possible because of major changes in the building codes. The 1964 Uniform Building Code permitted higher design stresses (over twice as high) in masonry than were previously allowed when the strength selected by the structural engineer is established by preliminary tests of masonry assemblies and the work is supervised by an inspector licensed by the City. This code change contributed savings in construction costs to the Owner, but more as a bonus, since both Owner and Architect were convinced that the use of masonry bearing walls combined with job cast pick-up concrete slabs was the most appropriate system of construction, even if lower floor walls might have to be of 12 inch block as required by previous codes. This conclusion came from previous design and cost studies for the Mission Valley Hills Complex of 3, 4, 6 and 12-story apartment buildings of masonry construction conducted for the Owner during 1965.
Manufacturers had long been able to make stronger blocks but prior to multi-story applications, there has never been any incentive.
Tests at the Hanalei Hotel showed that the lightweight expanded shale blocks averaged 3825 psi on the net section compared to the 3000 psi design stress required. All mortar and grout had a compressive strength of 3000 psi minimum. Blocks averaged 2000 psi on the gross area which would designate high stress block and at the time they were the first manufactured in the United States. All block used in the western states for high-rise construction is hi-stress, but this has proven unnecessary for other areas, such as Texas.
The first 3 weeks of construction were devoted to preparation of the mat foundation and the pouring and finishing of floor and roof slabs in piles adjacent to the building. The site areas used for casting beds and circulation of equipment was actually more area than all the hotel floors combined. The slabs were cast in stacks 8 to 11 high, with a maximum height of 5 feet. The last slab cast was the first slab placed.
The Hanalei Hotel was started on the 25th of February and proceeded at the rate of one floor finished each week. The progress pictures taken on a Friday afternoon show the crane in approximately the same spot week after week, setting the precast.