The Fairmont Kea Lani

Wailea, HI | 480 suites | 628,940 sq ft

Originally conceived by a well-known Mexican Architect, this 480-all-suites hotel was designed in a whimsical Arabian style reminiscent of the resort at Las Hadas, Mexico. As many of the forms such as soaring arches, domes and spires could be easily constructed in Mexico by lower labor costs, these forms posed a challenge to adapt them to modern construction techniques.

We collaborated with the Architect to retain as much of the original design intact, yet meet a strict budget. The use of a concrete post-tensioned floor system coupled with precast concrete achieved the repeating arches and domes. The use of concrete also provided the developer with a durable structure as opposed to other materials for the architectural forms.