Royal Hawaiian Center, Honolulu
Retrofit Team
Architect: AHL, Honolulu
General Contractor, Building A: Swinerton Builders, Honolulu
General Contractor, Building C: JW Inc., Honolulu, (808) 841-5888
Skylight Installer, Building C: Alii Glass & Metal Inc., Kapolei, Hawaii
Materials
The center’s refreshed exterior seamlessly blends with its lush surroundings, including an added green gathering space for entertainment and cultural programming. On buildings A and C, skylight systems showcase natural light and views. The skylight system on Building A features an electrochromic architectural glass that intelligently transitions through multiple tint states to control the sun’s energy for optimum natural light and thermal comfort. The skylight’s aluminum framing from Linetec is a Dove Gray color for resiliency under the Hawaiian sun. Linetec’s in-house blending laboratory custom-matched and formulated a Charlie Brown color for the 20-by-20-foot pyramid canopy glazing system on Building C.
To mitigate corrosion’s destructive results, Linetec supports projects with proper selection, specification, application and maintenance tips for finishes in coastal conditions. When high-performance 70 percent PVDF resin-based coatings are selected, Linetec applies these finishes to meet the Schaumburg, Ill.-based American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s stringent industry standards of AA MA 2605-13. In addition to resisting corrosion, these finishes are tested for proven resistance to water, salt spray, humidity, impact, chemicals, detergents, scratches and fading caused by ultraviolet light. Finished aluminum also is fire retardant and does not swell, rot, warp or attract insects.
Supporting environmentally sound practices, Linetec’s painted coatings are applied in a controlled facility that safely captures and destroys the VOCs present in liquid solvent-based paints before the finished products’ arrival on the building site. The aluminum used to produce these products may utilize recycled content and may be recycled after its useful lifespan.
Skylight Systems Manufacturer, Buildings A and C: Super Sky Products Enterprises LLC
Glass Manufacturer, Building A: View Inc.
Glass Manufacturer, Building C: Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope
Aluminum Framing Finisher, Building A and C: Linetec
The Retrofit
Owned by RHC Property Holdings LLC, the Royal Hawaiian Center opened in 1979 and stands upon a parcel of land known as Helumoa, once home to Hawaiian royalty. Designed in the Brutalist modern style of the time, heavy concrete exterior walls defined the structure with little embellishment or connection to the environment or the community.
After years of increasing vacancy and declining visitors, the first phase of the $115 million renovation and expansion began in 2005. Callison Companies (now Callison RT KL, a design consultancy of Arcadis) is credited for this initial step in transforming what was once a dark, outdated shopping center into a vibrant, lifestyle-oriented retail and entertainment community. The heavy walls were replaced by open, modern façades and native landscaping.
Concluding its multi-year, multi-building renovation, the center revitalizes and reestablishes itself as a premier shopping and entertainment destination. With more than 110 shops and restaurants in three 4-story buildings, the 310,000-square-foot center is one of Hawaii’s largest shopping malls. The 6-acre retail campus connects to the Sheraton Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian Hotel, just minutes from Waikiki Beach.
Recognizing the property’s successful transformation, the Royal Hawaiian Center has earned several accolades, including the American Institute of Architects’ Honolulu Chapter’s Award of Merit, General Contractors Association’s Build Hawaii Honorable Mention, Superior Achievement in Design and Imaging Award for Renovated or Expanded Community/Power Center, and Hoowehiwehi Lihi Award from the Waikiki Improvement Association.
Hawaiian culture is celebrated every day at the center with a variety of complimentary cultural-arts activities, such as hula instruction, lauhala weaving, lei-making, ukulele classes, and live entertainment featuring Hawaiian music and hula performances.
Photos: William Lemke, courtesy of Super Sky Products Enterprises LLC