TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin More Construction Pics

Here are some more pics of the Orient Beach Construction progress






















[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/19_zpsipad2ubx.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/17_zpsfx3hgptv.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/16_zps3cqiuixs.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/15_zpshvv7ipiw.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/10_zpsvu0nsrwu.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/14_zpsclcltll4.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/13_zpsmf7ctwdo.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/12_zpscltwzesz.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/11_zpsu5sj5oni.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...Construction%206/9_zpsixe73vo3.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1301.photobucket.com/a...onstruction%206/10_zpsvu0nsrwu.jpg[/img]

Thanks for the pictures!!

Great pictures! Thank you. I' m surprised how close they are to the water. They don't look like they are built to withstand even a small hurricane if there is such a thing.

Thanks for the pics - I notice some are from the parking lot side. Still wondering about bathrooms
I thought there was to be a bathroom building?, but don't see a pad for one, are the bathrooms now going to be per resto or per pod?
Per Pod would make sense

J&B

I am absolutely shocked they are not building out of cement block or better. I know their are other wooden buildings in the area but for new construction I would think block is the way to go. You see what the rather small hurricane from last October did in that area. The roofs need to be tied into the block walls and foundation. I would say.... The first strong CAT 3 or better and they are gone either by wind or washed out by beach erosion or both. The seawall needs to be at least 5 feet below sea level, the curves in the stone wall are good and will help break up any waves. I am sure the know where they are building so hopefully I missing something else I don't see in the photo's. When Club Orient had so much damage 20 years ago from hurricane Luis they rebuild with formed up and poured concrete walls with steel which is prefect. It will be nice to get it finished and the area in nice looking again.

I could be totally wrong here but I was thinking that these structures were going to be the restrooms.



Just my guess not really sure.

Not much beach. Seem to be really close to the water.

I'm disoriented (OK, that's sort of funny, considering this is on ORIENT!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />), but where is this in relation to the new restaurant buildings and Pedros???..

Oh, and not for nothin', == made out of concrete block!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

By the looks of these photos it doesn't look like the construction will be complete for our November trip. Mullet Bay beach here we come.
Thanks for sharing.

I believe this pic was taken at the start of the construction (before all of the pods) from down by Pedros. So I think the restrooms appear to be at the far north end of the new construction area.

Not 100% sure this is just my best guess from the pictures I have.

OK, thanks.

Been watching the construction for 5 weeks, and doubt these structures would survive a cat 1 hurricane.
"Stupid is as stupid does"

Seriously? How rude. Are you a construction engineer with experience in a hurricane zone? And even if you are, I repeat, how rude.

Exactly!

I'm really amazed at all the negativity regarding this construction project. Flimsy, ugly, too close to the water, too far from the toilets, too much of this, not enough of that. Geez!
C'mon people! Can't you be a little more positive and respectful of what they're doing there? Anyway, ultimately, if you don't like it, it's very simple, go spend your time and money somewhere else, nobody will force you to go there.
Personally, I've never patronized the old bars and restaurants there but I don't think there was anything to be missed in terms of quality of construction, looks and cleanliness, particularly the parking lot with huge potholes and trash all over the place. I believe all this negativity is driven by nostalgia because objectively, what's being built now can't be inferior to what it replaces.
My 2cts

Exactly. I remember all the negativity and doom that some of the same posters posted about the Causeway. They soon changed their opinion when it was finished. What I see so far is a vast improvement from what was there before.
I commend the French government for taking this project on.

You're absolutely right, Scuba. The same stuff happened with the causeway.
Now, everybody raves about it.
Oh well ......

Seems like there has been a lot of talk about the inferiority of the new construction buildings go up on Orient. Believe me I am not and do not claim to be an “Expert” on seismic/hurricane construction in the Caribbean but I have been in construction industry most of my life in fact I own a small Design-Build firm here in Michigan. So with that in mind here are my thoughts (for what it is worth) on this project:

I think we can all agree that the most hurricane resistant structure would be a square reinforced concrete bunker with thick walls and roof, very few windows, no doors, and no overhangs. But how much good is a building like that when you are trying to make the most out of a “Sea View”. With that being said there is also other type of construction and construction practices that can make a structure stronger and more storm resistant (notice I said resistant because if Mother Nature wants virtually any structure can be destroyed very quickly).

Some of the most critical design concerns are the shape of the building (each one these “pods” is actually fairly square in shape which is the strongest type), the building’s relationship with the ground (these buildings all have a very large and heavy reinforced concrete foundation), and the size (each unit appears to be pretty small, which is good), slope of the roof (these building are fairly low pitched, hip style roof which is the best other then flat), and proper connections between foundation, wall, and roof. See the pictures below for a few of the “hurricane” type of construction practices that I have noticed.












Now I am not guarantying that these buildings will last forever but I also understand that they were probably not designed for that “100 year” storm. They probably based their design on a 20 year scale with average wind speeds closer to a tropical storms or Category 1 hurricanes. Just my thoughts.

Nice presentation. My biggest fear is not finding an open bar stool or the beer is not cold enough.

Thank you very much for a very instructive post!!!!

Like your presentation until you said plywood is stronger. Not necessarily true. But OSB is cheaper.

Excellent analysis! It is always great to get a post from someone who actually works in the area under discussion and has practical experience in the area!

Good post and certainly these buildings will be better prepared for wind. Having been there just a few days after last years storm I can tell you that wind was not the major factor. Water took the foundations of the building. Same was true in my first trip in 08. We were booked at the Divi. Much of that area was without power but the bottom floor of the Divi was flooded. So hopefully the wall and a little more distance will help that situation as well. Another advantage of the concrete building is the water does less harm. No matter what it's made of when you are sitting inside or under an umbrella the view will be the same as before. Hope it's done soon for all of you heading that way.

mprevo:
Thank you so much for spending the time to write this very enlightening post.

Thank you. It's nice to get the perspective from someone who really knows.

I agree, thanks mprevo for your informative insight. They're looking better & better. But, will they be ready in 41 days?

mprevo - thank you for providing clear, sharp detailed pictures and the additional background on items such as prefab walls.

We all hope the buildings last a lifetime and are the source of great memories and happy times for everyone who visits Orient Beach.

is this within club o or is it before you get there. on the other side of the jetty

It is not on Club O property. With the ocean at your back Club O is to the left, going north or to your right is Pedro's then the new construction.

Easier to say between Pedro's and Kako.

Actually it's between Pedro's and Kontiki.

Your right. Got my "K's" mixed up. But since Kako is further up the beach past Kontiki I was partially correct. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Not really, because it's Kakao, not Kako <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

How about partially partial? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Nah, it was already a stretch.

Ah come on. Don't be that way. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Not getting into the "K" battle, took me 4 years to realize the KO bar is basically the entrance to Kakao.
on the new construction, today the first two buildings north of Pedro's had what looked like horizontal wooden panelling boards covering the OSB. Actually looked pretty nice.

It's not a battle, just friendly banter, lol.

Glad to hear that progress is continuing. Did you take any pictures of the new siding?

"It's not a battle, just friendly banter, lol." Yes it is. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Yes, did take pix, will try again to figure out how to post them.

I just want to thank mprevo who has contributed many photos and commentary to this subject that interests many of us!!!