1. Project Overview

The Victory Ranch Golf Course Clubhouse and Pro Shop is a premium amenity facility for a high-end private golf community, designed to blend luxury recreation with the natural high-country landscape. As the primary structural engineer (while at Hicks Engineering), I collaborated with Reid Smith Architects and a multidisciplinary team—including mechanical, electrical, and landscape architects—to deliver a modern, functional space that supports post-golf socializing, dining, retail, and elevated outdoor areas.

Key Project Facts:

• Client: Victory Ranch Development

• Architect: Reid Smith Architects

• Scope: Full clubhouse and pro shop facility with integrated landscape features

• Structural Role: Primary structural design and coordination in Autodesk BIM environment

• Challenges Addressed: Steep terrain requiring massive retaining structures, open spans for flexible interiors, and support for heavy green roofs and rooftop amenities

• Outcome Teaser: Enabled bold architectural features like 30+ ft retaining walls, large accordion doors, vegetative rooftops, and rooftop dining—all delivered with structural efficiency and code compliance.

2. The Challenge

The site presented demanding conditions typical of mountainous Utah terrain: significant elevation changes, soil variability, and a desire for expansive, light-filled interiors that connected indoor spaces to outdoor golf views. The architect envisioned modern elements—including large operable accordion doors for indoor-outdoor flow, heavy vegetative rooftops, and elevated restaurant/dining areas—which imposed substantial loads and required long clear spans without compromising stability or aesthetics.

Routine constraints included:

• Strict adherence to local seismic and wind codes

• Coordination across disciplines in a shared BIM model

• Balancing cost, schedule, and premium design expectations

The core problem: How to support ambitious architectural features (e.g., rooftop loads, wide openings, tall retaining walls) while maintaining seamless integration with the landscape and ensuring long-term durability in a high-elevation environment.

3. Our Approach & Solution

We addressed the challenges through collaborative, iterative structural design in Autodesk's BIM environment, enabling real-time coordination and clash detection.

1. Initial Assessment & Modeling — Conducted site-specific geotechnical review and built detailed 3D structural models to evaluate soil-structure interaction and load paths.

2. Key Innovations — Designed 30+ ft tall retaining walls with efficient reinforcement and drainage to stabilize the site and create usable terraces. Employed custom steel moment frames and rigid diaphragms for open floor plans and seismic resilience, allowing large accordion door openings without intermediate columns.

3. Collaboration & Iteration — Worked closely with Reid Smith Architects and landscape team to integrate vegetative roof loads and rooftop dining areas, optimizing composite deck systems for weight distribution and fire-rated assemblies.

4. Detailed Design & Detailing — Developed heavy steel framing solutions with precise connection details to support elevated elements, plus elevator shafts integrated into the core for accessibility and service. Value engineering reduced material while preserving aesthetics.

5. Construction Support — Provided field engineering during erection, reviewed shop drawings, and resolved RFIs to ensure accurate implementation of complex framing and retaining elements.

Supporting visuals (insert here): BIM model screenshot, retaining wall during construction, steel moment frame erection, accordion doors detail, rooftop area framing.

4. Results & Impact

The project successfully realized the architect's vision: a modern clubhouse that feels integrated into the landscape while offering premium amenities. Structural solutions enabled:

• Expansive indoor-outdoor connectivity via large operable doors

• Sustainable features like vegetative rooftops without excessive structural penalty

• Safe, code-compliant performance in a seismic/wind-prone region

• Efficient construction with minimal field changes

The facility now provides members with a relaxing, high-end retreat off the greens, enhancing the overall Victory Ranch experience.

5. Key Takeaways & Lessons Learned

• Early multidisciplinary BIM collaboration prevents costly rework and enables bold design.

• Custom steel moment frames and rigid diaphragms are highly effective for achieving open, flexible spaces in challenging terrain.

• Tall retaining walls require integrated drainage and reinforcement strategies to ensure long-term stability and landscape harmony.

• Balancing architectural ambition with structural efficiency delivers value—here, supporting modern elements like rooftop dining and green roofs while controlling costs.

This project reinforces our commitment to delivering resilient, innovative structural solutions that support visionary architecture and stand the test of time in demanding environments.