The Corinthia Hotel on Gewan Island in Doha channels the charm of Southern France through a variety of behind-the-scenes engineering solutions. Built on a recently reclaimed island, where sand erosion can be a major concern, the hotel’s structural piles require an atypical approach to burrow deep enough into the earth to find bedrock support. This setting also impacts the implementation of other design elements, such as the spiraling, aqueduct-like car ramps, which lend the hotel an antiquarian air. To circumvent the use of unsightly vertical support columns, our team carefully researched how to offset any compression and vibrations with precise degrees of material thickness and density. The palatial ballroom directly underneath the hotel’s central swimming pool will likewise be constructed without any intrusive vertical supports, instead using a calculated combination of post-tension materials and creative support techniques involving longer than typical strands. Another major engineering feat entailed cooling a number of outdoor open spaces including patio restaurants, villa courtyards, and even parts of the beach by optimizing power usage.  In addition, backup generators will cool central locations in case of emergencies. Together, these creative engineering solutions create luxury that appears effortless.