M Space wins ‘Green’ Modular Building Design Competition
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–M Space, a leading provider of modular buildings, won first place in the Modular Building Institute’s (MBI) Green Building Design Category at the Awards of Distinction Ceremony.
The MBI Awards of Distinction contest is the commercial modular industry’s premier awards program. Each entry is reviewed by an impartial panel of industry and non-industry construction and code experts, architects, engineers and marketing professionals. The Green Building Designs were judged on the following criteria; thermal comfort, indoor air quality, daylighting, acoustics, energy efficiency, architectural excellence and economic practicality.
M Space’s first place Green Building consisted of 864 square feet of classroom and office space for the Charlottesville Waldorf School in Charlottesville, VA. The building contains such ‘green’ features as recycled siding and floor tile, a heat pump that delivers quiet and high efficient climate control, paperless drywall, non-toxic (no VOC) paint, day-lighting and sun tunnels. In addition to being ‘green’, this project was completed in record time. It was planned, built and delivered in less than 90 days.
About M Space
M Space is a leading provider of modular buildings, creating innovative space solutions to meet the expansion needs of clients in a diverse group of industries. Lease, sale and financing options are available. M Space uses its resourcefulness, experience and financial strength to deliver a quality project on time and within budget. For more information, visit mspaceholdings.com.
About MBI
Founded in 1983, the Modular Building Institute is the only, international, non-profit trade association serving non-residential modular construction. MBI’s mission is to grow the industry and its capabilities by encouraging innovation, quality and professionalism through communication, education and recognition. For more information, visit modular.org
Contacts
M Space Holdings, LLC
Nora McGrath, 732-223-4407
May 1st, 2009 | Filed under Blogroll, Modular Building, Modular Construction, Modular Office | Comment now »
Epoch Homes first in the nation approved for the NAHB’s green modular home factory certification
Epoch Homes (www.EpochHomes.com) continues to lead the industry, building award winning, fully custom designed Green modular buildings for residential and light commercial markets across the Northeast. After working with the NAHB Research Center on a Pilot Program to develop a robust process for verification of Green Building in a controlled factory environment, Epoch became the first plant to be approved under the new program, now available to the modular home industry.
“This is a very important step for the industry as more and more builders rely on systems-built construction methods,” said NAHB President Sandy Dunn, a home builder in Point Pleasant, W. Va. “Modular construction helps builders reduce their overhead and go green with ease by assembling a significant portion of the home in the factory.”
This is not the only “first” for Epoch Homes. Epoch built the first Platinum LEED certified modular home east of the Rockies two years ago. Epoch recently completed the first NAHB Gold certified house under the Build Green New Hampshire program. Epoch has built multiple other Platinum LEED certified homes. Currently, they are building green dormitories for Montserrat Art School in Beverly, Ma, and green classrooms for Yellow Barn Music School in Vermont. While new to many companies, Epoch has been building green for over a decade. Epoch worked in concert with the US Department of Energy and the Green Village Company in 1999 on the Cambridge Co-Housing project. This innovative development wonn the NAHB Research Center’s “Value Housing Award” for the use of solar design, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, and green building materials where ever possible.
“Green building systems and components are a growing design consideration in the custom homes sought by discerning buyers. We have long believed that it is important that our company remain ahead of customer demand with advanced design and product options, while positioning ourselves to provide guidance as consumers sort through the rapidly expanding choices available today. Having previously taken an early lead in building numerous Green homes that were field certified, we welcomed the opportunity to work with the NAHB Research Center to create a program to streamline the process with plant verification,” said John D. Ela, CEO of Epoch Homes based in Pembroke, NH.
Research Center President Mike Luzier said thanks are due to the modular home manufacturers who piloted the certification process in preparation for the BSC’s SHOWCASE event in Memphis last week, where members eagerly awaited news of the new program. “This shows not only their commitment to quality, but also their dedication to serving the growing list of consumers who are moving towards purchasing green homes,” he said. Epoch was one of four factories chosen to participate in the pilot program.
Because they are factory-built, modular homes can take advantage of resource efficiencies that make them less expensive to produce – and that involves less waste, it’s green as well as more affordable, Dunn said.
While a modular or systems-built home is built to the same codes as a traditional, site-built home, the inspector can’t see behind the walls when it arrives at the building site, making the verification process more difficult. By ensuring that the house and its components meet green requirements in the factory through this new program, the rest of the inspection can be conducted onsite.
In 2008, Epoch Homes celebrates its 25th year of innovation and providing quality homes to discerning home owners.
For more information on Green Building, to visit our online Design Center, and to see hundreds of Epoch Homes, please visit our web site at www.EpochHomes.com.
December 18th, 2008 | Filed under Blogroll, Modular Building, Modular Home | Comment now »
New Hampshire Manufacturer Receives Top National Award For Modular Home Design Excellence
The Building Systems Councils (BSC) honored more than 20 industry leaders—representing concrete, log, modular, and panelized building systems—at their annual BSC Excellence in Marketing and Home Design awards program last month. In the modular home category, there are three awards: homes up to 2,300 sq. ft., homes between 2,301 sq. ft. and 4,000 sq. ft., and homes over 4,001 sq. ft. Epoch Homes (www.epochhomes.com) took first place in both the upper categories. Last year, Epoch took first place in the category Modular Homes over 4,001 sq. ft.
John Ela, Epoch CEO and owner stated, “Epoch has always been a leader in pushing the design envelope. We built the largest modular home ever built, a 33 module mansion in Greenwich CT that was more than 16,000 sq. ft. “ He added that Epoch “will continue to expand our design capabilities and also focus on the need to build “Green” to preserve our natural resources and reduce the impact of housing on the environment. It is an honor to be recognized for building beautiful green homes.”
Sponsored by the NAHB Building Systems Councils, the BSC Excellence in Marketing and Home Design Awards has promoted excellence in the systems-built housing industry for more than ten years. The winners were announced at an awards luncheon in Memphis, Tenn., held in conjunction with the BSC SHOWCASE event—the leading trade show and conference based centered on the systems-built housing industry. Home manufacturers, builders and industry associates were among the groups recognized.
“This year’s award winners represent the best marketing and home design work in the systems-built housing market,” said BSC Chairman Gary Grossman, president and CEO of Lancaster Redevelopment Corp. “Being recognized for this impressive work not only adds to the credibility of their businesses; their success also sheds a positive light on the building systems industry as a whole.”
These, along with other award winning homes can be seen at www.epochhomes.com.
Epoch’s award winning homes will also be featured in the January/February edition of Building Systems Magazine. The projects will also be on display at the 2009 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.
December 18th, 2008 | Filed under Blogroll, Modular Home | Comment now »
Modular Homes Lead Industry Green Building Efforts
Author: Rebekah Wortman
Modular homes and custom modular homebuilders are quickly reinventing the homebuilding industry. Because of the focus on energy efficiency, architectural and design communities worldwide are coming together to create innovative designs for homes of all shapes, sizes and tastes. Not only are modular homes providing affordable housing solutions because they are constructed more quickly and at a lower cost than traditional site built homes, modular home builders are also leading the way in sustainable new home construction and environmental preservation through green building.
Modular homes are constructed in pieces in controlled factory environments. Factory production means fewer accidents and mistakes and a more predictable product and time frame. The pieces are then shipped to the site where they are assembled. Because the pieces need to be shipped, they are built much stronger than traditional site built home structures and components, using ten to fifteen percent more construction materials than are normally used. Modular homes also offer a much higher quality control standard, with so many third-party inspectors, engineers and architects involved.
Since modular home builders provide 80 to 85 percent of the home, the buyer avoids the risk of giving money to a builder and not having the home built to their specifications, or of having their price inflated by numerous change orders. Additionally, unlike modular homes, site-built homes are exposed to unfavorable weather conditions during the construction process, making the home vulnerable to water or weather damage, and increasing the costs of the project by adding additional materials and replacement components. All of these cost savings are passed on to the consumer, giving them more home for their money, but also giving builders more leeway to incorporate energy saving building best practices and products and services into their construction processes.
For builders, most green building benefits come from then flexibility inherent in the design and engineering of modular home systems. Modular homes are built stronger that traditional homes. They produce less waste because of reduced construction time, and less time needed on a site means less damage to the home site and surrounding environment. In addition, the design flexibility and innovation combined with the use of non-traditional building materials enable homebuilders and designers to build around existing trees and wildlife, creating new homes that are less intrusive to their environments.
Modular, or systems built, components are pre-treated before they are shipped to the site. This pretreatment reduces the amount of chemical vapors that enter the home upon construction, resulting in better air quality from the beginning. In addition, the internal structure of the home is protected from mold or water damage by the tightly controlled environments within the factories. Because construction can be completed in a fraction of the time necessary for traditional homes, there is less site waste, less threat of internal air quality deterioration and reduced chance of structure damage.
Wood for home components is delivered to factories at pre-cut lengths to further reduce waste, and many modular homes factories and materials suppliers employ extensive recycling programs to reduce excess or return materials to the environment. Additionally, many builders take site selection into account to maximize natural lighting, heating and cooling capabilities, as well as other water efficiency, day lighting, ecopower, improved erosion control and environmentally friendly building materials considerations. Other green building practices include increasing slab insulation, using solvent-free foundation sealants, increasing fly-ash content in concrete, improving foundation drainage, providing ventilation for radon and other tactics.
The speed of construction reduces the cost of modular homes, making them an ideal solution both to current affordable housing needs worldwide and also to homeowners seeking relief from recent hikes in utility costs. The reduced construction loan costs and interest amounts combined with lower pricing per square foot as compared to traditional site built homes enables home buyers and builders to focus their home construction dollars on energy efficient water and power systems. These can be as simple as energy efficient water heaters and appliances, or as complex as solar panels or gray water systems.
Many modular homes today are being constructed in such a way as to maximize daylight and reduce or, in some cases, completely eliminate the need for electrical lighting during the day. For example, the Venice, California MCube, designed by Mdesigns, utilizes a Japanese shoji inspired construction with translucent light emitting walls that let in natural light without heat radiation. The house also boasts solar radiant-heated floors, solar heated water and photovoltaic roof panels. This is just one example of the innovative designs emerging from architects and engineers worldwide. Pictures of the house are available at inhabitat.com.
Custom modular homebuilders, such as Grant Smereczynsky, CEO of Building Systems Network, a custom modular homebuilder based in Atlanta, GA, are encouraging consumers who are not yet familiar with the options available in modular homes to educate themselves about the benefits of these advancements in engineering, architectural design and systems-based construction.
For more information on modular green building and modular homes, visit http://www.buildingsystemsnetwork.com.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/modular-homes-lead-industry-green-building-efforts-241005.html
About the Author:
Building Systems Network designs and constructs custom modular homes nationwide. For more information on modular green building and modular homes, visit http://www.buildingsystemsnetwork.com.
August 9th, 2008 | Filed under Blogroll, Modular Building, Modular Construction, Modular Home | Comment now »
Building Modular is Greener
Author: Mike Zenga
Resources are becoming scarcer, the environment is more polluted, and the icecaps are melting. These are legitimate concerns that affect everyone and every industry. In selecting your preferred home, you should also take into consideration these factors which make modular homes one of the best options. From waste management, to resource allocation, to energy efficient designs, the modular home industry is meeting the challenge to e environmentally conscious and socially responsible.
If you have ever seen a site where local contractors are building a home, debris and overflowing waste sits in a dumpster waiting for transfer to a waste facility or dump. How much of the material thrown away could actually be used in other projects or be recycled for future use? Actually quite a bit. In a factory setting where modular homes are constructed, waste is limited to the bare minimum. Lumbar cut from one home will be used on the next if possible. The same occurs with other materials including drywall, insulation, electrical wiring, etc. In addition, the true waste that remains often is handled through recycling efforts. Many manufacturers have affiliations with lumbar yards that recycle wood debris in return for their business. Waste management offers a significant advantage in modular home construction.
Resources are always limited in general, and in today’s age of oil dependence and electrical outages, energy is has the largest focus. By constructing homes inside a climate controlled factory, the amount of energy consumed per house is remarkably less than energy spent per house while building on site. Conservation of space leads to conservation of energy. In addition, labor resources are better utilized as more efficient work is generated per employee compared to on-site jobs. And lastly, time may be our most valuable resource. By reducing the construction time to several weeks instead of several months, time plus all forms of energy resources are saved. Each of these makes the modular home industry a leader in conservation.
The other major area of being environmentally responsible is in the area of design. Architectural designs within the modular home industry have truly targeted energy efficiency in their efforts. “Non-livable” space reductions in design as well as making layouts conducive to better heat and air circulation reduce the demands of energy consumption for the homes. In addition, many homes have options for solar panels, geothermal systems, and other alternative energy sources if the consumer desires. While these measures are also possible within site-built home, the factory setting allows these designs to be more conducive to large scale manufacturing. This can create a larger impact in the housing market faster.
It goes without saying that as a society and planet the environment demands our attention. It is appropriate for all industries to consider these requirements and make the best effort to lead in a direction of ecologically friendly products and services. Through resource allocation, waste management, and innovative design, the modular home industry is taking this responsibility seriously; and current measures in place offer further advances for the future.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/building-modular-is-greener-405149.html
About the Author:
Michael Zenga founded ZN Custom Building in 2002 which specializes in building green modular homes in the Boston, MA area. Michael is an unabashed advocate for the industry due in large part to the green benefits modular housing provides.
August 9th, 2008 | Filed under Blogroll, Modular Building, Modular Construction, Modular Home | 1 Comment »
The New Modular Home: Chic, Eco-friendly and Fabulous
The modern prefab and modular homes are experiencing a resurgence for many reasons. These days it seems architects and designers are eager to create new environmental-chic versions of the modular home, and these new designs offer so much versatility and and appeal that their popularity is naturally on the rise. With the employment of new methods of construction and transportation, designers are cutting waste and energy consumption, slashing production costs while achieving greater overall methods of sustainability.
Before diving into the interesting benefits if investing in these new homes, let’s take a look at the definitions of prefab/prefabrication and modular, and then take a closer look at the new and modern prefab modular homes.
Prefabrication is the practice of assembling parts in a factory, then transporting the complete or partial module to the construction site. Modular homes are homes in which there are design elements that are separate modules of the whole that can be used interchangeably to create different designs. Modular design, benefits the buyer because the interchangeable components can be moved around to better accommodate different spaces, styles, and needs. Think Rubik’s cube- the premise of the modular aspect of a home is similar. As long as the exterior dimensions remain the same, the rooms and walls within a design can be shuffled around.
So, what are the benefits of these new homes that combine elements of both prefabrication and modularity? First off, as already mentioned, the modular aspect of these homes, makes it possible to design a home that’ll complement the space you are placing it on. You can play around with a variety of different designs and create the perfect fit.
Since the modules are constructed in a factory, a high quality of construction is ensured. The fasteners are accurately applied, materials are cut with more exactness, and since they have to be transported, everything is tighter and more secure. This extends the life span and cuts on upkeep. Modular prefabrication factories also produce less waste as compared to standard home construction. The production of modular homes generates somewhere around 2% of waste, as compared with the 30-40% of wasted material generated from a standard home construction. Additionally, since the duration of pre-fab modular construction is shorter, and so the cost of production is lower.
Many companies use a very responsible cradle to cradle method of transportation. With this method, the components of the home are intended to be flat and standard and so the design can be sent to a computer and cut in masses at regional locations, packed flat and then shipped to local distribution areas.
Companies like Michelle Kaufman Designs are very conscious of the building materials they use. Sustainable touches with her designs include bamboo floors, energy efficient windows and doors and thick insulation. Her designs promote natural cooling, through the use of long shallow spaces and cross-ventilation. The need for artificial lighting is reduced with the gliding glass wall design and the placement of clerestory windows. Some homes include water conserving toilets, faucets and bathroom counter tops made of Richlite, a recycled-paper product. Outside, exterior walls are made of maintenance-free Cor-Ten steel, Galvalume (anodized alloy-coated steel), Hardi panels (cement board) or sustainable harvested Western red cedar planks.
Through afford ability and convenience, the development of the new modular pre-fab homes has brought eco-chic construction to a wider audience so that we many continue to live well, but tread lightly.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/the-new-modular-home-chic-ecofriendly-and-fabulous-343015.html
About the Author:
John West is a REALTOR® with expertise in the Las Vegas real estate market. For information on Las Vegas senior living or to view fabulous listings in the Las Vegas area, contact John with Specialists Real Estate.
March 11th, 2008 | Filed under Modular Home, Modular Overview | Comment now »
AIA 2007 COTE Top Ten Green Projects Revealed
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions that protect and enhance the environment. The projects will be honored on May 3rd at the AIA 2007 National Convention and Design Exposition in San Antonio.
The project descriptions highlight both the design innovations and sustainable strategies, along with the metrics achieved in terms of reduced carbon emissions, reduced energy consumption and improved building functionality.
The 2007 COTE Top Ten Green Projects program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems, and technology They make a positive contribution to their communities, improve comfort for building occupants, and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact and regenerative site development, energy and water conservation, use of sustainable or renewable construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.
The jury included: David Brems, FAIA, Gillies Stransky Brems Smith PC; Alisdair McGregor, PE, Arup; John Quale, LEED AP, University of Virginia School of Architecture; Traci Rose Rider, LEED AP North Carolina State University; Anne Schopf, AIA, Mahlum Architects; and Susan Szenasy, editor-in-chief, Metropolis.
“Both the number of submissions and level of sophistication have increased dramatically since the AIA COTE Top Ten Green Projects program’s inception in 1997. This program examines a metrics that address context, transportation, energy, water, light and air, and other characteristics,” said Kira Gould, Assoc. AIA, chair of the AIA Committee on the Environment. “We are pleased to see design teams getting increasingly comfortable with such metrics, which suggests that performance standards are being effectively integrated into the design intent, rather than being understood as something separate.”
The 2007 Top Ten Green Projects (listed in alphabetical order):
EpiCenter, Artists for Humanity / Boston, MA
Arrowstreet Inc.
The first Platinum LEED Certified building in Boston, the EpiCenter is a simple, functional building that achieves the highest levels of sustainability on a tight budget. Rainwater collected from the roof is channeled through a transparent drain pipe which runs through the gallery into a holding tank to serve the irrigation needs of the grassy recessed courtyard. Concentrated windows on the south side of the building provides for the deep penetration of warming sunlight in the winter. Large floor-to-floor heights, 12 and 18 feet, allow daylight to penetrate deep into the building. The building uses no refrigerant-based cooling.
Juror Traci Rider said, “This project is not just about design and environmental sustainability, but reaching cultural sustainability. They had a low budget, and there is something terrific about what they achieved. This infill project has this elegant photovoltaic roof, and it’s really producing for them.”
Global Ecology Research Center / Stanford, CA
EHDD Architects
Global Ecology Research Center at Stanford University is a 10,800 square-foot, low-energy laboratory and office building for the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The unique sustainable design resulted in a 72% reduction in carbon emissions associated with building operation and a 50% reduction in embodied carbon for building materials. Biodiversity is addressed through a thorough pursuit of salvaged, recycled, and certified materials. The building facing directly to the south and north maximizes daylighting, sunshading, and ventilation opportunities.
Juror John Quale said, “LEED ratings were helpful for some of our considerations, but that played out in different ways. In this project, they intentionally opted out of the LEED process to push their own agenda. We appreciated the independent thinking and the explanation about it.”
Government Canyon Visitor Center / Helotes, TX
Lake/Flato Architects
Key goals included designing spaces that respond to climate and demonstrate both active and passive green solutions. The structures have operable windows, generous open porches and a screened exhibit building oriented toward the prevailing summer breeze, while shielding the cold winter winds. Large overhanging roofs, flaps, and deep porches shield these spaces from direct solar gains, while allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the interior. The narrow footprint allows for maximum use of indirect daylight from both the south and the north in all occupied spaces, resulting in 90% of occupied space with effective daylight and views with 100% of spaces with ventilation controllability.
Juror Susan Szenasy said, “The building opens up and shades itself and fits into the landscape in an unaggressive way. There is also something really familiar and comfortable about it. The composition is very carefully controlled, from the site plan to details.”
Hawaii Gateway Energy Center / Kailua-Kona, HI
Ferraro Choi and Associates
The Hawaii Gateway Energy Center is an excellent example of the integration of passive design strategies to conserve natural resources and achieve exceptional building performance. Passive design strategies such as induced stack ventilation, daylighting, shading, and renewable cooling from deep seawater reduce initial energy requirements to an absolute minimum. A copper roof acts as the “engine” that triggers a thermo-syphon, radiating heat from the sun into a ceiling plenum. The heated air begins to rise and is exhausted through “chimneys” on the building’s north face. This hot, exhausting stream of air is continuously replenished with 100% fresh outside air that is routed across occupied space from a vented under-floor plenum.
Rider added, “We were impressed by the way they blended active and passive technologies. This project uses PV and calls attention to that, and uses seawater and condensation. It’s really using all of earth’s devices, then dramatizing that with this visible structure. This is a great advertisement for a new technology - calling attention to an ancient ‘technology,’ the sun.”
Heifer International / Little Rock, AR
Polk Stanley Rowland Curzon Porter Architects, Ltd.
The fundamental goal of the design team was to create integrated building systems that maximized both energy savings and educational potential. Gray water collected from sinks and drinking fountains, condensate from outside air units, and rain water from the water tower are reused in toilets and cooling tower. The building is designed to use up to 54.9% less energy than a conventional office building. 75% of the building’s construction waste was recycled. Significant overhangs with crown like perforated metal edges reduce solar heat gain. To promote indoor air quality, materials were selected with low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Juror Alisdair McGregor said, “This deals with water in a very demonstrable way. It takes condensation, stores it, and uses that for cooling towers and wetlands during dry periods. Energy performance is about 54% below ASHRAE 99. The sustainable features are visible, but not in your face.”
Sidwell Friends Middle School / Washington, DC
Kieran Timberlake Associates
Solar chimneys with south-facing glass are designed for passive ventilation, operating without additional energy. Sunlight heats air within the glass chimney tops, creating a convection current which draws cooler air into the building through north facing open windows. The building uses natural daylight in lieu of artificial light as much as possible. Artificial lighting consists primarily of fluorescent light sources equipped with high efficiency lamps. The green roof functions to reduce storm water runoff volume, improve the quality of infiltrated runoff, and reduce municipal water use. The roof, walls, and windows perform over 200% better than the minimums set by the energy standard.
Szenasy commented, “The building itself is a teacher. It tells the students where they are. It helps them be conscious of the water and light. There are all these cues connecting them to the natural world. This project is really comprehensive. They have a great attitude about water. They were very careful with light. It is beautiful. It is a really aggressive kind of renovation.”
Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse / Eugene, OR
Morphosis & DLR Group
This facility is a Security Level IV facility – one level below buildings such as the Pentagon. An under floor air distribution system serves a majority of spaces, including the six courtrooms. This system provides more efficient air-conditioning, uses less fan power, and provides better air quality than a traditional overhead ductwork system. The building system minimizes potable water use and associated sanitary waste with water-saving fixtures including waterless urinals, and ultra low flow lavatories, sinks and showers. Combined with fixture sensors at public locations, these measures result in savings of more than 40% over baseline case analysis.
Juror Anne Schopf said, “The security issues are such a big challenge in a building like this, and getting the daylight in while dealing with those issues is a very smart response in a complex building type. They made a big move, getting the courtrooms raised up to the light. That’s the big story here. This addressed the issue that there are some federal requirements that work directly against sustainability goals.”
Whitney Water Purification Facility / New Haven, CT
Steven Holl Architects
The new facility provides an abundant water supply to south Central Connecticut, creates a vibrant watershed ecosystem, and includes a public park and educational facility while providing a diverse habitat and sanctuary for migrating species of birds. The 30,000 square foot green roof with glazed bubbles floods the facilities below with daylight. All electrical lighting comes from low-energy fluorescent fixtures. 100 % of staff space is day lit. The geothermal system saves 850,000 kilowatt hours annually as compared to electrical resistant heaters and air cooled chillers.
Juror David Brems remarked, “They reinvented the building type along with the programmatic understanding of a water purification facility by combining it with a park, putting some thing under ground, and being really inventive with form-making.”
Willingboro Master Plan & Public Library / Willingboro, NJ
Croxton Collaborative Architects, PC
The Public Library conserves 100% of the structural steel frame and concrete foundations of the original building. Since the building orientation could not be changed, seven major clearstory skylights were oriented on a true north-south axis to maximize the duration and traverse of daylighting. These true north/south clerestories for daylighting create a criss-cross infill of existing beams and joists which achieve 95% diffuse light with transitory “dappled light” effects. The building utilizes a gas-fired heater/chiller which can be easily retrofitted to accommodate bio fuels and various fuels presenting “cost opportunities”.
Schopf added, “It was a shopping mall that had gone defunct. The master plan kept many of the existing structures in place, renovating and transforming them. This is a tremendous example of how to make something beautiful and functional out of practically nothing … the original Woolworth structure with a new wrapper. This is so relevant to so much of the existing building stock that exists in this country. Addressing these neglected facilities in this way is complex. This project really transformed place in a holistic way.”
Z6 House / Santa Monica, CA
LivingHomes, Ray Kappe
The Z6 House is a single family residence that was added to a multi-family zoned lot with an existing duplex. The building takes advantage of natural ventilation and has been designed to optimize passive solar heating. The heating is accomplished through a radiant heating system that is powered by a solar hot water collector. There is a 2.4KW PV array above the roof. This array acts as a shade canopy at the roof stair access. The PV array was designed to provide 60-75% of the homes energy usage. The building has a comprehensive environmental monitoring system that will track the total water, gray water and rain water usage.
Quale said, “Spatially this is a sophisticated project. There is a subtlety to the spacemaking. Also, there are a lot of prefab projects out there that have very little rigor to the sustainability, and this challenges that.”
Honorable Mention 2007 Top Ten Green Projects:
William J. Clinton Presidential Center / Little Rock, AR
Polshek Partnership Architects
Example of reclaiming a contaminated Brownfield, and a catalyst for area improvement.
Gerding Theater at the Armory / Portland, OR
GBD Architects Inc.
Project establishes connection between historic preservation and sustainability.
Provincetown Art Association and Museum / Provincetown, MA
Machado and Silvetti Associates
Modern take on traditional regional design, with beautifully integrated into existing context.
Stillwell Avenue Terminal Train Shed / New York, NY
Kiss + Cathcart Architects
Highly visible use of photovoltaics in a public transportation project.
About the AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Awards
The AIA’s Committee on the Environment represents more than 7,300 AIA members committed to making sustainable or “green” design integral to the practice of architecture. The AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project Awards initiative was developed by the AIA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and BuildingGreen.com, publishers of Environmental Building News magazine. In 2003 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Program joined as an additional sponsor.
About The American Institute of Architects
For 150 years, members of The American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. AIA members have access to the right people, knowledge, and tools to create better design, and through such resources and access, they help clients and communities make their visions real. www.aia.org
April 27th, 2007 | Filed under Modular Building, Modular Construction, Modular Home, Modular Office | Comment now »
Modular Home Video Report
April 27th, 2007 | Filed under Modular Home, Modular Overview | Comment now »
St Petersburg Unveils Energy Efficient Modular Home
“It’s part of the on-going process of revitalizing the neighborhood by replacing vacant lots, boarded and blighted properties with new, sturdy houses.”
“The home is unique, because it is the first city-funded, energy efficient modular home in St Pete.”
full article and video story WTST [Tampa]
April 6th, 2007 | Filed under Modular Home | Comment now »
Podcast: Michelle Kaufmann, Green Modular Architect
In this week’s Blurb podcast, green modular architect Michelle Kaufmann explains how fabulous prefab homes can be. She also discusses her new book Prefab Green.
April 5th, 2007 | Filed under Modular Construction, Modular Home | Comment now »
