Modular Building https://www.bdcnetwork.com/ en Strategies for attainable housing design with modular construction https://www.bdcnetwork.com/strategies-attainable-housing-design-modular-construction <span>Strategies for attainable housing design with modular construction</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/qpurcell" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">qpurcell</span></span> <span>Tue, 08/13/2024 - 12:30</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Urban, market-rate housing that lower-income workers can actually afford is one of our country’s biggest needs. For multifamily designers, this challenge presents several opportunities for creating housing that workers can afford on their salaries.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Doug Stockman, AIA, Principal and Director of Architecture, Helix Architecture + Design</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/BD%2BC%20Modular_Doug%20Stockman_01.jpg" width="2000" height="1333" alt="Mike Sinclair Photo of 80-unit modular construction project in Kansas City" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Despite the pain-points of financing, micro-unit apartments and modular construction can offer attainable methods for creating more market-responsive housing.</p></div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-news" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ News</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamily-housing/affordable-housing" hreflang="en">Affordable Housing</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamily-housing/student-housing" hreflang="en">Student Housing</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamily-housing/apartments" hreflang="en">Apartments</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/contractors" hreflang="en">Contractors</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers" hreflang="en">Designers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/architects" hreflang="en">Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/adaptive-reuse" hreflang="en">Adaptive Reuse</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Urban, market-rate housing that lower-income workers can actually afford is one of our country’s biggest needs. For <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/multifamilypro" target="_blank">multifamily</a> designers, this challenge presents several opportunities for creating housing that workers such as entry-level teachers can afford on their salaries.</p><p>Three promising strategies are modular construction, adaptive reuse, and micro-units.</p><h2>Multifamily Modular Construction Criteria for ROI</h2><p>This is one of the most exciting evolutions in housing. We have studied <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/building-sector-reports/modular-building" target="_blank">modular construction</a> and prefabricated panels/assemblies for more than 20 years, integrating them into multifamily projects whenever viable. Our three criteria for assessing modular’s ROI viability for a project:</p><ol><li>Design Flexibility</li><li>Project Location</li><li>Scale</li></ol><h4><br />1. Design Flexibility</h4><p>One misconception about modular construction is that design choices are made strictly by factory-affiliated designers so that the individual modules will fit on a flatbed for truck delivery. Within that restriction, we’ve found surprising latitude working with modular manufacturers to customize the design to fit the local context and job-site configuration. Modular manufacturers are generally open to design input on floorplans, materials, appliances, and more.</p><figure role="group"><img alt=" Kansas City project’s elevation shows the cast-in-place concrete plinth under the pods" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b9a699e7-2c63-4564-b042-9ad0dfa22390" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BD%2BC%20Modular_Doug%20Stockman_02.jpg" width="2000" height="795" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The Kansas City project’s elevation shows the cast-in-place concrete plinth under the pods, which are staggered for a Lego effect. Photo © El Dorado, Inc.</figcaption></figure><p>While initial design conversations often discuss downplaying and obscuring the process, we prefer to lean into modular’s building-block bones. As Lego fans, like many AEC professionals, we celebrate the stacked-and-stitched approach to these projects. Realization can include staggering certain modules to accentuate the individual pieces. Further, prefabricated exterior panels and assemblies elevate the assembly-line panache.</p><h4>2. Project Location</h4><p>The site has enormous impact on a project’s suitability for modular construction. So that delivery costs don’t negate modular’s advantages over traditional stick-built construction, the site should ideally be within a day’s drive of a suitable factory—generally 400 miles or less, pending topography, population density/traffic, weather, and other variables. Further, rectangular parcels, even narrow infill ones, are well suited to modular construction.</p><h4>3. Scale</h4><p>Size of the project is the third determining factor. Under present modular manufacturing capabilities, we feel that 350 apartment units is the upper limit for factory-built modules to be delivered on a financing-viable timeline. Manufacturing capacity should increase in the near future as capital investment accelerates both the number and plant sizes of factories throughout the country. Several states now offer economic stimulus programs that encourage modular manufacturing and project development.</p><figure role="group"><img alt="Modular construction complex being put together by crane" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9a25f22a-3666-402d-bb30-2afecc277cad" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BD%2BC%20Modular_Doug%20Stockman_07.jpg" width="2000" height="1187" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>This sequencing scenario features stepped modules to add motion and depth. Photo © El Dorado, Inc.</figcaption></figure><h2><br />Housing Shortage Solutions with Modular and Prefab</h2><p>We see modular as an emerging solution for the housing shortage in three primary areas:</p><h4>Affordable Housing</h4><p>Since these projects take considerably longer to navigate the layers of government regulations than market-rate projects, modular can save build time for smaller <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/multifamily-housing/affordable-housing" target="_blank">affordable housing</a> projects. As modular manufacturing competition and capacities increase, build costs could conceivably be more advantageous than budgets for stick-built projects.</p><h4>Missing Middle</h4><p>Modular construction can accelerate development of market-responsive apartments. Compressing project timelines and saving costs will motivate developers to profitably do projects that rent to tenants earning entry-level wages. </p><h4>Student Housing</h4><p>Colleges often have fewer entitlement restrictions than market-rate housing. Modular construction offers college administrators more options for efficiently expanding <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/multifamily-housing/student-housing" target="_blank">student housing</a>. On-campus housing design influences enrollment decisions, and studies show that students who live on campus have higher GPAs and better mental health.</p><h2>Modular Construction Advantages and Disadvantages</h2><p>The modular construction process has several advantages:</p><h4>Time</h4><p>Traditionally, construction financing drives the project timeline. When all stakeholders are organized and aligned, modular can save significant time compared to traditional construction—we currently estimate about 30% faster. Inspections are expedited. Modular manufacturers build the pods to comply with relevant codes, and regular assembly-line inspections ensure compliance.</p><p>Scheduling and coordination among all stakeholders are crucial to project success. The ultimate goal is to schedule module delivery to begin as soon as the site is ready; storage costs for completed modules can undermine modular’s advantages. Preliminaries—where a modular-literate architect can be invaluable—include finalizing the design, working with the factory to include materials, and selecting FF&amp;E readily available in the current supply chain. </p><h4>Construction</h4><p>Site construction is dramatically simplified. Once the pods arrive at the build-ready site, the modules are placed and connected. Change orders and subcontractors are minimized. Further, module assembly requires smaller crews. This is a huge advantage under the current labor shortage, and smaller crews equate to fewer workers’ comp claims. We’ve found that working with a builder who’s previously done modular projects eliminates what can be a considerable learning curve.</p><figure role="group"><img alt="Options for modular construction design of a multifamily building" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f1ab711e-1d14-4a05-a495-35e0bc567786" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BD%2BC%20Modular_Doug%20Stockman_05.jpg" width="2000" height="1317" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Three different circulation patterns were explored in this modular project. The “Double L” configuration with staggered modules accentuates the building-block construction. Photo © El Dorado, Inc.</figcaption></figure><h4><br />Quality</h4><p>Automated manufacturing minimizes human error. Quality control is also higher in a factory than on a job site. Even better, each module is wrapped in insulation. This improves thermal performance and sound absorption over traditional construction. One-inch airspace between assembled modules further elevates R-value and increases sound isolation.</p><h4>Sustainability</h4><p>Because factory assembly is tightly controlled, materials can be accurately ordered for each project. This minimizes build waste to about 3% for what amounts to approximately 70% of the project’s overall construction. Landfill waste is significantly reduced.</p><p>There is one main challenge:</p><h4>Financing</h4><p>Financing must be front loaded. In the pro forma, developers must account for large spikes in deposits to the modular manufacturer for ordering materials, finishes, and appliances as a precursor to setting up the assembly line. Lenders can be an obstacle here, as most are accustomed to smaller deposits spread out during the process for stick-built construction. Once banks understand and embrace modular’s shorter loan durations, they will be more enthusiastic. In effect, the overall project timeline is recalibrated, yet is still driven by the construction loan.</p><h2>Adaptive Reuse, Micro-Units for Residential Conversions</h2><p>With demand for commercial office space plummeting since the pandemic, landlords are desperate to increase occupancy of existing—and sometimes brand-new—buildings. Residential conversions are a popular topic among politicians. We assess conversion viability on three factors:</p><ol><li>Floor plate</li><li>Condition of the existing mechanical system</li><li>Building envelope</li></ol><p>Rectangular floor plates lend themselves to apartment configuration. Odd-shaped buildings do not convert into expected apartment configurations. However, a few oddly shaped spaces can be more viable as community amenities.</p><p>In some buildings, updating and upgrading MEP systems for beyond workday demands can be cost-prohibitive. Similarly, the existing envelope can increase MEP load. Lack of operable windows is one example common in buildings from the 1970s.</p><figure role="group"><img alt="Micro-unit apartment design using modular construction" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="70e05a81-57ba-4fb9-b939-8f981653cfae" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BD%2BC%20Modular_Doug%20Stockman_08.jpg" width="2000" height="775" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Flexible design elements demonstrate how a 320-sf micro-unit studio can be reconfigured with features such as a stowable desk and Murphy bed. Photo courtesy Helix Architecture + Design</figcaption></figure><p>A recent project that combines adaptive reuse of an office building is Midland Lofts in downtown Kansas City. Developer Cordish Company challenged us to transform a long-vacant 1926 Historic Register-listed building whose previous tenants include AMC Theater’s corporate offices into attainable apartments. Cordish identified a local need for monthly rents beginning at about $700 and will select a deserving city employee to receive a year’s free rent at Midland Lofts.</p><p>Our initial design fit 117 apartments. Upon further review, we squeezed in 139 units, with studios ranging between about 320 and 470 sf. Odd-shaped niches house amenity spaces, such as a music room/studio and yoga area. Additional communal amenities of a commercial kitchen and co-working lounge supplement the micro-unit apartments. Design inspiration came from the historic Midland Theater, still thriving in the non-tower portion of the building.</p><p>Multifamily’s future is encouraging. Micro-unit apartments and modular construction are two design solutions aimed at improving affordability and sustainability.</p><figure role="group"><img alt="Micro-unit interior featuring a desk, compact appliances, and overhead storage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88738c71-bdb2-4faa-a5cb-ca310dc4690e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BD%2BC%20Modular_Doug%20Stockman_10.jpg" width="2000" height="1333" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Compact appliances and overhead storage are two ways to maximize space in micro apartments. Photo © Cordish Company, courtesy Helix Architecture + Design</figcaption></figure><p> </p><figure role="group"><img alt="A lighter color palette increases openness in micro studio units of less than 500 square feet." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9df98a75-f2fe-4c3a-8fb0-8cee9c1c3b23" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BD%2BC%20Modular_Doug%20Stockman_09.jpg" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>A lighter color palette increases openness in micro studio units of less than 500 sf. Movable barriers help combine or separate sleeping and living spaces. Photo courtesy Helix Architecture + Design</figcaption></figure></div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_24 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/strategies-attainable-housing-design-modular-construction" data-a2a-title="Strategies for attainable housing design with modular construction"><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/facebook.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="https://sgcimages.s3.amazonaws.com/2023-08/twitter-x-logo.png" height="24" width="24" alt="twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/linkedin.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bdcnetwork.com%2Fstrategies-attainable-housing-design-modular-construction&amp;title=Strategies%20for%20attainable%20housing%20design%20with%20modular%20construction"><img src="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/link.svg" alt="Share"></a></span> Tue, 13 Aug 2024 17:30:16 +0000 qpurcell 53032 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com The future of affordable housing may be modular, AI-driven, and made of mushrooms https://www.bdcnetwork.com/future-affordable-housing-may-be-modular-ai-driven-and-made-mushrooms <span>The future of affordable housing may be modular, AI-driven, and made of mushrooms</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/qpurcell" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">qpurcell</span></span> <span>Wed, 08/07/2024 - 07:42</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamily-housing/affordable-housing" hreflang="en">Affordable Housing</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Demolished in 1989, The Phoenix Ironworks Steel Factory left a five-acre hole in West Oakland, Calif. After sitting vacant for nearly three decades, the site will soon become utilized again in the form of 316 affordable housing units.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Quinn Purcell, Managing Editor</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/01_Phoenix_Rendering_01.jpg" width="2000" height="1125" alt="Rendering of The Phoenix affordable housing development" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>This innovative project shows how new methods and materials can be used to build affordable housing across the country.</p></div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-new-projects" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ New Projects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-news" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ News</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamily-housing/affordable-housing" hreflang="en">Affordable Housing</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamily-housing/apartments" hreflang="en">Apartments</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers" hreflang="en">Designers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/architects" hreflang="en">Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/aec-tech/aec-tech-innovation" hreflang="en">AEC Tech Innovation</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/aec-tech/bim-and-information-technology" hreflang="en">BIM and Information Technology</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-tech" hreflang="en">Building Tech</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/project-process-innovation" hreflang="en">Project + Process Innovation</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/projects/new-project-portfolios" hreflang="en">New Project Portfolios</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/sustainability/sustainable-development" hreflang="en">Sustainable Development</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/sustainability/sustainable-design-and-construction" hreflang="en">Sustainable Design and Construction</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>The phoenix: a mythological bird that symbolizes resurrection, rebirth, and life after death. Demolished in 1989, The Phoenix Ironworks Steel Factory left a five-acre hole in West Oakland, Calif. After sitting vacant for nearly three decades, the site will soon become utilized again as <a href="https://www.mbharch.com/thephoenix" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.mbharch.com/thephoenix">The Phoenix</a> rises from the ashes—this time in the form of 316 <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/multifamily-housing/affordable-housing" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/multifamily-housing/affordable-housing">affordable housing</a> units.</p><p>In a collaboration between <a href="https://www.mbharch.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.mbharch.com/">MBH Architects</a>, modular construction company <a href="https://factoryos.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://factoryos.com/">Factory_OS</a>, technology provider <a href="https://www.autodesk.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.autodesk.com/">Autodesk</a>, bio-materials company <a href="https://www.ecovative.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ecovative.com/">Ecovative</a>, building envelope consultant <a href="https://heintges.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://heintges.com/">Heintges</a>, and fabricator <a href="https://www.kreysler.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.kreysler.com/">Kreysler &amp; Associates</a>, The Phoenix aims to be a revolutionary development made possible through groundbreaking biomaterials, innovative building methods, and Autodesk’s <a href="https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/design-and-make-platform" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/design-and-make-platform">Design and Make Platform</a>, which connected these teams and their data through cloud-based workflows and provided AI-powered insights. </p><h2>AI Brings Affordable Housing Project to Life</h2><p>In the case of The Phoenix, AI played a heavy role in optimizing the design of the affordable housing development.</p><p>The team used <a href="https://www.autodesk.com/products/forma/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.autodesk.com/products/forma/">Autodesk Forma</a> in early-stage design to “rapidly explore a wide range of design options that would simultaneously meet the project’s goals for cost, carbon, and livability,” according to David Benjamin, Director, AEC Industry Futures at Autodesk.</p><figure role="group"><img alt="The Phoenix affordable housing project rendering from Autodesk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9634922e-2fd6-4b26-9819-6a61b7bbd147" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/01B_Phoenix_Rendering_01B.jpg" width="2000" height="1121" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The Phoenix utilized Forma to test the impact that factors like noise, density, and cost have on various layouts. Rendering courtesy Autodesk</figcaption></figure><p>These capabilities allowed MBH to adjust and analyze different <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/multifamilypro" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/multifamilypro">multifamily</a> designs—such as adding buildings, or moving around structures and greenspaces—to find the most optimal layout.</p><p>One analysis the project team did was to test how different building configurations were affected by noise from nearby highway traffic. With Autodesk Forma’s AI-powered tool, Rapid Noise Analysis, MBH Architects could optimize the final placement of structures on the building site to minimize noise. By using this technology MBH could explore the range of options and was able to complete an initial design package in just six hours—compared to the typical timeframe of two weeks.</p><p>“Time saving is probably the biggest benefit of [AI] tools, which enable us to ensure faster delivery of much-needed housing solutions,” says Ryan McNulty, Principal, Architect, MBH Architects.</p><p>Autodesk Forma was also used to measure goals for operational and embodied carbon, cost, and livability. The tool helped the team iterate on various designs like relocating playgrounds or shifting buildings to land on a final design that met the needs of the developer, the community, and stakeholders.</p><table border="0" cellspacing="15" cellpadding="0" align="center" width="100%"><tbody border="0"><tr><td style="border:none;" valign="top" align="center" width="50%"><figure role="group"><img alt="Autodesk Forma tools used in The Phoenix affordable housing project in California" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b8f94167-53c2-4781-9a6a-a1339aa8f9ac" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/08B_Phoenix_Noise_Analysis.jpg" width="2000" height="1194" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Rendering courtesy Autodesk</figcaption></figure></td><td style="border:none;" valign="top" align="center" width="50%"><figure role="group"><img alt="Autodesk Forma tools used in The Phoenix affordable housing project in California" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="310e7d67-df69-48b4-821b-0206fcdde892" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/07B_Phoenix_Design_in_Forma.jpg" width="2000" height="1194" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Rendering courtesy Autodesk</figcaption></figure></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Through this process, The Phoenix is projected to be completed in half the time, cost, and carbon footprint of a typical multifamily housing project in the Bay Area, which made the project eligible for state incentives, according to McNulty. While AI and cloud-based workflows supplied ample time-saving benefits on the front end, <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/building-sector-reports/modular-building" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/building-sector-reports/modular-building">volumetric modular construction</a> will present additional cost-effective opportunities once on-site construction begins.</p><h2>Modular Construction with Innovative Biomaterials</h2><p>Manufactured by Factory_OS, the modular units of The Phoenix can be assembled in just 10 days, according to MBH. Though this modular construction method speeds up project delivery, reduces waste, and removes the unpredictability of a traditional construction, it’s not without risk. Efficiently wrapping the modular units to ensure the building becomes weather-tight is “an ongoing design challenge,” says McNulty.</p><p>While standardizing window sizes has improved efficiency in building unit fabrication, incorporating prefabricated exterior panels introduces a new layer of complexity. The team is focused on systematizing various elements like windows and FRP panels to enable façade prefabrication.</p><figure role="group"><img alt="MycoComposite building facade at The Phoenix affordable housing development in California" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e2620bf7-4d4d-410c-ab64-1b1f2cb04668" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/02_Phoenix_Rendering_02.jpg" width="2000" height="1122" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The Phoenix is the debut residential project for MycoComposite, an innovative building material made of mycelium and shredded hemp stalks. Rendering courtesy Autodesk</figcaption></figure><p>The façade presented an additional challenge for the team, as building façades often account for a significant portion of embodied carbon and can take months to install. Rather than take a traditional route, The Phoenix team turned to an innovative, sustainable biomaterial called <a href="https://www.ecovative.com/pages/mycocomposite" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ecovative.com/pages/mycocomposite">MycoComposite</a> to form the core of the façade.</p><p>Created by <a href="https://www.ecovative.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ecovative.com/">Ecovative</a>, MycoComposite is a combination of mycelium—the living root structure of mushrooms—and shredded hemp stalks. Ecovative grows the material in just seven days, which absorbs more carbon than it emits, before forming the core to a fiber-reinforced-polymer shell. The Phoenix team used this to create 36-foot-long panels that act as the building’s carbon-negative façade.</p><p>These MycoComposite panels offer five performance benefits: structural, waterproofing, acoustic dampening, thermal insulation, and fire resistance. According to MBH, they can be used as-is with today’s building codes and construction methods.</p><p>The use of MycoComposite for The Phoenix marks the first use of the biomaterial in a commercial or residential building. Its use will shave another five months off the construction schedule as well, according to MBH.</p></div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_24 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/future-affordable-housing-may-be-modular-ai-driven-and-made-mushrooms" data-a2a-title="The future of affordable housing may be modular, AI-driven, and made of mushrooms"><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/facebook.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="https://sgcimages.s3.amazonaws.com/2023-08/twitter-x-logo.png" height="24" width="24" alt="twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/linkedin.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bdcnetwork.com%2Ffuture-affordable-housing-may-be-modular-ai-driven-and-made-mushrooms&amp;title=The%20future%20of%20affordable%20housing%20may%20be%20modular%2C%20AI-driven%2C%20and%20made%20of%20mushrooms"><img src="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/link.svg" alt="Share"></a></span> Wed, 07 Aug 2024 12:42:44 +0000 qpurcell 52927 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com Shipping containers converted into attractive, affordable multifamily housing in L.A. https://www.bdcnetwork.com/shipping-containers-converted-attractive-affordable-multifamily-housing-la <span>Shipping containers converted into attractive, affordable multifamily housing in L.A.</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/dbarista" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">dbarista</span></span> <span>Wed, 07/31/2024 - 14:06</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-new-projects" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ New Projects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>In the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles, a new affordable multifamily housing project using shipping containers resulted in 24 micro-units for formerly unhoused residents. The containers were acquired from a nearby port and converted into housing units at a factory.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/colors-1838392_1920.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="Image by Pexels from Pixabay" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>The modular approach saves about $250,000 in costs, according to the project team.</p></div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-new-projects" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ New Projects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-news" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ News</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-research" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ Research</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/multifamily-housing" hreflang="en">Multifamily Housing</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamily-housing/affordable-housing" hreflang="en">Affordable Housing</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/contractors" hreflang="en">Contractors</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers" hreflang="en">Designers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers-specifiers-landscape-architects" hreflang="en">Designers / Specifiers / Landscape Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/engineers" hreflang="en">Engineers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/facility-managers" hreflang="en">Facility Managers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/architects" hreflang="en">Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/building-owner" hreflang="en">Building Owners</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/codes-and-standards" hreflang="en">Codes and Standards</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>In the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles, a new affordable multifamily housing project using shipping containers resulted in 24 micro-units for formerly unhoused residents, according to <em>Fast Company</em>. (<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91128262/studio-one-eleven-innovation-by-design-2024" target="_blank">View photos of the project here</a>.)</p><p>The containers were acquired from a nearby port and converted into housing units at a factory. The modular construction approach reduced labor costs significantly. The cost of an affordable apartment in L.A. can run more than $700,000, while units at this project cost about $448,000, including the cost of land.</p><p>Each 320 sf apartment was made from two shipping containers. The 20-foot containers were joined together and include a kitchen along one wall, a bathroom, and space for a sofa that doubles as a bed. Windows were sized nearly from floor to ceiling, yielding extensive daylighting. Containers were also used to build community and laundry rooms, a unit for an on-site manager, and a room for bike parking.</p><p>Containers are not practical for many types of residential construction, often requiring extensive modification, but worked well in this micro-apartment setting.</p></div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_24 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/shipping-containers-converted-attractive-affordable-multifamily-housing-la" data-a2a-title="Shipping containers converted into attractive, affordable multifamily housing in L.A."><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/facebook.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="https://sgcimages.s3.amazonaws.com/2023-08/twitter-x-logo.png" height="24" width="24" alt="twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/linkedin.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bdcnetwork.com%2Fshipping-containers-converted-attractive-affordable-multifamily-housing-la&amp;title=Shipping%20containers%20converted%20into%20attractive%2C%20affordable%20multifamily%20housing%20in%20L.A."><img src="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/link.svg" alt="Share"></a></span> Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:06:47 +0000 dbarista 52890 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com 41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors https://www.bdcnetwork.com/41-great-solutions <span>41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/dbarista" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">dbarista</span></span> <span>Tue, 07/23/2024 - 12:44</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/great-solutions" hreflang="en">Great Solutions</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>AI ChatBots, ambient computing, floating MRIs, low-carbon cement, sunshine on demand, next-generation top-down construction. These and 35 other innovations make up our 2024 Great Solutions Report, which highlights fresh ideas and innovations from leading architecture, engineering, and construction firms.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>BD+C Staff</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/MG2_Costco_Santa_Fe_Mexico_Horizontal.jpg" width="3000" height="1242" alt="41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors Pictured: This Costco location in Mexico City is tucked under a sprawling active green roof, complete with sports fields. Photo courtesy MG2 " title="41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors Pictured: This Costco location in Mexico City is tucked under a sprawling active green roof, complete with sports fields. Photo courtesy MG2 " typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>AI ChatBots, ambient computing, floating MRIs, low-carbon cement, sunshine on demand, next-generation top-down construction. These and 35 other innovations make up our 2024 Great Solutions Report.</p></div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-types/airports" hreflang="en">Airports</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/education-facility" hreflang="en">Education Facilities</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/education-facilities/school-construction" hreflang="en">School Construction</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-types/university-buildings" hreflang="en">University Buildings</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/healthcare-facilities" hreflang="en">Healthcare Facilities</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/high-rise-construction" hreflang="en">High-rise Construction</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/industrial-facilities" hreflang="en">Industrial Facilities</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-types/laboratories" hreflang="en">Laboratories</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/multifamily-housing" hreflang="en">Multifamily Housing</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-types/office-building-design" hreflang="en">Office Buildings</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/sports-and-recreational-facilities" hreflang="en">Sports and Recreational Facilities</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/contractors" hreflang="en">Contractors</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers" hreflang="en">Designers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers-specifiers-landscape-architects" hreflang="en">Designers / Specifiers / Landscape Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/engineers" hreflang="en">Engineers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/facility-managers" hreflang="en">Facility Managers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/architects" hreflang="en">Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/building-owner" hreflang="en">Building Owners</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/accelerate-live/aec-business-innovation" hreflang="en">AEC Business Innovation</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/adaptive-reuse" hreflang="en">Adaptive Reuse</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/aec-innovators" hreflang="en">AEC Innovators</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/aec-tech" hreflang="en">AEC Tech</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/aec-tech/aec-tech-innovation" hreflang="en">AEC Tech Innovation</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/aec-tech/bim-and-information-technology" hreflang="en">BIM and Information Technology</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/biophilic-design" hreflang="en">Biophilic Design</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-materials" hreflang="en">Building Materials</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-tech" hreflang="en">Building Tech</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-technology" hreflang="en">Building Technology</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/concrete" hreflang="en">Concrete</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/concrete/concrete-technology" hreflang="en">Concrete Technology</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/curtain-wall" hreflang="en">Curtain Wall</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/great-solutions" hreflang="en">Great Solutions</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/reconstruction-renovation" hreflang="en">Reconstruction &amp; Renovation</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/smart-buildings" hreflang="en">Smart Buildings</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>AI ChatBots, ambient computing, floating MRIs, low-carbon cement, sunshine on demand, next-generation top-down construction. These and 35 other innovations make up our 2024 Great Solutions Report. </p><p>In January 2024, the Building Design+Construction editorial team invited the nation’s largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms to submit their single-biggest innovation from the past 24 months. More than 80 firms responded with well more than 100 submissions. The editors selected the top 41 Great Solutions. They are presented below organized in four categories:</p><ul><li>Technology solutions</li><li>Design solutions</li><li>Construction solutions</li><li>AEC firm operations solutions </li></ul><h2><br /> </h2><h1>10 technology Great Solutions for AEC firms for 2024   </h1><p> </p><h2>1. Building system uses light, sound, even scent, to engage with building occupants  <br />Submitting firm: Arup  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img alt="Arup’s BREO occupant-engagement system has been explored in its Los Angeles office. Photos: courtesy ARUP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="114389a0-fe59-4675-bb13-b017140a47df" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Arup%20BREOColor%20Progression%20-%20Chloe%20Ginnegar.jpg" width="2400" height="559" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Arup’s BREO occupant-engagement system has been explored in its Los Angeles office. Photos: courtesy ARUP</figcaption></figure><p>A first-of-its-kind system in the smart building space, BREO (Building Resource Expression for Occupants) brings a fresh approach to communicating and engaging with building occupants, especially around sustainability and building performance.  </p><p>The system, designed by engineering giant Arup, monitors and translates building data—such as energy usages, water consumption, and indoor air quality—into an immersive sensory experience using lighting, sounds, and even scents. The objective is to encourage occupants to actively contribute to building sustainability.</p><p>For example, BREO might change the color of the ambient light to indicate how the building is meeting its power use targets, modify the soundscape to signify water consumption overages, or add a subtle odor to the air to indicate poor but imperceivable interior air quality. </p><p>“Occupants are already responding to their environment in myriad ways—adjusting lighting when the sun sets or changing the thermostat on a cold day. BREO builds upon this behavior and gives them more agency in reducing consumption,” states Arup. </p><p>Thus far, the BREO technology has been explored in Arup’s Los Angeles office and some residences with larger opportunities for implementation on the horizon.</p><p> </p><h2>2. Post-occupancy evaluation app yields future improvements  <br />Submitting firm: LEO A DALY  <br /> </h2><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/49A%20Carson%20HQ%20EXT%20-%20LEO%20A%20DALY.jpg" data-entity-uuid="0422c227-2669-4b19-a985-ebb4871fb7e2" data-entity-type="file" alt="Post-occupancy evaluation app yields future improvements" width="1350" height="900" loading="lazy" /></p><p>Ryan Companies’ CheckpointPost POE tool uses a custom app, visual data-driven dashboards created in PowerBI, survey room schedules integrated through Revit 360, and an integrated room mapping system to gather feedback from stakeholders on successes and areas of improvement, thereby cutting the time spent on routine survey tasks.</p><p>CheckpointPost also fosters continuous improvement in design and construction practices and helps Ryan make informed decisions for future projects. One such assessment revealed an underutilized space that could be repurposed into rentable square footage. Another CheckpointPost POE exposed inadequate lighting in a critical gathering space. Both POE findings will be applied to the design of future projects.</p><p> </p><h2>3. Sunshine on demand in a Swiss lab  <br />Submitting firm: ETH Zurich  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img alt="The lab’s artificial sun consists of hundreds of LEDs fixed to a movable arm. Photo: ETH Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3dc5c738-ad87-4ab3-a776-afd726037702" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/ETH%20sun%20on%20movable%20arm.jpg" width="3001" height="2004" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The lab’s artificial sun consists of hundreds of LEDs fixed to a movable arm. Photo: ETH Zurich</figcaption></figure><p>On its Hönggerberg campus, Switzerland-based university ETH Zurich has established a Zero Carbon Building Systems lab, opened in the fall of 2022, that can simulate climatic conditions to test new building systems, components, and materials. The lab’s central feature is an artificial sun comprised of hundreds of LEDs fixed to a movable arm, allowing the system to imitate the path of the sun to test the effects of solar radiation. The outer walls, floors, and ceilings of the lab’s three research cells can be replaced with prototypes developed in the Robotic Fabrication Lab next door, to be tested onsite. One of these is a semi-​transparent façade made of printed polymer, whose structure either deflects sunlight or allows it to pass through, depending on the angle of incidence. </p><p>In addition to the artificial-​sun room, the other two test cells on the south side of the building are exposed to natural sunlight and the outdoor climate. Lab testing is currently possible for heating and cooling systems, ventilation concepts, PV and thermal applications, digital fabrication, human comfort, sensor development, and model validation. </p><p>Soon to be tested are 3D-​printed components for façades that can passively conduct solar heat from the façade to the building interior or act as insulators if required. The lab is further developing an adaptive solar façade whose movable solar panels track the position of the sun, maximizing energy gain.</p><p> </p><h2>4. McCarthy SiteShift generates parking structure designs in minutes  <br />Submitting Firm: McCarthy Building Companies  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img alt="McCarthy SiteShift generates parking structure designs in minutes" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d577c41b-3281-4de5-bd01-d75a101d2bcb" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-07-23%20at%2011.03.24%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="2400" height="1173" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>McCarthy SiteShift application. Screenshot: © Michael Bockhold, courtesy McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.</figcaption></figure><p>McCarthy SiteShift by McCarthy Building Companies is a collaborative solution for parking structure planning and design. The virtual tool allows for McCarthy, its clients, and parking experts to create conceptual parking layouts in a matter of minutes. SiteShift benefits from decades of real construction experience to inform its generative AI to optimize for space, constructability, and cost. After the iterative design process is complete, SiteShift creates a full PDF package from its 3D Revit model and provides clients with quantifiable data. </p><p>With SiteShift, McCarthy is able to focus greater time and attention on the more important aspects of a project. More at www.siteshift.io/p/1.</p><p> </p><h2>5. Get ahead of low-carbon building performance requirements with this early-stage design tool   <br />Submitting firm: Arcadis  <br /> </h2><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/ClimateScout_Computer_Hero_3x4%20-%20pablo%20la%20roche.jpg" data-entity-uuid="ebc9a06e-6abe-419e-a2e3-6be0463c484d" data-entity-type="file" alt="Get ahead of low-carbon building performance requirements with this early-stage design tool " width="1200" height="900" loading="lazy" /></p><p>With Arcadis’ ClimateScout sustainable architecture design tool, project teams can identify climate-specific design strategies at the earliest stages of concept design that will help reduce a project’s operational carbon intensity. The free web-based tool (now in Version 2) offers pre-selected strategies based on the 27 building scale strategies from Architecture 2030’s Palette and the Köppen-Geiger climate subtypes. After clicking on a world map to select a climate zone, ClimateScout takes the user to a page to build a section combining appropriate strategies for a selected climate. As they are selected, the design strategies appear in real-time overlaid in diagrammatic form, providing an immediate visual connection between the climate and the architectural idea, according to Arcadis. </p><p>New to Version 2 is a carbon tool that allows users to determine the grid’s impact on operational carbon intensity. A world map provides grid carbon intensity for all countries worldwide. Energy Star’s Target finder can be used to determine the Median EUI for the type and size of property in the location selected. Using the information from Target Finder, the carbon calculator will estimate the carbon intensity (kgCO2e/m2yr.) and the total carbon emitted per year (kgCO2e/yr.), assuming the building is all electric. Different targets can be selected and calculated.</p><p> </p><h2>6. Interactive client portal opens door to project deliverables  <br />Submitting firm: Gresham Smith  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img alt="Pictured: Hestia dashboard for a hospital project in Pensacola, Fla., showing all design documents. Screenshot courtesy Gresham Smith" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16d88e49-b740-4a2d-8def-5abb5ff0c5e4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/44%20Hestia%20Dashboard-Gresham%20Smith.PNG" width="1880" height="900" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Pictured: Hestia dashboard for a hospital project in Pensacola, Fla., showing all design documents. Screenshot courtesy Gresham Smith</figcaption></figure><p>Gresham Smith’s Hestia interactive portal enables clients to engage virtually with their projects. The dashboard houses all deliverables—BIM models, renderings, drawings, project team details, statistics, final images, and videos—giving clients an up-to-the-second visual snapshot of the project's status.</p><p>Clients can view current drawings and navigate the space via Enscape 3D. Using Navisworks Viewer, they can inspect each elemental model simultaneously; for example, ensuring the HVAC system aligns with electrical, plumbing, and structural elements. A Power BI dashboard instantaneously provides project stats, such as the relative humidity of each space.</p><p>The proprietary platform's round-the-clock accessibility and robust security measures make it a reliable tool for clients to monitor progress and provide feedback—at their convenience.</p><p> </p><h2>7. AI tool helps Skanska share data internally and securely  <br />Submitting firm: Skanska USA Building  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fbb2be24-572a-49c4-b028-13d062b3e927" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/skanska_chat_1%20-%20Jessica%20Vann.png" width="2400" height="1145" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Skanska’s AI chatbot, Sidekick, courtesy Skanska</figcaption></figure><p>2023 was a breakout year for AI, even for the normally tech-allergic construction industry. One of the frontrunners was Skanska, which last year introduced a proprietary chatbot called Skanska Sidekick, the development of which required collaboration across the firm’s functions and offices worldwide. Built on the Azure OpenAI platform, Sidekick allows users to upload and query personal docu- ments, such as meeting minutes, from which the program provides insights, summaries, and answers. Sidekick delivers the benefits of Generative AI tools while keeping users’ prompts and docs safe on Skanska’s Cloud.</p><p>Late last year, Skanska USA Building’s Data Solutions Team developed a proof-of-concept tool that indexed thousands of historical scopes of work while integrating project metadata from sources within Skanska’s data warehouse. The team has also created dynamic training materials to help employees understand strengths and limitations of Gen AI tools. These efforts can be seen as the culmination of Skanska’s five-year data investment strategy, whose goal is to better ensure meaningful ROI, improve decision making, and keep the firm aligned with AI’s rapid evolution.</p><p><br /> </p><h2>8. Engineering giant brings ‘model-as-a-service’ AI tools to the AEC industry   <br />Submitting firm: KCI Technologies  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img alt="Engineering giant KCI Technologies brings ‘model-as-a-service’ AI tools to the AEC industry " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="94580701-43de-4e74-ac98-be1aafb37cc7" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/KCI%20copy.jpg" width="2000" height="2884" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>KCI Technologies’ new BRYX platform currently offers four online tools for AEC firms, with 12 more in the works. Photos courtesy KCI Technologies</figcaption></figure><p>This past February, engineering firm KCI Technologies became the latest AEC firm to market in-house-developed tools to the greater AEC marketplace. Through its newly launched BRYX platform, the firm has developed and released four online tools, with 12 more in the works. </p><p>KCI describes BRYX as a model-as-a-service (MaaS) platform, offering ready-to-run machine learning, computer vision, and computational models for AEC firms looking to utilize AI tools without taking on the model development, training, and management work needed to build them from scratch. </p><p>The four models currently available include:</p><ul><li>Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Detection, which analyzes aerial construction site images and quickly detects and labels PPE used on site, including head gear, boots, gloves, full body harnesses, safety vests, self-retracting lifelines, and anchorage points. </li><li>RobotFlat is designed for use on robotic warehouse and distribution center projects that require critical-tolerance concrete floors to ensure optimal conditions for robotic systems. It allows AEC firms to calculate concrete floor flatness and identify areas that need remediation.  </li><li>Traffic Control Device Detection, which allows teams to quickly identify any missing or mispositioned traffic control devices and quickly replace, secure, or repair them as needed. It’s programmed to monitor and detect 18 distinct traffic control devices on jobsites, including cones, concrete barriers, lights, construction safety fences, automated flagger devices, work vehicles, and temporary traffic control signs.</li><li>Power Pole Equipment Detection analyzes utility pole images, classifying the equipment detected on the pole, including animal guards, bracket poles, bell insulators, fuses, LED lights, and crossers. </li></ul><p>According to KCI, BRYX’s interface allows users to easily upload data, run models, monitor model performance, and access output files and logs. Also, its application programming interfaces (APIs) support rapid integration of models into third-party applications. Free trials are available for all the tools. </p><p> </p><h2>9. FOScore brings facility management to your pocket  <br />Firm: FOS of CannonDesign  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d4925856-179e-47fb-88e8-fca7cae00c9e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BDC_GreatSolutions_FOS%20-%20Darra%20Kubera.jpeg" width="2400" height="3200" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>FOScore TCO Module application. Screenshot: © Darra Kubera, courtesy of Facility Optimization Solutions, LLC</figcaption></figure><p>FOS of CannonDesign’s FOScore is an all-in-one facility assessment software for AEC firms and building owners alike. FOScore allows its users to assess and document facility conditions, featuring interactive visuals, AI generated asset information, and many other modules. The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) module gives facility management teams a 50-year outlook on the property, helping them and their clients understand its total cost of ownership. Other features such as the KPI module help track a building’s goals, from energy utilization to accessibility, safety, and security.</p><p> </p><h2>10. Producing concrete with less carbon output  <br />Submitting Firm: Arizona State University  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0e68e52a-3a0b-4b1d-853a-99cc8d6a7d79" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/SSEBE-Narayanan-Neithalath-2023-BR-9270-a.jpg" width="2400" height="1600" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Narayanan Neithalath is leading a research team at Arizona State University vetting lower-emissions cement solutions. Photo: Bobbi Ramirez/Arizona State University</figcaption></figure><p>After water, concrete made from cement is the most-used material in the world, with more than 30 billion tons created annually. But the process of converting cement manufacturing’s chief ingredient, limestone, to a binding component cement clinker requires intense heat that emits CO<sub>2</sub> equal to about one-quarter of all industry carbon emissions. Manufacturers have made strides to lower cement production’s carbon footprint, such as Cemex’s Vertua cement that uses less energy to make. Last October, the National Science Foundation awarded a research team at Arizona State University a four-year, $3 million grant to investigate the feasibility of two lower-emissions manufacturing solutions: separating lime from limestone via electrolytic and hybrid routes without producing CO<sub>2</sub>; and using autocatalysis, which provides energy from renewable sources. Narayanan Neithalath, a professor at ASU leading this research team (pictured), says that given concrete’s ubiquity as a construction material, stemming CO<sub>2</sub> emissions must begin at the production stage to have global impact. His team’s research, he says, is “baby steps” toward that goal.</p><p> </p><p> </p><h1>17 design Great Solutions for AEC firms for 2024  </h1><h2> </h2><h2>1. Hidden in plain sight: This Costco is one with nature—and the community   <br />Submitting firm: MG2  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ff1ebbf-dc7a-40c1-b6c0-eed9bd02ed56" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/MG2_Costco_Santa_Fe_Mexico_Horizontal.jpg" width="3000" height="1242" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>This Costco location in Mexico City is tucked under a sprawling active green roof, complete with sports fields. Photo courtesy MG2</figcaption></figure><p>Forget the $1.50 hot dog combo special. How about a pickup game of basketball or fútbol? Or a stroll along manicured gardens? Yes, indeed, this Costco Wholesale location in Mexico City is like no other. </p><p>Located within the Parque La Mexicana 70-acre urban green space in the city’s Santa Fe neighborhood, the 524,549-sf store, warehouse, loading bay, and parking structure are tucked under a sprawling active green roof that features a fútbol field, padel court, children’s roller park, green roof, and multiple hybrid basketball/volleyball courts. It also connects to the larger urban green space and jogging path via a pedestrian bridge. </p><p>Only one side of the building is exposed to the public. The other three sides are concealed using the existing landscape. “Montanitas,” or tall berms covered in native plants, trees, and grasses work double duty to camouflage the warehouse exteriors while minimizing the irrigation and water usage required to allow them to flourish. Green facade screens with native crawling vegetation planted at its base as well as cascading down from the roof above will grow over time to further obscure the warehouse and parking structure’s appearance, according to MG2. </p><p> </p><h2>2. Emory University’s new building keeps vibrations under control  <br />Submitting firm: HOK  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dde58763-fa7d-448e-8058-4a5e22c92bf9" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/HOK%20Emory%201.jpg" width="2400" height="2642" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Emory University’s Health Research Science Building II houses 1,000+ researchers and sensitive technology. Photo: Christopher Payne</figcaption></figure><p>For its design of Emory University’s eight-story, 350,000-sf Health Research Science Building II, which houses over 1,000 researchers and sensitive technology, HOK had to mitigate vibration from a trifecta of sources: </p><p>• Site-borne vibration from an adjacent rail line was reduced predominantly by providing sufficient building mass at the slab in the vicinity of the rail line. HOK worked with a vibration/acoustic consultant to fine-tune the necessary amount of mass without requiring an undue volume of concrete. </p><p>• Wind-induced vibrations on lightweight elements of the building, such as trellis structures, were kept within acceptable limits through a study of those elements’ dynamic properties, including maintaining minimum fundamental frequency values to avoid resonance or flutter.</p><p>• Pedestrian-induced vibrations on the building’s floor framing were addressed through parametric interdisciplinary optimization studies to arrive at the appropriate balance of structural depth, MEP service depth, and location-specific vibration performance. This allowed for vibration control and space for high-efficiency MEP systems within laboratory spaces within constrained story heights. Perhaps counterintuitively, connecting the 20-foot cantilevered stairs to 15 70-foot-long pedestrian bridges improved the bridges’ vibration performance.</p><p> </p><h2>3. HVAC system enables infectious disease isolation space for ICU  <br />Submitting firm: Studio+   <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8a9702fb-3203-4546-a4ca-d07c37faf87f" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/88%20Studio%2B%20-%20Patient%20Room%2C%20Lee%20Health%20ICU.jpg" width="2400" height="1601" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Patient room at Lee Health Cape Coral Hospital ICU. The entire ICU can be turned into an isolation unit. Photo: Chad Baumer, courtesy STUDIO+</figcaption></figure><p>For the Lee Health Cape Coral (Fla.) Hospital ICU expansion, architecture firm Studio+ designed an HVAC system that enables the new addition to become a self-sustained negative-pressure wing, creating a much larger isolation patient space in the event of a pandemic or widespread infectious disease outbreak.</p><p>The breakthrough system was prompted by the Covid pandemic and the need for ICU staff to be able to adjust the HVAC system to create a negative space that would expel all air to the outside without any recirculation.</p><p>To meet this demand, the unit required a bigger AC unit that could support the exhaust requirement. It would operate as usual until the need arose to operate in pandemic mode. The new system has extra dampers and exhaust fans that, when activated by the BMS administrators (in conjunction with infection prevention) close off the return ductwork. Next, the exhaust opens, and the fan brings 100% outside air into the space and exhausts 100% indoor air out. While in this mode, certain room functions can be altered for isolation purposes; for example, the family waiting area becomes the donning and doffing space.</p><p> </p><h2>4. Heat sharing makes a research campus in Washington State more efficient  <br />Submitting firm: Kirksey Architecture  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="20fbdd95-73a1-4f37-9bd3-e15d20852f92" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/PNNL%20ESC%20heat%20transfer%20building.jpg" width="2400" height="1140" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Pictured: The Heat Transfer Building at the Energy Sciences Center, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash. Photos: Joe Aker/Aker Imaging</figcaption></figure><p>The Energy Sciences Center opened on the Richland, Wash., campus of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in January 2022. This $90 million, 140,000-sf, net-zero-ready building meets the U.S. Department of Energy’s Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings, thanks to energy efficient design strategies that included a standalone Heat Transfer Building and below-grade campus-wide heat-sharing system. The heat-transfer building, which connects several buildings on campus, uses data center waste heat to support the Energy Sciences Center that was designed to prioritize cooling and heating sources with low-carbon intensity. </p><p>During summer months, the building’s below-ground Heat Transfer Water system acts as a central condenser water plant with a common cooling tower adjacent to the Center. In the winter, this heat-sharing network allows for free heat from facilities with a year-round cooling demand (data centers, process loads, etc.) to be rejected into the loop and reused for reheat of the incoming ventilation air in more heating-driven laboratory buildings. The building hydronic systems capture this waste in a 200-ton modular heat recovery chiller for low-carbon, heat-pump based heating. This system is supplemented by a natural gas condensing boiler that, at full buildout, is needed only during peak heating demand. The building team included Kirksey Architecture (architect, lab planning, interior design), Harvey|Cleary Builders (design builder), Arup (SE, MEP, CE), J-U-B Engineers (landscape architect), and Vibrasure (vibration/acoustical consultant).</p><p> </p><h2>5. Floating MRIs offer design flexibility and patient convenience  <br />Submitting firm: CO Architects  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cb3ff76c-67fb-460c-8156-11d88bbdddc6" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/CO%20Architects_Floating%20MRI%20Pedestal%20Rebar.jpg" width="2400" height="1800" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Pictured: A vibrationally isolated “floating” MRI room at the University of California Irvine Health–Irvine Medical Center. Photo courtesy CO Architects</figcaption></figure><p>At the University of California Irvine Health–Irvine Medical Center (UCIHIMC), whose construction will be completed in September 2025, a vibrationally isolated “floating room” was a no-brainer design solution for all four MRI machines on this under-construction campus. Locating MRIs above grade alleviates these rooms’ notorious acoustic and vibration issues. Further, it protects imaging quality from the surrounding infrastructure. UCIHIMC places the MRIs centrally, at the entry level, for ease of patient access and within the imaging department, for uninterrupted care from staff and close to other imaging machines such as Xray. Key components include floor springs to elevate the room slab from the building, sway braces that provide a buffer between the building and the MRI room’s walls, and a self-supporting framed top. Lining the room’s substructure are layers of copper radio-frequency shielding and steel magnetic shielding. UCI Health-Irvine’s floating MRI room is a design first for CO Architects. The project’s other team members include Hensel Phelps (GC), Degenkolb (SE), WSP | tk1sc (ME engineer), Collin Gordon (vibration consultant), Nelco (shielding consultant), Newsom Brown (acoustic consultant), and CDM Stravitec (spring engineer).</p><p> </p><h2>6. Stantec delivers six schools in less than three years  <br />Submitting Firm: Stantec  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="da7f3396-75fb-4414-b20d-1257696030c2" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/1%20Sonia%20Sotomayor.jpeg" width="2400" height="1800" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Prince George’s County Public Schools, Sonia Sotomayor Middle School at Adelphi. Photo: © Tom Holdsworth, courtesy Stantec</figcaption></figure><p>Stantec and its project partners delivered a first-of-its-kind bundled delivery of six schools for the Prince George’s County (Md.) Public School System (PGCPS). The school district’s existing facilities were overcrowded and aging, so Stantec designed an adjustable prototype to meet the individual needs of six new ones. The schools feature grade-specific academic wings, STEM/STEAM labs, media labs, production studios, performance stages, indoor gymnasiums, and more. Additionally, various sustainability elements include tubular skylights and large windows to increase natural daylight. Through local business utilization and a 30-year public-private partnership, PGCPS was able to save $174 million in deferred maintenance and construction costs.</p><p> </p><h2>7. Ambitious testing facility accelerates space research  <br />Submitting Firm: Burns &amp; McDonnell  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6220d521-a805-47ab-9ad9-cbc376fb50f3" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Cam01_Ver05%20%281%29.jpg" width="2400" height="1350" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Intuitive Machines, a diversified space company focused on space exploration, partnered with Burns &amp; McDonnell to build a $40 million, 125,000-sf facility in Houston. This new space will allow Intuitive Machines to build, command, and communicate with lunar vehicles. Rendering courtesy Burns &amp; McDonnell</figcaption></figure><p>Burns &amp; McDonnell partnered with Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based diversified space company focused on space exploration, to design and build its new headquarters and flame range test facility. The first-of-its-kind concept integrates workspaces, laboratories, and testing facilities to foster collaboration and accelerate space research. By having the test facility located next to the headquarters, Intuitive Machines will benefit from lower testing setup costs, streamlined logistics, and full utilization of its manufacturing capabilities. The integration of energy-efficient solutions and streamlined construction processes resulted in cost savings for the client, creating a model for future projects to follow. Additionally, its 105,572-sf headquarters serves as the operations center for the company’s lunar program, which will attempt landing the first American spacecraft to the surface of the Moon since the Apollo program in 1972.</p><p> </p><h2>8. Canada’s first net-zero energy fire station  <br />Submitting firm: GH3  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="96bea3d5-63ff-4752-8740-32bdf741f6d0" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Windemere%201.jpg" width="2400" height="1545" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The design reimagines the typical hose and bell tower form with a curving, south-facing roof. Photos: Raymond Chow</figcaption></figure><p>While achieving net-zero energy is now an ambition of a growing number of projects, getting there has many routes. Take Windemere Fire Station No. 31, a 16,490-sf building in Edmonton, Alberta, that was completed last June. The City of Edmonton wanted a highly sustainable project that would generate on-site renewable energy equal to 100% of the total building energy needs. The facility’s energy performance had to be 40% more efficient than the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2011, reduce carbon emissions by 40% under NECB 2011’s baseline, and operate at 80 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year for heating needs. </p><p>Windemere’s design reimagines the typical hose and bell tower form with a curving, south-facing roof sporting a PV array. A geothermal heating and cooling system is incorporated, as are high-performance windows and exterior doors, although the facility has significantly fewer windows than the average firehouse and uses bi-folding and quick-closing bay doors to limit heat loss. </p><p>The team for this $12.7 million project included gh3 (design and landscape architect), S2 Architecture (consultant), Urban Systems (landscape), RJC Engineers (SE), Smith and Anderson (ME engineer), Ecoammo (sustainability), and PCL Construction (GC).</p><p> </p><h2>9. POE studies validate energy, lighting savings  <br />Submitting firm: LEO A DALY  <br /> </h2><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/49A%20Carson%20HQ%20EXT%20-%20LEO%20A%20DALY_0.jpg" data-entity-uuid="8ac48f2a-ac43-48ab-bbf3-bcb689130b4b" data-entity-type="file" width="1350" height="900" loading="lazy" /></p><p>LEO A DALY used 845 SageGlass electrochromic glass panels for the skin of financial services firm Carson Group’s national headquarters, in Omaha, Neb. The giant AE firm designed all building systems for the twin four-story glass towers and two-story amenity zone in concert with the SageGlass envelope, which allowed them to downsize the HVAC system and save $100,000 in equipment costs. A subsequent post-occupancy evaluation confirmed 15% energy savings in heating and air-conditioning and 74% energy savings in lighting use, with no negative impact on air quality or thermal comfort for occupants.</p><p> </p><h2>10. Passive House, biophilic senior living community promotes health and wellness  <br />Submitting Firm: Cookfox Architects  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d2894243-c2f8-42a2-ac18-62518eceb847" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Betances%20-%20Frank%20Oudeman_1%20-%20Stacey%20Tepper%20copy.jpg" width="2400" height="3200" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Red oak paneling punctuates the interior spaces with bursts of warmth, providing a chromatic contrast with the cooler gray-brick material. Photo: © Frank Oudeman/OTTO</figcaption></figure><p>When seniors are more susceptible to breathing in airborne viruses and pollutants, the buildings they live in should mitigate as many health-related issues as possible. COOKFOX Architects designed Betances Residence, an affordable housing community for at-risk seniors in Bronx, N.Y., with embedded biophilic and Passive House principles. Designed to be airtight, all residential units are continuously supplied with filtered air to combat breathing in pollutants often found in the south Bronx. Active design strategies at Betances encourage physical activity among residents. An agriculture green-roof and constant views of the central courtyard instantiates biophilia, calming and connecting seniors to nature.</p><p> </p><h2>11. Developer-driven PAE Living Building comes to life  <br />Submitting firm: ZGF Architects  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="80a26320-0410-45b7-baae-2c7040e3b1e2" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/ZGF_Announcement%20Image%201%20-%20Bailey%20Thompson.jpg" width="2400" height="1604" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The PAE Living Building is designed with longevity in mind, with inherently resilient and low carbon structural materials that minimize maintenance. Photo: © Benjamin Benschneider, courtesy ZGF Architects</figcaption></figure><p>The PAE Living Building is the first developer-driven and largest commercial office Living Building in the world. Built on an existing parking lot, the ZGF Architects-designed structure adds appeal to the Portland, Ore., historic district. Certain project financing decisions were crucial in getting the PAE Living Building off the ground: The location gained federal tax incentive benefits from being in one of Portland’s 11 Opportunity Zones, and partners offered their fees as equity. The building aims to prove that meeting the highest sustainability standards can be financially viable in a developer-driven model.</p><p> </p><h2>12. An orb girds and opens a cruise ship’s depths  <br />Submitting firm: Wilson Butler Architects  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6151ed17-86f8-47d4-991f-4e09055e302b" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20Pearl_Courtesy%20of%20WBA1.jpg" width="2400" height="1600" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>To connect cruisegoers to the ocean experience, while providing more natural light, the team for Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas created a panoramic window wall three decks high and almost 100 feet wide. Photos courtesy Royal Caribbean </figcaption></figure><p>A goal for Royal Caribbean’s latest cruise ship project was to connect guests with the ocean experience, while providing more natural light in the lower public decks. The 20-deck-high Icon of the Seas, which embarked on its maiden voyage January 27, 2024, addressed this challenge by providing a panoramic window wall three decks high and almost 100 feet wide, that flooded its Royal Promenade neighborhood with natural light. To create an unobstructed view over the Lifeboat Deck 5, the window and adjacent café lounge were raised to Deck 6. Guests are attracted to this elevated lookout through The Pearl, a 53-foot-diameter white sphere lined with an immersive art installation. The Pearl doubles as a load-bearing superstructure that supports the decks above, freeing the space of any visible columns. Finland-based ship builder Meyer Turku worked with Wilson Butler Architects on the Icon of the Seas’ initial planning to integrate the Pearl into the ship. Mobimar, a Finnish engineering and outfitting company, oversaw the exterior cladding and installation of the art piece. Breakfast Studio, based at the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Navy Yard, created the installation’s 3,000 kinetic tiles whose movements evoke the ocean’s natural rhythms.</p><p> </p><h2>13. Anticipating the need for EV chargers  <br />Submitting firm: CESO Inc.  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="031b0da4-c355-4006-9fb3-59314e4da72e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/electric-car-2545290_1920.png" width="1920" height="1358" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Image by Sabine Kroschel from Pixabay</figcaption></figure><p>Failure to account for future demand for EV charging stations can be a costly mistake for property owners and businesses. Engineering firm CESO Inc. anticipates infrastructure demand for future EV ports by designating future locations of the ports and ensuring that conduits are strategically placed under paved areas on the site to prevent disruption in the event of future EV charging installation. A “No Build Area” shows where chargers will be installed to warn other utilities from digging there.</p><p>When it comes time for a client to install EV ports into a site, having the infrastructure in place reduces the implementation time and minimizes disruptions to the client’s day-to-day operations. CESO experts stay current on EV infrastructure regulations, permitting, and approval processes, to make sure its clients stay compliant with EV industry standards.</p><p> </p><h2>14. Bringing the built environment closer to nature  <br />Submitting firm: Jacobs  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="56ce9ef0-3a29-4f40-a82e-214129b1f23d" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Jacobs%20-%20Ford%20plant%20environ.png" width="2400" height="1714" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Courtesy Jacobs</figcaption></figure><p>Since 2017, Jacobs has been collaborating with the consultancy Biomimicry 3.8 on large-scale built environment projects that learn from nature, to have a positive impact on all life. (Jacobs and B3.8 entered into a strategic alliance in November 2020.) These projects are designed to function like a healthy ecosystem and provide the same benefits. At its foundation, the Positive Performance Methodology recognizes the built environment as an integral part of nature, that can, in fact, function like nature, delivering the same suite of ecosystem services at the same performance level as local intact ecosystems. The goal of this multidisciplinary approach is to deliver campuses, communities, and cities that are regenerative and resilient. Jacobs’ work has included multiple sites for Ford Motor Company, which is actively implementing nature-positive solutions whose initial phases of development should be completed by early 2025.</p><p>Jacobs measures the performance of a site against seven key metrics—air quality, biodiversity, water quality, health and wellbeing, carbon and climate, water cycle, and soil—and then evaluates the proposed design intervention against those benchmarks.</p><p> </p><h2>15. 20 Mass converted into mixed-use urban hub  <br />Submitting Firm: LEO A DALY  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c66e32a-ea63-4f72-a546-b9dcd676bd44" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Little_JB7K0A7778_MB%20-%20Lissa.jpg" width="2400" height="1600" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>DPR Construction installing prefabricated bathroom pods at 20 Mass. Photo courtesy DPR Construction</figcaption></figure><p>20 Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C., is an adaptive reuse project that combines office, retail, and hospitality under one roof. Redeveloped from a former government building, the new mixed-use structure includes penthouse suites and amenities, street-level retail, and a 271-key luxury Royal Sonesta brand hotel. LEO A DALY reinvented 20 Mass with the help of field technology, such as laser scanning of existing structures, to inform design and construction decisions. Creative modular construction also played a role; the team engaged with SurePods for the hotel bathrooms, reducing waste by 50% and saving $500,000 in general conditions.</p><p> </p><h2>16. Partnership creates process for real-time design/constructability vetting  <br />Submitting firmS: Perkins&amp;Will and A. Zahner  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8dcc59af-df59-4bcb-860e-5ac9415d8bd4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/84%20P%26W%3AZahner%20-%20Dawes%20Library%20cropped.png" width="1300" height="802" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Perkins&amp;Will and Smoke Architecture designed the 26,300-sf Dawes Road Library, Toronto; A. Zahner fabricated the “star blanket” façade. Dynamic Design and Feasibility was used in the design of the 26,500-sf library/community hub. Completion: 2027. Photo courtesy Perkins&amp;Will</figcaption></figure><p>Architecture giant Perkins&amp;Will and fabrication partner A. Zahner Company have developed an innovative design process that elevates the quality and efficiency of projects. Known as Dynamic Design and Feasibility, the process provides transparent and continuous vetting of design and constructability, known as feasibility loops, that connect architects, designers, engineers, fabricators, and installers in real time. It results in faster decision making, encourages creative iterations, and ensures the delivery of high-quality solutions to clients, particularly for ambitious building designs with complex geometries, unique materials, and tight timelines.  </p><p>Dynamic Design and Feasibility has led to increased design productivity, higher design fidelity from concept to fabrication, and enhanced design excellence at Perkins&amp;Will. The initiative offers protection against potential losses from rework and revisions, minimizing unexpected surprises and reducing the need for value engineering. </p><p>Perkins&amp;Will and Zahner have collaborated on more than a dozen such projects, four of which will start construction this year.</p><p> </p><h2>17. Mr. Bond would approve of the immersive showroom   <br />Submitting firm: Alexander Zilberman Architecture  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ac3dc41-b5eb-437c-8c0d-f9d1a20b3b6e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/86%20Aston%20Martin%20Facade%206_L.jpg" width="2400" height="2157" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Aston Martin claims that the “Champagne Frame” at its new Manhattan showroom is one of the largest single panes of glass ever installed in a New York City building. Photo: Merton Wu, courtesy Alexander Zilberman Architecture</figcaption></figure><p>Aston Martin—they made the DB5 that Bond drove in “Goldfinger”—commissioned Alexander Zilberman Architecture to create an immersive experience for its clients at Q New York, its new showroom at Park and 57th in Manhattan, while also giving passersby a deep visual dive into the showroom.</p><p>To complement the existing building’s architecture, the designers used super-transparent, low-iron glass with low-e coating and UV light reduction for clear, low-reflectivity views inside while allowing the highest possible VLT and energy performance.</p><p>Champagne chamfered metal panels and custom mosaic tiles within each of six column bays define the so-called “Champagne Frame” view from the street. The glass fabricator manufactured each 22-foot-wide, 11-foot-tall IGU to resist structural deflection and wind and moisture ingress.</p><p> </p><p> </p><h1>6 construction Great Solutions for AEC firms for 2024</h1><h2> </h2><h2>1. Talk about a tight squeeze!  <br />Submitting Firm: DPR Construction  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e9973bad-ab84-49aa-b28d-8d7ec9139e72" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/102%20DPR%20Upbrella%20cropped.png" width="2400" height="1922" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The Upbrella at work in Nashville, Tenn. It’s the first time the system has been used in the U.S., according to DPR. Photo courtesy DPR Construction</figcaption></figure><p>DPR Construction had to jam a five-story, 35,000-sf structure within inches of three historic buildings in Nashville’s busy Broadway Historic District. With less than a foot of clearance and no swing room for a tower crane, installing prefab exterior panels the traditional way was out of the question.</p><p>DPR turned to the Upbrella system, which uses a bridge crane suspended from the exterior of the structure to lift the panels off delivery trucks and onto trolley cranes mounted on a monorail that circumnavigates the building. Once the panels are in place, DPR’s self-perform team secures them to the floor deck from inside the building.</p><p> </p><h2>2. Cutting water damage losses  <br />Submitting firm: Warfel Construction  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26db4e4b-2f36-44f2-a647-d42dc9296c43" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/16%20Warfel%20-%20Swarthmore%20piping%201.png" width="1888" height="903" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Clearly tagging pipes is a component of the Wet Work loss-prevention program. Photo courtesy Warfel Construction</figcaption></figure><p>Warfel Construction’s Wet Work Program and Wet Work Permitting procedure identify and mitigate risk when working with active water systems. Water damage losses caused by work involving water piping, pumping, drainage, or mechanical building systems can be prevented or reduced by implementing a prevention plan. </p><p>The Wet Work Program includes tagging and identification of shut-off valves, posting shut-off valve location drawings throughout the work area, the use of flow monitors or water watch personnel, and readily available plans or equipment for containment should a leak occur.</p><p>Warfel expects the Wet Work Program to reduce its water-loss costs by 30% or more in its first year.</p><p> </p><h2>3. Offsite construction aids in adding eight aircraft gates for LAX  <br />Submitting Firm: W.E. O'Neil Construction  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e73afaa-8584-46a5-94d6-b4866ec52fa6" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/LAX_MSC%20South%20Exterior%20-%20rendering_approved%206.22.23%20-%20Anna%20Black.jpg" width="2400" height="1440" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Rendering of LAX’s Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South. Rendering courtesy Los Angeles World Airports</figcaption></figure><p>Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is building eight new gates in an accelerated time frame thanks to offsite construction and relocation (OCR) methods. Utilizing the OCR method, MSC South at LAX is being constructed in nine segments roughly a mile and a half away from the project’s site and, once complete, will be carefully delivered and assembled in place. Los Angeles World Airports is spearheading the concourse with a team that includes W.E. O’Neil Construction and Woods Bagot Los Angeles—a first-of-its-kind for offsite construction at LAX. Construction on MSC South’s core and shell is proceeding with significant project completion planned for 2025.</p><p> </p><h2>4. LIFTbuild’s top-down residential building concept comes to life  <br />Submitting firm: LIFTbuild  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2e6dc6a6-992d-4ed6-932b-5989783a6702" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BDC%20Great%20Solutions_%20LIFTbuild_Exchange%20Drone%20View%20-%20Caitlin%20Bakan.jpeg" width="2400" height="1348" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Once the floor plate was lifted and securely locked in place, workers immediately commenced the interior fit-out, while assembly for the subsequent floor plate began on the floor below. Photo courtesy LIFTbuild</figcaption></figure><p>The dated approach of top-down construction has been reinvented with LIFTbuild’s concept-to-completion project, Exchange. The team utilized a “vertical manufacturing” approach to the design, procurement, and assembly process. LIFTbuild leveraged its assembly line model with a generative design process that could identify the most optimal building configuration based on budget and programmatic needs. The high-rise building itself consists of structural concrete spines and steel-framed decks for its roofs and floors. Estimates to a conventionally-built digital twin of Exchange revealed LIFTbuild’s technology offers schedule improvements of up to 30% and cost reductions up to 20%.</p><p> </p><h2>5. Top-down construction shaves eight months off residential high-rise development   <br />Submitting firm: Goettsch Partners  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a0fda9b0-62d3-4658-b44c-de83b5d11ed9" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/02_One%20Chicago_Overall%20View%20Looking%20Southwest_%28c%29%20Nick%20Ulivieri%20Photography%20-%20matthewclarson%40hotmail.com%20%281%29.jpg" width="2000" height="3000" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>For the One Chicago development, the basement-level excavation work and vertical construction commenced simultaneously. Photo: Nick Ulivieri Photography</figcaption></figure><p>Top-down construction is not new, but we may see more building teams implement this efficient construction method to meet increasingly aggressive project schedules, budgets, and client demands, especially on mega projects. </p><p>That was the case for Goettsch Partners, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, Power Construction, and JDL Development on the 2.2 million-sf One Chicago residential mixed-use development in Chicago. Stretching an entire city block, the $500 million development features two residential towers—one 77 stories, the other 49 stories—connected by a 10-story podium and four levels of underground parking.</p><p>To help compress the construction schedule, the team turned to top-down construction, whereby the basement levels of the project were excavated simultaneously with the erection of the vertical structure above. </p><p>“By accelerating the vertical growth, our team reduced the schedule by eight months,” according to Goettsch Partners. “This method accelerated the schedule for a quicker turnover to the client, which in turn expedited turnover to rent units and sell condominiums.”</p><p>The top-down method is particularly applicable to large-scale projects with complex below-grade structural work and high-rise buildings. Goettsch said the combination of the height of the towers, four levels of underground parking, and an earth-retention system stretching an entire city block made top-down construction the ideal method. </p><p>“While construction was occurring underground, the tower was rising on top, which allowed for the windows, drywall, and other materials to be put in place to accelerate delivery of the apartment units,” the firm added.</p><p> </p><h2>6. Taking the pressure off pressure testing  <br />Submitting firm: The Haskell Company  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="07c6c3b8-3ce4-4ec8-a077-726c17af729e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/RAPTOR%201.JPG" width="2400" height="1800" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>RAPTOR includes quick-connect ports for efficient setup and teardown and a wireless gauge for accurate PSI monitoring. Photo: Dysruptek LLC</figcaption></figure><p>Pneumatic pressure testing, which uses air or inert gases like nitrogen to pressurize piping systems, can be dangerous because it typically requires operators to be close to the testing area. The Haskell Company, a Florida-based AEC consulting firm, through its Dysruptek innovation and venture capital arm, has developed equipment called RAPTOR (which stands for Remote Activated Pressure Testing Observation and Recording) that minimizes risk via WiFi-enabled remote testing by operators outside of a site’s exclusion zone. RAPTOR is not only safer but less labor-intensive: Its design includes quick-connect ports for efficient setup and teardown, a wireless gauge for accurate PSI monitoring, and robust failsafe systems such as pressure-release and abort functions. Kickr, a product design, engineering, and manufacturing company, helped create the prototype. Haskell holds the patent on RAPTOR, and is pilot testing its second version with external partners.</p><p> </p><p> </p><h1>8 AEC firm operations Great Solutions for 2024</h1><h2> </h2><h2>1. Engineering firm launches student loan repayment match  <br />Submitting firm: Kimley-Horn  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="af514103-f56c-498b-9553-1efb85986748" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/student-loan-debt-1160848_1920%20Image%20by%20Cari%20Dobbins%20from%20Pixabay%20.png" width="1920" height="1081" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Photo: Pixabay</figcaption></figure><p>In the battle for talent, AEC firms are pulling out all the stops to attract and retain the best and brightest. In January, engineering giant Kimley-Horn launched its student loan repayment match program. The initiative is structured to help employees build their retirement savings while paying down their student loans.</p><p>Once an employee reaches their one-year anniversary, the firm will “double-match” the employee’s 4% 401(k) contribution with an 8% company contribution.</p><p>In addition to the 200% match, for decades Kimley-Horn has provided a profit-sharing contribution to employees’ 401(k) plans. In most recent years, the firm has paid an additional 10% of employees’ salary plus bonus into their 401(k). The firm, therefore, provides a total contribution of 18% of employees’ salary plus bonus to their retirement accounts. </p><p>Kimley-Horn is using SoFi at Work’s Student Loan Verification (SLV) service. Kimley-Horn identifies eligible participants, SoFi at Work verifies the student loan payments, and Kimley-Horn’s 401(k) partner, T. Rowe Price, delivers the contributions for retirement matching.</p><p> </p><h2>2. Web-based platform tracks innovations at global engineering firm  <br />Submitting firm: WSP  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5ec2ab2f-22db-4d47-ae6e-9d76491e5205" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/26%20WSP%20GIP%20dashboard%20-%20Great%20Solutions.png" width="1670" height="818" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Dashboard of WSP’s Global Innovation Platform, a database of WSP’s digital, design, and process innovations, from ideation to commercialization. Image courtesy WSP</figcaption></figure><p>Engineering giant WSP’s web-based Global Innovation Platform enables its designers to share best practices, foster collaboration across regions and sectors, and solve problems for clients instead of reinventing them. From embodied carbon algorithms to noise calculation tools, from construction sequence animations to rapid structural prototyping for project feasibility, WSP designers can search for solutions using tags such as Equipment and Methods, Business Process, Design Tools, and Digital Solutions—and do so by practice area, project type, or innovations.</p><p>The searchable database of more than 500 innovations provides a description of the solution, current applications, associated projects, and contacts. The latest version added a third-party technology component that accelerates smart building solutions. The platform also tracks R&amp;D efforts. One such research project is studying two ways to insulate historic load-bearing masonry without deterioration.</p><p> </p><h2>3. Training program leads to construction careers  <br />Submitting firm: Messer Construction  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5980cbf5-9db5-4597-aac3-be216e17abe8" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/12A%20Messer%20-%20UWDI%20grad%20photos.jpg" width="2400" height="1654" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Graduates of the Urban Workforce Development Initiative go on to careers with Messer Construction or its subcontractors. Photo: Messer Construction</figcaption></figure><p>When Messer Construction got the contract for the 650,000-sf, 249-bed Cincinnati Children’s Critical Care Building, it created its own program to move underemployed and unemployed members of the surrounding community—especially minorities and women—into full-time construction careers. </p><p>The Urban Workforce Development Initiative (UWDI) starts with a 12-week paid “work hardening” program through Easterseals Redwood Building Value. The training reinforces nontechnical job skills—teamwork, punctuality, safety, having the right tools every day—and exposes candidates to the reality of jobsite conditions without having to be on one. </p><p>Graduates earn three months of paid, hands-on training, mentorship, and professional development working as a co-op for Messer or a subcontractor partner. Successful co-op grads go on to full-time jobs with Messer or one of its subcontractors.</p><p>Each UWDI participant has a one-on-one case manager to help overcome problems related to housing, transportation, financial literacy, education, healthcare, and childcare.</p><p>To date, Messer has placed more than 100 individuals into construction careers through UWDI.</p><p> </p><h2>4. Quenching jobsite workers’ thirst sustainably  <br />Submitting firm: Robins &amp; Morton  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="896b05f8-eef8-4388-8527-64e6d0d85f9b" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Water%20on%20Wheels%20-%20Team%20member%20-%20RobinsMorton_0.jpg" width="1200" height="1600" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The Water on Wheels refill station debuted last October. Photo: Ben Tanner</figcaption></figure><p>Workers on the jobsite of the 282,000-sf AdventHealth Riverside Hospital project in Riverview, Fla., were drinking water at a rate of at least eight pallets of single-use bottles per month. To lower that plastic waste and create a more sustainable construction site, as well as reduce the estimated $50,000 spent annually on single-use bottles, Robins &amp; Morton, the project’s GC, developed a water-bottle refill station prototype, called Water on Wheels, which debuted last October. </p><p>The firm’s Sustainability and Innovation teams started by running an outdoor power source and water supply line into an enclosed trailer. The teams 3D-printed four water dispensers that are embedded into the side of the trailer. Inside the trailer is a chiller capable of cooling 32 gallons of water per hour at 50 F. The trailer is equipped with carbon and UV filters for purification. (Robins &amp; Morton consulted with OSHA about preventing contamination.) The trailer also has space to double its filtering and chilling capacities for larger projects.  </p><p>Since introducing its prototype, Robins &amp; Morton has built two more Water on Wheels stations that are connected to the Internet for analytical purposes. </p><p> </p><h2>5. Diverse Partnerships Program builds lasting relationships  <br />Firm: Shawmut Design and Construction  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d2fb2a3a-3f80-4131-90e8-436c20f3c9d4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BPS%20NER%20Reception_1%20-%20Kristin%20Foley.jpeg" width="2400" height="1801" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Team members from CKM Construction, Northeast Painter and Construction, CDS Contracting Services, Fisher Contracting Corporation, W. S. Anderson Inc., KB-Mac Inc., and TK3 Plumbing and Heating celebrate completing Shawmut’s Building Partner Series in Boston as part of the firm’s Diverse Partnerships Program. Photo courtesy Shawmut Design and Construction</figcaption></figure><p>Shawmut Design and Construction shows its dedication to supporting DEI initiatives with its Diverse Partnerships Program. The program is designed to provide greater opportunities for vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers that represent diverse communities. Shawmut aims to build lasting relationships and strengthen business opportunities with Underrepresented Business Enterprises (UBEs), aided in part by the firm’s Building Partners Series—a four-session, eight-course accelerator program dedicated to establishing long-term partnerships. To further measure impact companywide, Shawmut is creating systems to track UBE firm stats on every project to drive engagement for both first and second tier firms.</p><p> </p><h2>6. Client collaboration includes forming an in-house construction company  <br />Submitting firm: Dewberry  <br /> </h2><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/OSF%20-%20Exterior.jpg" data-entity-uuid="fb1942df-0eeb-49f2-9822-b66b48ec7927" data-entity-type="file" width="2400" height="2034" loading="lazy" /><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3009111b-7d30-484e-a280-5c721a8d7fb3" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/OSF-Project-Schedule%20-%20Gabriella.jpg" width="2550" height="1650" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>This former department store in Peoria, Ill., was converted to healthcare administration offices, thanks to a unique construction delivery process. Graphics courtesy Dewberry</figcaption></figure><p>The Order of Saint Francis HealthCare system, headquartered in Peoria, Ill., operates nearly 150 locations in Michigan and Illinois that include 16 hospitals. In 2018, OSF HealthCare acquired the 118-year-old former Block &amp; Kuhl building in downtown Peoria that was once a department store and would now be used to bring OSF’s 500-plus administrative employees under one roof. OSF collaborated with Dewberry—best known as an engineering firm—to restore the 288,600-sf building, a project that cost $150 million and took four years to complete. </p><p>To execute this project, Dewberry and OSF created what, at the time, was the first-of-its-kind construction delivery process that included OSF forming its own in-house construction company called PointCore. OSF envisioned PointCore becoming a national healthcare resource that brings together financing, operations, clinical, security, IT, construction, and maintenance. The collaboration also served as a pilot project for Dewberry, which would like to extend this strategy to future projects in the healthcare sector. For the OSF HealthCare restoration, Dewberry’s design team focused on zoning public and private spaces within the building, and on blurring spatial boundaries to invite the community in and encourage employee interaction.</p><p> </p><h2>7. Ambient computing brings collaborative digital assets to physical environments  <br />Submitting Firm: Little Diversified Architectural Consulting  <br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c7d39af4-76a4-4aa8-b858-ec2de51bdb12" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/fusion2%20-%20Lillian%20Parker.jpeg" width="2400" height="1800" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Project Fusion is designed to meet the challenges of multidisciplinary collaboration head-on. Photo courtesy Little Diversified Architectural Consulting</figcaption></figure><p>Little Diversified Architectural Consulting is teaming up with Metaform to explore the potential of ambient computing for hybrid work environments. Ambient computing—a concept that seamlessly integrates the digital to the physical world—offers the potential to increase workplace collaboration, efficiency, and flexibility among teams. Little’s first initiative, Project Fusion, was the establishment of an ambient computing lab within Little’s Uptown Charlotte, N.C., office to develop next-generation technology for co-located teams. By integrating ambient computing into the workplace, Project Fusion creates an environment where information and communication technology are omnipresent and accessible to everyone.</p><p> </p><h2>8. Gilbane pilots closed‐loop beverage system to reduce use of plastic water bottles, improve wellness for trade workers      <br />Submitting firm: Gilbane Building Company  <br /> </h2><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/5.%20Gilbane%20Kadeya%20pic2%20copy.jpeg" data-entity-uuid="db442ef9-4f46-420f-af68-c760f5e7cd57" data-entity-type="file" width="2400" height="3200" loading="lazy" /><figure role="group"><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba9a2dad-4183-48f6-bd62-50913c3328ff" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/5.%20Gilbane%20Kadeya%20team%20copy.jpeg" width="2400" height="3200" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The team for Indiana University Health’s New Downtown Indianapolis Hospital implemented Kadeya, the world’s first fully closed-loop beverage system, in the engineering trailer for a three-month pilot. The station served over 250 bottles with a 99% bottle return rate. Photos coutresy Gilbane</figcaption></figure><p>Gilbane Building Company is currently constructing the largest healthcare construction project in the U.S., Indiana University Health’s (IU Health) New Downtown Indianapolis Hospital. At over 2.5 million GSF, the project will feature 884 in‐patient rooms and 50 operating rooms, 50 elevators, six linear accelerators, and two helipads.</p><p>The Gilbane project team is committed to achieving ambitious sustainability goals set forth by IU Health, including reducing embodied carbon by a minimum of 10% and supporting IU Health’s goal of making Indiana one of the healthiest states in the U.S. Additionally, how can the project team attract the hundreds of skilled trade workers necessary to keep the project on track, given the constricted labor market the construction industry faces?</p><p>Eager to partner with IUH on this sustainability mission, the Gilbane team introduced Kadeya, the world’s first fully closed‐loop beverage system, to the project team. Operating like a vending machine, the system dispenses high‐quality water and other water‐based beverages in custom stainless‐steel bottles. Construction sites have long struggled with the preponderance of plastic water bottles on site, presenting potential litter‐related challenges and an impediment to reaching sustainability goals. Kadeya was the ideal solution.</p><p>The team implemented a Kadeya prototype in the engineering trailer for a three‐month pilot. During that time, the station served over 250 bottles with a 99% bottle return rate -- a strong endorsement that those on site appreciated the service. Ease of access has proven to be critical.</p><p>Kadeya’s costs are equivalent to that of single‐use plastic bottles. And when workers finish their beverage, they return the bottle to any station. This approach eliminates litter and provides an accessible and highly sustainable approach to ensuring trade workers' well‐being. When extrapolated to  <br />the entire project, it could save $300,000 in waste costs and increase worker productivity, health, and overall well‐being.</p><p>Following that experiment, the team decided to conduct a more extended implementation. The Gilbane team agreed to engage Kadeya stations throughout the IU Health jobsite, hosting seven stations.</p><p>The pilot results:</p><ul><li>71% of team members expressed enthusiasm and stated they would be disappointed if Kadeya was removed, citing convenience and support for the innovation.</li><li>Achieved a remarkable 99% bottle return rate, showcasing Kadeya's purpose and resilience in the dynamic construction environment. It was evident that everyone was “all in” when it came to this innovation’s success.</li><li>The utilization of Kadeya averted over 250 plastic bottles from landfills and recycling centers, equivalent to 9 kg of carbon emissions with the Kadeya system; field experiments demonstrated a potential reduction of 295 metric tons of CO<sub>2</sub>e emissions, equivalent to 756,000 miles or 65  <br />gasoline‐powered passenger vehicles travel annually.</li></ul><p>“Kadeya captures the spirit of our mission, impacting behaviors at a fundamental level. We get to deploy a service that serves our IU Health and Gilbane’s goals. One that improves the health, safety, and productivity outcomes on our projects,” said Aaron Perry, Senior Project Executive, Gilbane Building Company.</p></div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_24 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/41-great-solutions" data-a2a-title="41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors"><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/facebook.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="https://sgcimages.s3.amazonaws.com/2023-08/twitter-x-logo.png" height="24" width="24" alt="twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/linkedin.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bdcnetwork.com%2F41-great-solutions&amp;title=41%20Great%20Solutions%20for%20architects%2C%20engineers%2C%20and%20contractors"><img src="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/link.svg" alt="Share"></a></span> Tue, 23 Jul 2024 17:44:41 +0000 dbarista 52263 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com Contractors expect to spend more time on prefabrication, according to FMI study https://www.bdcnetwork.com/contractors-expect-spend-more-time-prefabrication-according-fmi-study <span>Contractors expect to spend more time on prefabrication, according to FMI study</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/jcaulfield" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">jcaulfield</span></span> <span>Tue, 06/04/2024 - 07:13</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/contractors" hreflang="en">Contractors</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Get ready for a surge in prefabrication activity by contractors. FMI, the consulting and investment banking firm, recently polled contractors about how much time they were spending, in craft labor hours, on prefabrication for construction projects. More than 250 contractors participated in the survey, and the average response to that question was 18%. More revealing, however, was the participants’ anticipation that craft hours dedicated to prefab would essentially double, to 34%, within the next five years.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>John Caulfield, Senior Editor</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/prefab-lab-systems-3.jpg" width="1800" height="1054" alt="Stantec illustrates the benefits of prefab multi-trade racking." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>A new FMI study lays out the challenges, which include spurring demand among owners and specifiers. </p></div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/contractors" hreflang="en">Contractors</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/building-owner" hreflang="en">Building Owners</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/aec-innovators" hreflang="en">AEC Innovators</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/aec-tech" hreflang="en">AEC Tech</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-tech" hreflang="en">Building Tech</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-technology" hreflang="en">Building Technology</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Get ready for a surge in prefabrication activity by contractors.</p><p>FMI, the consulting and investment banking firm, recently polled contractors about how much time they were spending, in craft labor hours, on prefabrication for construction projects. More than 250 contractors participated in the survey, and the average response to that question was 18%. More revealing, however, was the participants’ anticipation that craft hours dedicated to prefab would essentially double, to 34%, within the next five years.</p><p>The <a href="https://fmicorp.com/insights/industry-insights/2024-labor-productivity-study-part-2-prefabrication">study</a>—<a href="https://fmicorp.com/insights/industry-insights/construction-labor-productivity-the-20-billion-opportunity">a sequel to FMI’s 2023 Labor Productivity Study</a>—reiterates how the industry’s receptivity to prefab solutions corresponds with its ongoing labor shortages and compressed project schedules. (Contractors experienced approximately $30 billion to $40 billion in lost profits due to labor inefficiencies in 2022.) In its latest study, contractors told FMI that “improved quality” was prefab’s greatest perceived benefit. “Reducing the risk and variability” is how one contractor put it. Other benefits cited include reductions in construction schedules and improved worker safety.</p><p>(Nearly three fifths of the respondents to FMI’s study are MEP contractors, with another 15% being framing and drywall contractors.)</p><figure role="group"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f06e3252-a74d-4a0e-a416-d401753ec1fd" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/FMI%20Prefab%20current%20state.png" width="1118" height="1480" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Contractors stated that improved quality is one of the main benefits of prefabrication. Charts credit: FMI</figcaption></figure><p>Contractors that consider prefabrication must determine how to do it at scale, profitably, and in a way that increases company earnings. Successful prefab practices, says FMI, require long-term strategic thinking and planning across an organization, along with the development of a comprehensive operational blueprint.</p><h2>Which prefab model is right for pros?</h2><p>It’s not like prefabrication is an alien concept for contractors. FMI’s study found that 86% of respondents currently offer single-trade prefab services. Three quarters of the concrete contractors surveyed said they are prefabricating on their jobsites; 57% of self-performing general contractors polled are prefabbing on-site, too.</p><p>What’s often lacking, however, is a clear vision of what they want their prefab capabilities to become. To make prefab work, says FMI, contractors need to shift their operating models, processes and systems. Contractors also need to decide which prefab models and combinations would work best for their companies; these include kitting services, multi-trade services, procurement, and modular services.</p><p>In making these determinations, contractors should be asking themselves:</p><p>•Why do we want to do more prefabrication? <br />•What is the total addressable portion of our work mix (today) that could be prefabricated? <br />•What investments would need to be made to scale our prefabrication capabilities to capture that opportunity? <br />•When fully optimized, what does the earnings stream from prefabrication look like? <br />•What does the return on investment look like for the enterprise? <br />•Do we have alternative investment options for other initiatives in the business? How do those options stack up against our prefabrication ambitions? <br />•Will prefab make the company better, more profitable, and resilient?</p><h2><br />Prefabrication a different kind of business<br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bbf31fe5-a995-465a-8b30-6329b9feb1d3" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/FMI%20Prefab%20drivers.png" width="442" height="866" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>For prefabrication to accelerate, contractors need to see more receptive owners and designers.</figcaption></figure><p>Prefabrication is a manufacturing endeavor that’s different from building construction. Contractors diving into prefab in a bigger way need to think about whether prefab will be a unique business or separate entity, and how autonomously construction and prefabrication operate? Will prefab services be proprietary or available to other contractors? Will prefab be a profit or cost center? How will manufacturing cost overruns, if there are any, be accounted for?<br /> </p><p>FMI says that contractors need to establish clear project management lines that encompass how prefabricated products are tracked, stored, and billed for. Tracking labor productivity across prefabrication and field installation is key.</p><h2>Owners and designers need to buy in more<br /> </h2><figure role="group"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="334ffd6f-10df-4378-b73a-af14dec620c7" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/FMI%20service%20types.png" width="466" height="962" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Contractors must decide what type of prefab service works best for their business and clients.</figcaption></figure><p>One of the contractors whom FMI polled mentioned a recent casino and hotel project that required 25% less labor in the field, and cut nearly two months off of its installation time, by using prefabrication methods.</p><p>Scheduling is driving prefab demand, says FMI. But expanding that demand depends on acceptance by owners and AEC firms, and right now, that acceptance is middling: only 18% of the contractors polled by FMI said that owner-specific requests drove prefab, and only 10% said that prefab was specified by architects or engineers.</p><p>“For the industry to realize substantial gains in prefabrication and productivity, owners and designers need to be a bigger part of the demand equation,” says FMI.</p><p>FMI’s study found that the industry still struggles with broad adoption. The biggest challenges to adopting prefab are a project’s design and coordination, stakeholder awareness and education, the mindset and culture of a project’s active players, and the investment in facilities and equipment.</p><p>But given current and projected labor force limitations, “it’s clear that prefabrication will need to become part of the solution.” For that to happen, building teams need to demonstrate a bolder vision, strategic planning, commitment to investing, consistent communication, and a proactive engagement by external stakeholders. </p></div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_24 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/contractors-expect-spend-more-time-prefabrication-according-fmi-study" data-a2a-title="Contractors expect to spend more time on prefabrication, according to FMI study"><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/facebook.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="https://sgcimages.s3.amazonaws.com/2023-08/twitter-x-logo.png" height="24" width="24" alt="twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/linkedin.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bdcnetwork.com%2Fcontractors-expect-spend-more-time-prefabrication-according-fmi-study&amp;title=Contractors%20expect%20to%20spend%20more%20time%20on%20prefabrication%2C%20according%20to%20FMI%20study"><img src="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/link.svg" alt="Share"></a></span> Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:13:21 +0000 jcaulfield 52405 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com In a world first, load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer https://www.bdcnetwork.com/world-first-load-bearing-concrete-walls-built-3d-printer <span>In a world first, load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/dbarista" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">dbarista</span></span> <span>Tue, 05/21/2024 - 12:54</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-tech" hreflang="en">Building Tech</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>A Germany-based construction engineering company says it has constructed the world’s first load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer. Züblin built a new warehouse from a single 3D print for Strabag Baumaschinentechnik International in Stuttgart, Germany using a Putzmeister 3D printer. </p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor </p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/Screenshot%202024-05-21%20at%201.03.04%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="2876" height="1688" alt="Screen capture: STRABAG via YouTube" title="Screen capture: STRABAG via YouTube" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>A German company constructed a building from single 3D print.</p></div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/industrial-facilities" hreflang="en">Industrial Facilities</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/contractors" hreflang="en">Contractors</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers" hreflang="en">Designers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers-specifiers-landscape-architects" hreflang="en">Designers / Specifiers / Landscape Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/engineers" hreflang="en">Engineers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/facility-managers" hreflang="en">Facility Managers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/architects" hreflang="en">Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/building-owner" hreflang="en">Building Owners</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/codes-and-standards" hreflang="en">Codes and Standards</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-materials" hreflang="en">Building Materials</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-tech" hreflang="en">Building Tech</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-technology" hreflang="en">Building Technology</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>A Germany-based construction engineering company says it has constructed the <a href="https://www.constructionbriefing.com/news/zublin-constructs-world-first-load-bearing-concrete-walls-with-3d-printer/8037107.article">world’s first load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer</a>.</p><p>Züblin built a new warehouse from a single 3D print for Strabag Baumaschinentechnik International in Stuttgart, Germany using a Putzmeister 3D printer. The machine’s mast boom has a 26-meter reach. The extensive span, Züblin says, allows the application of “concrete in several layers precisely on the basis of a predefined and digital blueprint via a special print head.”</p><p>3D concrete printing has been limited by the lack of scalability for large-scale projects. The printer used on this project offers more flexibility and range, which provides the potential for scalability on large-scale projects, Züblin says.</p><p>The technology allows for production of solid wall cross-sections in a single operation and the use of CO2-reduced concrete. </p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BoFK-fYN6JE?si=p_2pYp91OVEq7uqc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p></div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_24 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/world-first-load-bearing-concrete-walls-built-3d-printer" data-a2a-title="In a world first, load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer"><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/facebook.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="https://sgcimages.s3.amazonaws.com/2023-08/twitter-x-logo.png" height="24" width="24" alt="twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/linkedin.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bdcnetwork.com%2Fworld-first-load-bearing-concrete-walls-built-3d-printer&amp;title=In%20a%20world%20first%2C%20load-bearing%20concrete%20walls%20built%20with%20a%203D%20printer"><img src="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/link.svg" alt="Share"></a></span> Tue, 21 May 2024 17:54:51 +0000 dbarista 52368 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com Modular adaptive reuse of parking structure grants future flexibility https://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/future-flexibility-phased-approach-adaptive-reuse <span>Modular adaptive reuse of parking structure grants future flexibility</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/qpurcell" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">qpurcell</span></span> <span>Wed, 05/15/2024 - 08:40</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/adaptive-reuse" hreflang="en">Adaptive Reuse</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>The shift away from excessive parking requirements aligns with a broader movement, encouraging development of more sustainable and affordable housing.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Marissa Kasdan, Associate AIA</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/KTGY_ParkHouse2_Exterior%20View.jpg" width="2000" height="1125" alt="Park House 2.0 adaptive reuse project exterior rendering" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-blogs" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ Blog</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-new-projects" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ New Projects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/multifamily-housing" hreflang="en">Multifamily Housing</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers" hreflang="en">Designers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/architects" hreflang="en">Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/adaptive-reuse" hreflang="en">Adaptive Reuse</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/project-process-innovation" hreflang="en">Project + Process Innovation</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/reconstruction-renovation" hreflang="en">Reconstruction &amp; Renovation</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/resiliency" hreflang="en">Resiliency</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/sustainability/sustainable-development" hreflang="en">Sustainable Development</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>What do Buffalo, N.Y.; Hartford, Conn.; and San Jose, Calif., have in common? Beginning with Buffalo in 2017, all have abolished parking minimums as a requirement for new <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/courtyards-make-brooklyns-bushwick-ii-residential-development-its-own-miniature-city" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/courtyards-make-brooklyns-bushwick-ii-residential-development-its-own-miniature-city">residential development</a>. Last November, Austin, Texas, followed suit, eliminating parking requirements for new development, with an exception for accessible parking.</p><p>The shift away from excessive parking requirements aligns with a broader movement, encouraging development of more sustainable and <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/7-affordable-housing-developments-built-near-historic-districts-community-ties" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/7-affordable-housing-developments-built-near-historic-districts-community-ties">affordable housing</a>. According to engineering firm WGI, a single parking space in a parking structure costs roughly $28,000—an additional expense many households would choose to forego, if given the opportunity.</p><p>With rising housing costs outpacing salary increases, renters and homeowners alike are looking for solutions that reduce their housing expenses. Separating the cost of parking from housing provides flexibility for managing tight household budgets.</p><h2><strong>Adaptive Reuse of Parking Structure into new Multifamily Community</strong></h2><p>Changes in jurisdictional parking requirements provide opportunities for reduced cost of future housing, but residential buildings developed over the last 20 years may already experience the burden of excess parking resulting from past requirements. Particularly in transit-oriented communities, oversized parking structures may be underused.</p><p>Additionally, many communities have seen recent expansions of mass transit systems, further decreasing the need for personal vehicles. From Loudon County, Va., outside of Washington, D.C., to the suburbs of Seattle, Wash., new and planned expansion of transit services provide much-needed connectivity, evolving previously car-dependent neighborhoods into <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/heres-why-us-needs-more-tod-housing" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/heres-why-us-needs-more-tod-housing">transit-oriented communities</a>.</p><p>With consideration for changes in driving habits, as well as the widespread concern for housing costs, KTGY’s Research and Development Studio designed a housing concept in 2017 that proposed <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/adaptive-reuse" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/adaptive-reuse">adaptive reuse</a> of a free-standing parking structure adjacent to a multifamily wrap building. The design concept, Park House, suggested converting underutilized parking into residential units using <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/building-sector-reports/modular-building" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/building-sector-reports/modular-building">modular construction</a>.</p><figure role="group"><img alt="Modular adaptive reuse housing project cross section rendering" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3a3badd-adc2-4118-a889-bd2bec4af866" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/KTGY_ParkHouse2_Section.jpg" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Rendering courtesy KTGY</figcaption></figure><p>The concept studied modification to the existing parking structure, addition of residential units, and appropriate construction sequencing. The Park House concept addressed many common adaptive reuse challenges, such as modifications to the structural system and incorporation of utilities, using a complete-conversion approach, with all construction occurring within a single modification timeline.</p><p>After discussing this strategy with <a href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/multifamilypro" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/multifamilypro">multifamily</a> developers and operators, complete conversion seemed difficult to justify when only a portion of the garage was unused. While cities pull back on parking requirements rapidly, driving habits change more gradually.</p><p>In 2023, with feedback from experts in the industry, KTGY’s Research and Development Studio created an alternative solution for converting underutilized parking to residential using a phased approach. Park House 2.0 proposes an adaptive reuse solution that converts a single floor of underutilized parking at a time, leaving room for further conversion in the future, as market demands shift.</p><h2><strong>Park House 2.0 Adaptive Reuse Process</strong></h2><p>Beginning with an existing wrap-building garage from a KTGY project in San Jose, Calif., Park House 2.0 proposes removing the highest level of the parking ramp and inserting wood-framed residential units into the flat portions of that level. The central ramp, now encircled by units, becomes a community courtyard.</p><p>Modular platforms create flat areas for outdoor amenity programming along a walkway winding down the existing ramp. Utility chases constructed vertically along the exterior façade during the initial phase of conversion resolve potential conflicts between utilities and remaining lower-level parking.</p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/KTGY_ParkHouse2_Phasing.jpg" data-entity-uuid="5095018a-55a4-4843-bb56-81911ef7c378" data-entity-type="file" alt="Park House 2.0 phasing chart" width="2000" height="2017" loading="lazy" /><p>Structural modifications also take place during the initial phase of conversion, replacing shear walls adjacent to the parking ramp with brace and moment frames, accounting for the future addition of units in those locations.</p><p>As residents require fewer parking spaces, the next highest level of the parking ramp is removed and wood-framed units are added, plugging in to the pre-built utility chases. The modular platforms on the sloped amenity ramp shift down to the next lower level of the garage ramp, bringing the amenity courtyard to the lowest residential level.</p><h4>The Goal of Flexibility</h4><p>Over the last few years, housing trends have driven residential architecture to incorporate more and more flexibility—in interior unit design, in amenity space functionality, and in ownership options. Increased flexibility can help housing reach a wider demographic and adapt to cultural shifts. But if the goal of incorporating flexibility is to add value for stakeholders, taking a step back and examining flexibility in adaptive reuse solutions creates additional value for underutilized spaces now, and for the future.</p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/KTGY_ParkHouse2_Amenity%20Ramp%20Diagram.jpg" data-entity-uuid="67c4f20d-c73f-4c4b-943e-4b406d57b81a" data-entity-type="file" alt="Park House 2.0 amenity breakdown drawing" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" /><p> </p><figure role="group"><img alt="Rendering of adaptive reuse multifamily project" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="29d77d7f-4bad-4605-a24c-4cb8afd809ca" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/KTGY_ParkHouse2_Amenity%20Ramp%20View.jpg" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Amenity breakdown at Park House 2.0. Rendering courtesy KTGY</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Design concept Park House 2.0 suggests the adaptive reuse conversion of an underutilized parking garage into multifamily units using modular construction.</p></div> Wed, 15 May 2024 13:40:58 +0000 qpurcell 52352 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com A modular construction solution to the mental healthcare crisis https://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/modular-construction-solution-mental-healthcare-crisis <span>A modular construction solution to the mental healthcare crisis</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/qpurcell" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">qpurcell</span></span> <span>Mon, 03/18/2024 - 12:19</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/healthcare-facilities" hreflang="en">Healthcare Facilities</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Maria Ionescu, Senior Medical Planner, Stantec, shares a tested solution for the overburdened emergency department: Modular hub-and-spoke design.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Maria Ionescu</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/modular-construction-mental-health-1.jpg" width="2800" height="1640" alt="Rendering of modular healthcare building" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/healthcare-facilities" hreflang="en">Healthcare Facilities</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/contractors" hreflang="en">Contractors</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers" hreflang="en">Designers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/architects" hreflang="en">Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/coronavirus" hreflang="en">Coronavirus</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Roughly a quarter of the U.S. population confronts a mental health challenge each year. Half will go undiagnosed and untreated. Emergency departments (ED) remain the overwhelmed gatekeepers—the first point of entry into the healthcare system for people in crisis.</p><p>Data shows skyrocketing rates of admission for those experiencing a mental health crisis. The average ED wait time for a referral is seven to 10 hours. Some patients wait for days, even weeks, for transfers to the proper level of care. The statistics are staggering.</p><p>While those stats are for the U.S., this demand for mental health care transcends geography and variations in healthcare delivery systems. Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom each spend more on mental health as a percentage of health spending than the U.S. And yet they have similar challenges in waiting times for patients with a mental health diagnosis.</p><figure role="group"><img alt="Rendering of modular healthcare building." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6c6aebcc-3226-48f0-93ca-770746aff0d2" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/modular-construction-mental-health-1.jpg" width="2800" height="1640" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>A Stantec-designed, two-story modular prefabricated crisis unit. Rendering courtesy Stantec</figcaption></figure><p>We can make a difference. And the solution includes elements that already exist. What should we do? Combine proven <a href="/development-startup-brings-modular-solution-hospitality-industry" target="_blank" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="958cc5ef-56ed-4e72-9472-a03bf8921694" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Development startup brings modular solution to hospitality industry">modular design solutions</a> and successful hub-and-spoke approaches to delivering mental health services. Here’s a look at how those two methods mesh.</p><h2>1. Modular design for rapid response and ED relief</h2><p>We can apply much of what we learned about design for rapid response during the COVID-19 pandemic to this mental health crisis. These solutions often kept patients away from the hospital EDs altogether.</p><p>Our healthcare team designed the <a href="https://www.stantec.com/en/ideas/content/blog/2020/temporary-covid-19-treatment-centers-an-albertan-approach-to-fighting-the-pandemic" target="_blank">Pandemic Response Unit</a> (PRU) for the <a href="https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/facility.aspx?id=2" target="_blank">Peter Lougheed Hospital</a> in Calgary, Alberta, to respond to COVID. This successful structural conversion was designed to ease flow and capacity issues in the ED. In just 22 days, the hospital added more than 60 examination spaces next to the ED.</p><p>The separate prefabricated structure by <a href="https://www.sprung.com/" target="_blank">Sprung Structures</a> uses modular Falkbuilt headwalls. Clinicians called the newly built structure “a godsend.” They plan to keep using it as an ED overflow space for other types of patients. </p><figure role="group"><img alt="Drawing of floor conversion at the hospital" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32b0fbda-b240-4709-8ca5-be0a96ef49c7" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/peter-lougheed-covid.jpg" width="3739" height="2190" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Stantec designed the Pandemic Response Unit (PRU) for the Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, to respond to COVID. Drawing courtesy Stantec</figcaption></figure><h2><br />2. Regional, distributed care of modular crisis units</h2><p>As we also observed during the pandemic, healthcare systems with a distributed, robust presence in the community are resilient. These systems can convert assets and scale rapidly.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.acgov.org/board/bos_calendar/documents/DocsAgendaReg_7_11_16/HEALTH%20CARE%20SERVICES/Regular%20Calendar/John_George_Pavilion_Psych_services_Health_7_11_16.pdf" target="_blank">John George Psychiatric (JGPH) Emergency Services</a> facility in Alameda County, Calif., works with 11 EDs in the region. It receives medically stable patients in need of mental health assessments and referrals. The Alameda model focuses on speedy treatment in an outpatient setting. It bypasses medical emergency rooms completely in two-thirds of cases, further reducing issues of regional overcrowding.</p><p>What if we could we bring together rapid deployment of modular crisis units and the mental health crisis hub to meet demand?</p><h4>Application of modular prefab crisis units</h4><p>Designed to fit in the width of a standard parking aisle, these PRU-inspired units can be accessed directly or connected to a hospital. We can design these crisis units as ambulatory healthcare settings. Thus, they can handle stays of up to 23 hours for those in mental health crisis. We can even design specialized units to promote well-being and healing.</p><p>So, where do these units go?</p><p>Regional hospitals can add these modular crisis units, creating new hubs to receive those community members. As in the Alameda model, one of these hubs could act to divert from multiple hospital EDs and offer the right level of care for those in crisis.</p><h4>Benefits to the hospital, community</h4><p>Our research shows that for every patient a hospital can transfer out of the ED into a dedicated modular crisis unit, up to three other patients could be seen by the care team and treated in that same ED. In the U.S., the average cost to an ED to board a psychiatric patient is $2,264. For many hospitals, the modular crisis unit presents an opportunity to increase efficiency and ED throughput.</p><p>Consider the potential time (and budget) freed in the schedule of ambulance and police services. It’s typical for either police or the paramedics to go with these patients for part of their ED stay. It is potentially several hours. With modular mental health, this isn’t necessary.</p><p>An additional benefit of this rapid response hub-and-spoke model? It makes specialized mental health care available to rural communities in the region.</p><h2>Benefits of a modular prefabricated solution</h2><p>The modular prefab units retain and recover value. They are reusable, adaptable, and recyclable. We can design them for incremental, organic growth as the needs of the health network evolve. When compared with traditional construction, a modular solution offers substantial benefits, beyond schedule and cost. By utilizing prefab, we can:</p><ul><li>Achieve better quality control and lower embodied carbon during construction. Factories making prefab components are better able to control emissions compared to traditional construction sites.</li><li>Shorten the onsite construction time.</li><li>Employ plug-and-play assembly. This allows us to adapt, reuse, and recycle the modules.</li><li>Design and build steel structure modular buildings to be as wind- or earthquake-resistant as traditional structures.</li><li>Achieve better indoor air quality. Factory-based construction reduces off-gassing of volatile organic compounds from sealants and adhesives.</li><li>Minimize disruption from noise and pollution to the community. Prefab reduces site traffic and site material storage needs.</li></ul><p> </p><figure role="group"><img alt="Interior rendering of a patient waiting area with natural light." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8abb6fc8-f0cb-4c69-92b7-1cb5f895b47f" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/modular-construction-mental-health-2.jpg" width="2800" height="1640" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>A key element of the therapeutic setting for mental health includes ample access to daylight and nature. Rendering courtesy Stantec</figcaption></figure><h4><br />Supportive patient experience</h4><p>Ideally, modular crisis centers strengthen a system’s resilience and ability to meet the community’s mental health needs. But their biggest positive impact is on the patient experience. We can design modular units with therapeutic gardens and patios to provide a supportive environment. Access to sunlight, fresh air, and nature can impact a person experiencing a mental health crisis.</p><p>Studies show proximity to greenery and immersion in nature lower anxiety and stress. Therapeutic gardens and green patios are key programmatic elements for these mental health units. With accessible layouts, these units will offer patients options in stimulation and engagement. Their natural elements provide a dramatic contrast to the average ED or hospital.</p><h4>Integrated care team</h4><p>A multidisciplinary team must staff these crisis stabilization units around the clock. They must be ready to meet the needs of people facing all levels of crisis. The team needs to include psychiatrists or psychiatric nurse practitioners, nurses, licensed and/or credentialed clinicians capable of completing assessments. Equally important is that peers with similar lived experience should be part of the team. Connecting with people who have “been there” can be a game changer.</p><h4>Part of the solution</h4><p>Rapid deployment of stand-alone, prefab crisis units can tip the scales toward meeting demand for mental health services. They allow for incremental growth. The use of modular crisis centers by health systems can allow EDs to see more patients, meet rural healthcare needs, and save hospitals money.</p><p>There are many care gaps for patients with mental health issues in most of our healthcare systems. This modular approach is a quick way to address a difficult pressure point. It gives our healthcare systems time to explore and deploy long-term solutions, including retraining providers and restructuring medical education curricula.</p><p>It could be, however, a powerful example of how designers, joining with our construction industry partners, can make a positive impact on the mental health crisis.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Stand-alone prefabricated crisis units can ease overburdened emergency departments—and COVID taught us how to use them.</p></div> Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:19:53 +0000 qpurcell 52111 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com Modular fire station allows for possible future reconfigurations https://www.bdcnetwork.com/modular-fire-station-allows-possible-future-reconfigurations <span>Modular fire station allows for possible future reconfigurations</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/qpurcell" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">qpurcell</span></span> <span>Tue, 02/06/2024 - 12:11</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>A fire station in Southern California leveraged prefab, modular construction for faster completion and future reconfiguration.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Novid Parsi, Contributing Editor</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/WE_Lehoux_FS67_024.jpg" width="2000" height="1500" alt="Modular fire station, Rancho Mission Viejo’s Fire Station 67" title="Rancho Mission Viejo’s Fire Station 67" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Rancho Mission Viejo’s Fire Station 67 deployed offsite fabrication and rapid onsite assembly, resulting in a construction timeline of six months.</p></div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/government-buildings" hreflang="en">Government Buildings</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers" hreflang="en">Designers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/architects" hreflang="en">Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/structural-materials/steel-buildings" hreflang="en">Steel Buildings</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/projects/new-project-portfolios" hreflang="en">New Project Portfolios</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>In Southern California’s Rancho Mission Viejo (RMV), Fire Station 67 has been designed and constructed as a prefab, modular build—enabling faster completion and future reconfiguration.</p><p>Designed by Seattle-based <a href="https://www.wittman-estes.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.wittman-estes.com/">Wittman Estes</a>, the 4,667-sf station was prefabricated offsite as 10 modules that were then assembled onsite. The offsite fabrication and rapid assembly led to a streamlined design, documentation, and permitting process. This approach allowed for parallel site development work in California and factory construction in Nevada, resulting in a construction timeline of six months. </p><h2>Fire Station 67: Modular System</h2><p>The modular system also allows for relocation and reconfiguration. The sturdy, durable steel modules can be easily transported and rearranged for possible future uses, such as an environmental learning center for RMV.</p><figure role="group"><img alt="Modular fire station, Rancho Mission Viejo’s Fire Station 67" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="38090013-4545-435d-87c9-0f85828f210c" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/WE_Lehoux_FS67_046_lr.jpg" width="2000" height="1500" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Fire Station 67. Photo © Nic Lehoux, courtesy Wittman Estes</figcaption></figure><p>Fire Station 67 includes a vehicle bay for two fire trucks, six sleeping rooms, a day room, kitchen/dining room, dispatch/workspace, and a captain’s office. The 12-foot modules were assembled around a shaded, semi-protected central courtyard.</p><h4>Construction Strategy</h4><p>The building configuration enables the firefighters to serve the public quickly while also feeling calm and privacy. The north-facing public entry, captain’s office, and dispatch room face the neighborhood. The more active areas, including break room, kitchen, and fitness rooms, face east toward the firetrucks. And the sleeping rooms and bathrooms are located in a quiet zone in the west. The firetruck bay is painted bright red, while the interior spaces have a neutral, tranquil palette.</p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/FS67_Modular%20Strategy_1.jpeg" data-entity-uuid="38dd8d12-3f9a-4f64-90ea-ef8d9f512532" data-entity-type="file" alt="Modular construction plan of fire department" width="2500" height="1932" loading="lazy" /><p>In response to climate change and the rising risk of wildfires, the prefab structure is clad in fireproof, corrugated steel siding. To improve indoor air quality, Wittman Estes designed an open-air apparatus bay to bring in fresh outside air and eliminate the need for large exhaust machines.</p><p>On the Building Team:<br />Clients: <a href="https://ocfa.org/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://ocfa.org/">Orange County Fire Authority</a> and <a href="https://www.ranchomissionviejo.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ranchomissionviejo.com/">Rancho Mission Viejo</a><br />Architect: <a href="https://www.wittman-estes.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.wittman-estes.com/">Wittman Estes</a><br />Interior designer: <a href="http://birselplusseck.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="http://birselplusseck.com/">Birsel+Seck</a><br />Structural engineer: <a href="https://www.dci-engineers.com/" target="_blank">DCI Engineers</a><br />Landscape architect: <a href="https://landconcern.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://landconcern.com/">Land Concern</a><br />Civil engineer: <a href="https://www.fuscoe.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.fuscoe.com/">Fuscoe Engineering</a><br />GC: <a href="https://www.xtremecubes.com/" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.xtremecubes.com/">Xtreme Cubes</a> </p><figure role="group"><img alt="Modular fire station, Rancho Mission Viejo’s Fire Station 67" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="42e2ba19-30b4-4dd3-b62f-1063aee153ed" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/WE_Lehoux_FS67_008.jpg" width="2000" height="1500" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Photo © Nic Lehoux, courtesy Wittman Estes</figcaption></figure><figure role="group"><img alt="Rancho Mission Viejo’s Fire Station 67" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="99419048-ea13-41a2-acd0-32d88c991167" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/WE_Lehoux_FS67_020.jpg" width="2000" height="1500" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Photo © Nic Lehoux, courtesy Wittman Estes</figcaption></figure></div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_24 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/modular-fire-station-allows-possible-future-reconfigurations" data-a2a-title="Modular fire station allows for possible future reconfigurations"><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/facebook.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="https://sgcimages.s3.amazonaws.com/2023-08/twitter-x-logo.png" height="24" width="24" alt="twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/linkedin.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bdcnetwork.com%2Fmodular-fire-station-allows-possible-future-reconfigurations&amp;title=Modular%20fire%20station%20allows%20for%20possible%20future%20reconfigurations"><img src="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/link.svg" alt="Share"></a></span> Tue, 06 Feb 2024 18:11:42 +0000 qpurcell 51960 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com Virginia is first state to adopt ICC/MBI offsite construction standards https://www.bdcnetwork.com/virginia-first-state-adopt-iccmbi-offsite-construction-standards <span>Virginia is first state to adopt ICC/MBI offsite construction standards</span> <div class="uk-margin">0</div> <span><span lang="" about="/users/dbarista" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">dbarista</span></span> <span>Fri, 01/19/2024 - 14:24</span> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Virginia recently became the first state to adopt International Code Council/Modular Building Institute off-site construction standards.</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor</p></div> <div class="uk-margin"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/Virginia%20is%20first%20state%20to%20adopt%20ICC%20MBI%20offsite%20construction%20standards.png" width="2400" height="1519" alt="Virginia is first state to adopt ICC/MBI offsite construction standards" title="Virginia is first state to adopt ICC/MBI offsite construction standards" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>First jurisdiction to adopt off-site standards since Salt Lake City in 2021</p></div> <div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/multifamilypro/mfpro-news" hreflang="en">MFPRO+ News</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-sector-reports/modular-building" hreflang="en">Modular Building</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/contractors" hreflang="en">Contractors</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers" hreflang="en">Designers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/designers-specifiers-landscape-architects" hreflang="en">Designers / Specifiers / Landscape Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/engineers" hreflang="en">Engineers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/facility-managers" hreflang="en">Facility Managers</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/architects" hreflang="en">Architects</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/building-team/building-owner" hreflang="en">Building Owners</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/codes-and-standards" hreflang="en">Codes and Standards</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/codes-and-standards/codes" hreflang="en">Codes</a></div> <div class="uk-margin"><a href="/codes-and-standards/standards" hreflang="en">Standards</a></div> </div> <div class="uk-margin"><p>Virginia recently became the <a href="https://www.achrnews.com/articles/154015-virginia-becomes-first-state-to-adopt-icc-mbi-off-site-construction-standards" target="_blank">first state</a> to adopt International Code Council/Modular Building Institute off-site construction standards.</p><p><a href="https://www.modular.org/2024/01/03/virginia-adopts-icc-mbi-1200-1205-standards" target="_blank">The ICC/MBI Standard 1200-2021</a>: Standard for Off-Site Construction: Planning, Design, Fabrication, and Assembly and ICC/MBI Standard 1205-2021: Standard for Off-Site Construction: Inspection and Regulatory Compliance goes into effect on January 18, 2024.</p><p>The codes were developed to provide best practices based on existing off-site construction programs and support consistency and efficiency in how off-site construction is approved and inspected. The codes aid communities in advancing off-site construction while adhering to local building codes, according to a MBI news release.</p><p>Virgnia is the first jurisdiction to adopt the codes since Salt Lake City adopted them in 2021.</p></div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_24 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/virginia-first-state-adopt-iccmbi-offsite-construction-standards" data-a2a-title="Virginia is first state to adopt ICC/MBI offsite construction standards"><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/facebook.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="https://sgcimages.s3.amazonaws.com/2023-08/twitter-x-logo.png" height="24" width="24" alt="twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/linkedin.svg" height="24" width="24" alt="linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bdcnetwork.com%2Fvirginia-first-state-adopt-iccmbi-offsite-construction-standards&amp;title=Virginia%20is%20first%20state%20to%20adopt%20ICC%2FMBI%20offsite%20construction%20standards"><img src="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/sites/bdc/themes/sgcuikit/images/link.svg" alt="Share"></a></span> Fri, 19 Jan 2024 20:24:52 +0000 dbarista 51881 at https://www.bdcnetwork.com