Six Greenest Buildings in the Olympic Games

Did you know that this years games are being considered the most sustainable in history? London’s bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics pledged to be the greenest Olympic Games to date and they are doing just that with green building practices. Sustainable buildings are a specialty in the modular building world and it is always nice to see eco-friendly structures on display. Below are the six greenest buildings in the London Olympics and some of their unique features.

1. London Velodrome- Features natural ventilation instead of air conditioning to improve indoor air quality, rooftop skylights to minimize artificial light and a rainwater harvesting system to reduce water waste.
2. Basketball Arena- A temporary venue that can be dismantled and reused elsewhere. Its lighter design uses less steel and concrete and allows it to be easily relocated.
3. Aquatics Centre- Exterior constructed from precast modular blocks of concrete to reduce the amount of emissions and eliminate the need for painting. Building materials were delivered by train instead of truck reducing carbon emissions.
4. The Copper Box- Built partially out of bricks from construction dust and its exterior panels are derived from recycled copper, making it one of the most sustainable venues. Lighting pipes on the roof decrease electricity costs by 40 percent.
5. Royal Artillery Barracks- Composed of temporary venues built from steel, clad in plywood and covered in phthalate-free PVC membrane. The shooting range will be dismantled and rented for reuse after the Olympic Games.
6. The Energy Centre- Heats, cools and powers the Olympic Zone. This unique modular building can easily add units and expand should a future need arise. Includes energy efficient gas boilers, irrigation system and enough thermal power to heat the swimming pools at the Aquatics Centre.

 
All of the care and consideration that was taken in creating these venues shows that the possibilities are endless in terms of sustainability. The 2012 London Olympics further support the sustainable and green building practices that modular construction has to offer. The Energy Centre is yet another example of how modular buildings are an ideal option for many different industries or venues.
 

Modular Construction is a Top Five Trend for Military Use

As the stagnant economy continues to shrink budgets, many government agencies have been looking for innovative ways to cut construction costs. This includes one of the top spenders in the world: the U.S. military. The military's need for fast and cost-effective building strategies has been prompted by a tight deadline set by Congress. The most recent round of assessments by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) involved a rigid limit on spending and a narrow window of time. In order to meet these requirements, many firms doing construction work for military use, opted for modular building solutions.

One of the most prominent examples of this growing modular building trend happened in Fort Belvoir, VA. A team of firms was tasked with constructing a four-story, one million square foot office building for the Army Legal Services Agency. The project was approved near the end of the BRAC budgeting cycle, shortening the projects delivery schedule to one year.

The team shared anxiety over their ability to complete the project on such a short time table. In order to move fast, the firms dramatically reduced the amount of time they normally spent on each step of the design process by focusing on modular construction techniques.

The team saved the most time by using modular construction techniques such as prefabricated components. One of the most important tools they used was SlenderWall; a system of lightweight prefabricated concrete frames. By using this component, the team was able to set up the basic skin of the building in nearly a month. Additionally, prefabricated materials were used for other crucial aspects of the building, such as the mechanical and electrical components.

Finally, the team used just-in-time supply delivery. While separate from modular components, this strategy is frequently combined with modular construction. The efficiency of having building materials delivered to the site at the right amount and time, plus the lack of onsite clutter, are especially helpful for installations designed for military use.
 

Modular construction is a growing trend for military use. Not only can it be cost-effective but its fast-track scheduling increases efficiency and provides quality buildings much faster than alternative methods. This will ensure that the military and other industries have viable options for construction that meets the needs and time constraints of future projects.

The Advantages of Green Classrooms

School buildings are often thought of as drab, heavy structures with poor indoor air quality, ventilation and energy performance. These factors can affect the health and productivity of those who inhabit them. However, this does not have to be the status quo of educational facilities. Buildings can be healthier, brighter and flexible to meet the needs of every student and educator.This can be done through modular construction, one of the most cutting-edge and adaptable forms of construction in the world.

Green modular classrooms can provide a healthier environment that stimulates student and teacher performance. Green classrooms produce better indoor air quality, day lighting, ventilation and acoustical performance resulting in a more productive learning environment. By taking advantage of natural day light, occupant health is improved and energy costs are reduced. Additionally, green classrooms allow for the controllability of systems, such as programmable thermostats, to lower operational costs.

According to a study by the Heschong Mahone Group, students and teachers spend more than 85 percent of their school day indoors. Students with the most natural daylight in their classrooms progressed 20 percent faster on math tests and 26 percent faster on reading tests than students with less lighting.

Modular construction can provide school districts with facilities that help to foster such positive results while simultaneously lessening their operational cost and bettering the environment. 

Following the Green Revolution | Modular Construction

A new study from Nils Kok and Matthew E. Kahn, recently was published and found that green certified homes in the state of California were valued an average of 9 percent higher than non-green certified comparable properties.

In The Value of Green Labels in the California Housing Market, Kok and Kahn analyzed 1.6 million single-family property sales in California between 2007 and 2012. Their research found that homes with an Energy Star rating, LEED certification or properties that were Greenpoint Rated were valued higher than homes without these standards.

Eminently useful for the creation of green housing, modular construction is the process of creating several sections of a building in a controlled factory environment, called "modules”. As the modules are being constructed, site work begins on the foundation, utilities and site grading. The modules are then transported to the job site and installed before applying final interior and exterior finishes. This reduces the amount of construction that needs to be done on the actual building site and, consequently, the environmental footprint of the entire building zone is reduced. Modular construction can also include increased energy efficiency, meeting many of the green standards.

The reduction of the ecological footprint and increased energy efficiency provides a future precedent for green housing. Green housing is the crucial practice of creating housing that does not damage the environment and, in fact, considers the environment before the needs of its residents. It is entirely possible to create a building that services the environment as well as its residents, and with plenty of technology available to care for the earth, it's an imperative to choose green development. The future of the earth depends on green projects to advance.

Modular Buildings as Swing Space

During new construction and renovation projects occupants are often temporarily displaced. Modular buildings can be used as swing space to create a quick temporary physical location for organizations and/or employees displaced by construction and renovation projects. The utilization of swing space allow organizations to seamlessly transition through the construction process, without having to close their doors. This prevents revenue loss and avoids missed days due to unforeseen site closures. Organizations are able to keep their doors open and continue daily operations.

A variety of modular solutions are available to meet the needs of each end user. Temporary buildings are an optimal choice for an organization that has evolving needs for space because they can be quickly added or removed. The most common use for temporary buildings is to act as a supplement during a renovation. Swing space buildings are often installed adjacent to the existing facility, offering a convenient solution for organizations to operate. There are a huge number of selections available that are environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and functional.
 

There are many great reasons to choose modular buildings for swing space use. Environmental friendliness, such as recycled materials if the organization uses a pre-leased building, aesthetic appeal, a high degree of function, flexibility and speed are all major benefits. Take the time to explore what a modular building can offer your organization or project. You may be surprised with the versatility available.

History of Modular Buildings

A modular building is a pre-fabricated unit primarily made in a factory and transferred to a building site. It can be used individually or attached to several other modular units to make a larger building. Since these structures are easy to work with, they are often used for housing, classrooms, offices and medical clinics. Their endless benefits, including quick construction and environmentally friendly designs, have led modular buildings to be the face of the future.

Modular construction may be increasing in popularity, but this pre-fabrication is nothing new. Modular construction dates back to the early 1900s when Sears Roebuck Co. sold over 75,000 pre-built modular homes from 1908 to 1940. The home-building kits were sold in the Sears catalog and contained all of the materials needed to build a home. They included 30,000 pieces and a 70-page instruction booklet.

The 44 styles of modular homes ranged in price from $700 to $4,000. Buyers were able to browse through the catalog, choose a style of their choice and send in a small fee. Their materials would then arrive off the railway and included nails, shingles, paint and varnish. Although the modular construction industry had gone off without a hitch, the Great Depression caused sales to drop by 40 percent in one year.

Sears quietly fell off the radar during the Great Depression, but by the end of World War II, modular homes began regaining their popularity. Soldiers returning from the war wanted to purchase a home and start a family, and the demand for this immediate housing was more than what was available on the market. Modular homes made the perfect solution as they could be erected quickly and efficiently.

While modular homes where popular since the early 1900’s it wasn’t until 1958 that modular buildings became a popular way to construct schools, businesses and medical facilities. Modular construction has now advanced to cover all different markets. Today, modular buildings have a distinguished style and utilize state-of-the-art technologies to be exceptionally creative and efficient. They can be built to customized specifications and used across various applications, including business, retail& hospitality, government and homes. Since the materials used in these structures are the same as on-site construction, it’s near impossible to tell a modular structure apart from another. With unprecedented functionality and beauty, we can expect to see modular buildings in all facets of construction. 

Building Green: The New Global Movement

As is the case for many types of businesses, the energy costs associated with construction continue to increase. Rising energy prices have encouraged the construction market to join the global going green movement. The keys to building green involve the use of new technology and materials in order to reduce energy costs. Undoubtedly two general areas to see these innovations taking place are in school buildings and health care facilities.

In many regions, children are educated in buildings that are at least 50 years old. These older buildings drain energy resources through their outdated equipment, poor insulation and are often overcrowded. Many of these schools desperately need to expand and or replace their outdated buildings in order to accommodate their growing population and reduce energy waste but schools fear the high costs that come with constructing new buildings.

Going green by using modular construction, helps lower the concern about costs for schools. Regardless of initial costs of construction, incorporating modular green construction can reduce the school's overall operational costs. Environmentally, a school that uses a green modular building can increase its energy efficiency, provides a more comfortable and healthier atmosphere for students and decreases the amount of product waste. This can be achieved for example; by re-using entire buildings of major components, installing energy efficient fixtures and using better insulation

While medical facilities are generally less out of date than many school buildings are, they also face rising energy costs, budget restrictions and the need to expand their facilities. Building green health care centers offers all of the same environmental values that schools using modular construction enjoy.

While rising energy costs make going green a global effort for businesses these days, many communities can experience the benefits close to home. Modular construction allows schools and health care clinics to reduce their budgetary strain, while also allowing for the physical expansion both of these facilities need in order to reach their full potential.