Hurricane Season and Recovery Housing

According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, hurricane season occurs from the beginning of June to the end of November. For many states, September is the worst month for tropical storms.  Statistics indicate that during these six months over 97 percent of tropical storms occur. This includes the majority of minor and major hurricanes. When hurricanes move inland, they generally leave a path of destruction. Private and public buildings, as well as residential communities, endure varying degrees of damage. While many communities look to rebuild, traditional construction requires much time, which may leave individuals and families without homes and businesses without a venue. Modular construction offers temporary and permanent solutions to respond immediately and assist clients in the recovery process.

Modular buildings can be erected quickly. As modules are being constructed in a climate controlled factory, site work commences to install foundation, utilities and initial site grading. The modules are then transported to the job site and installed before applying final interior and exterior finishes and connecting utilities. This concurrent schedule results in earlier occupancy and shorter construction timelines, making it a great solution for emergency response projects. Modular housing comprised of prefabricated sections offers families the opportunity of having a home in a fraction of the time compared to conventional building methods. Additionally, commercial modular buildings allow organizations and companies to resume functions quickly and start generating revenue sooner.

Modular buildings also provide greater flexibility and can be created in any size and shape. Recovery housing may serve as a temporary residence until communities rebuild traditional houses. Temporary private residences can be a few hundred square feet or expansive multi-level apartment buildings containing thousands of square feet. Modular buildings can also provide temporary classroom space for a damaged school or an entire school campus.

Preleased modularbuildings are also a great choice for victims of a natural disaster looking for temporary classrooms, offices, recovery homes, and emergency medical clinics. These pre-constructed, temporary structures are available immediately to help ease the stress felt after a disaster.

Temporary or permanent modular buildings can have aluminum, brick or concrete composite. Modular building companies offer a variety of floor plans and interior designs identical to conventionally constructed buildings. Most importantly, modular buildings can be built much faster than traditional construction, making these structures the superior choice when rebuilding after a natural disaster hits.

The Sunset Magazine Idea House

Sunset Magazine's Idea House leads the way for interesting and thoughtful modular construction. The two-story, 3,000 square foot home was completed in approximately six weeks by the Blu Homes company in California. The Idea House was designed with an open floor plan, plenty of natural lighting and aesthetic beauty inside and out. The Idea House is open for tours and continues to make major contributions to inspire modular builders and future modular homeowners.

Why Choose Modular Housing?
The answer is simple; expert craftsmanship, factory quality control and the opportunity to customize each room. With so many options to choose from you can opt to use a more popular floor plan or you can design a custom one working with the modular home builder.

Go Green With Modular Construction
Studies have shown that energy efficient homes can save a bundle on heating, gas, and electricity bills. The modular lodging industry leads the way with the latest green technologies and certifications for any sized modular structure including quaint green-friendly cottages to expansive energy saver modular homes.

Modular homes allow the consumer the freedom and flexibility to make the sky the limit for both initial modular home construction and cost efficient add-on rooms when the time is right. Praised by modular home owners from around the world and a recipient of journalistic rave reviews, the modular building craze is here to stay.

Modular Construction that Leads the Way in China; Can Lead the Way in the US too

Yueyang, a Hunan province in China is home to the recently opened 30-story Tower Hall—the country’s first high-rise building that was pre-constructed inside a factory a short drive away. The newest construction method is gaining acclaim in China because many of the country’s buildings are designed according to 19th century standards and are notoriously energy inefficient.  In addition, the country has a growing urban population, and housing around the country is at a premium.  The same modular construction technology is also a viable choice in the United States and the rest of the world.

China has long been plagued by housing problems because of overpopulation, and the issues are extremely acute in the country’s urban sectors.  The Chinese construction industry is known by dubious practices that cause many structures to fail because of large quantities of waste and being environmentally inefficient. In addition, there is a large amount of waste and environmental pollution that is associated with traditional construction projects.  Modular construction is being touted as a cost-effective alternative that is ideal for China and the rest of the world.  Modular buildings are mostly manufactured on a factory floor reducing product waste and its impact on the environment.  The various walls and panels are pre-wired and assembled inside the factory, drastically reducing labor time and expense.

The benefits of modular buildings are growing by leaps and bounds, and the newest project in China offers a number of benefits to the construction industry.  Tower Hall was erected in a mere 15 days and produced about 1 percent of the waste of a similar site-built residential tower.  Because most of the structure and modules were assembled in the factory and fastened together on site, the project was completed in minimal time with fewer labor expenses. Factory construction also reduces the chance of weather delay and material damage leading to earlier occupancy. Material expenses were also lower because Tower Hall used about 10 percent of the concrete that traditionally constructed buildings require.

The building is remarkably energy efficient and has 35-centimeters of insulation panel along the exterior walls.  The panels ensure efficient cooling during the sweltering heat of Hunan summers.  In addition, Tower Hall is designed to withstand 9.0 earthquakes on the Richter scale.  Investors are now being sought out to help with funding a modular tower that will be the world’s largest building.  The newest project is for a 200-story high rise that would come to completion in a mere 60 days.

Modular building technology is bringing promise to China because it can be extremely energy efficient and requires fewer on-site labor hours than traditional techniques.  The same technology is ideal for the United States where new innovative ways in which to live are increasingly being pursued.

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.