The Modular Building Institute recently revealed the winners of its annual Awards of Distinction contest. There were 42 winners in all across six categories: Permanent Modular, Relocatable Modular, Renovated Reuse, Marketing Pieces, Green Building Designs, and Student Green Building.
Here are five winning projects that caught our eye (images and descriptions were provided by MBI):
1. MEG Energy Christina Lake Lodge, Near Conklin, A.B. - Permanent Modular
Voted the Judge's Choice for the competition, this lodge combines quality materials and fine craftsmanship to create the feel of a high-end ski lodge. The core facility features wood and metal inlays throughout and includes fireplaces, a theater, a recreational center, meeting rooms, a first-class fitness facility, and offices.
A number of large windows allow natural light into the buildings. The kitchen was designed with high attention to culinary processes, including high-end appliances, food handling flow and storage, efficient workspaces, and ease of cleaning.
The two-story dormitories are equipped with sound attenuating properties for the executive-level, 300-sf bedrooms. Each bedroom features a private bathroom, a workstation, refrigerator, large television, and a PTAC heating and cooling system controlled by a wall-mounted thermostat.
The lodge includes a pre-engineered gymnasium with full basketball court, rich wood panelling, and clerestory windows.
Category: Permanent: Commercial Housing: over 10,000 sf
Company: ATCO Structures & Logistics Ltd.
Building Use: Housing for Oil Sands Workers
Average Size of Modules: 12 x 60 x 12 feet
Total Square Feet: 120,000 sf
Days to complete: 856
2. Coal Yard Apartments, Ithaca, N.Y. - Permanent Modular
This four-story apartment building was designed to match architecturally to the existing buildings already at Coal Yard Apartments and the broad roof overhangs and the substantial colorful brackets that are reminiscent of the former terminal.
The building is a center corridor design with two- and three-bedroom apartments spanning multiple modules, making the apartments feel open and airy to the prospective renters. Interior amenities are matched to the requirements of the local market for this type of renter and include hardwood flooring, custom kitchens with extended height wall cabinets, and granite counter tops.
The modules are situated on a concrete parking garage that houses parking, the elevator, and mechanical systems. At the roof level, there is a garden terrace for tenants to enjoy the views over town as well as the sky and simple relaxation.
Category: Permanent: Commercial Housing: over 10,000 sf
Company: Champion Commercial Structures
Affiliate: Champion Commercial Structures (Direct)
Building Use: Graduate Student Apartments
Average Size of Modules: 14 x 62 x 12 feet
Total Square Feet: 27,800 sf
Days to complete: 389
[pagebreak]
3. Aviara Sales Centre, Burnaby, B.C. - Relocatable Modular
This 48 x 50-foot temporary pre-construction presentation center was designed to showcase a state-of-the-art, master-planned residential high-rise community located in the heart of one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the city.
The presentation area incorporates a model room featuring photo and video displays of the proposed building. A stunning curved glass wall offers spectacular views of the architect-designed gardens and water feature overlooking the city below. Prospective buyers are invited to walk through to full-scale display suites replicating the layout, cools, and finishes of the living spaces being sold.
Category: Relocatable: Retail or Hospitality: over 2,000 sf
Company: Britco
Building Use: Custom Presentation Center
Average Size of Modules: 12 x 50 x 10 feet
Total Square Feet: 2,400 sf
Days to complete: 161
4. Tecno Fast ATCO Rental Office, Santiago, Chile - Renovated Reuse
To support the space requirements of an expanding business, Tecno Fast ATCO built a new office facility utilizing renovated units from a rental fleet. The main floor houses a comfortable lobby area with gourmet coffee point, low couches, pleasant lighting, meeting rooms, and kitchen facilities. The second floor features an open-plan office and a fitness facility.
Large windows throughout the office allow the ingress of natural light, while providing views over our modular manufacturing plant, service yard, and the Andes Mountains in the distance.
The two-story building uses repurposed modular buildings of different lengths, resulting in an interesting facade with a clearly defined and inviting entryway. Located on Ruta 5, the main north/south highway in Chile, the office serves as a highly visible advertisement for the company.
Category: Renovated Reuse: Greatest Renovation: under 10,000 sf
Company: ATCO Structures & Logistics Ltd.
Building Use: Office
Average Size of Modules: 10 x 38 x 9 feet
Total Square Feet: 6835 sf
Days to complete: 92
5. First Solar - AV Solar Ranch One, Los Angeles
Located in the Antelope Valley area of North Los Angeles County, the building houses the operations and maintenance team of a 230MW solar site that will produce sufficient electricity to support the annual energy needs of approximately 75,000 homes.
The project was developed to utilize a photovoltaic array for all building energy uses resulting in a net-zero building. A single-ply cool roof was combined with increased thermal insulation throughout the building to provide a highly efficient building envelope. Potable water usage was reduced by over 30% through the installation of high efficiency fixtures.
The building will continue to provide significant cost savings in the future since it is fully powered by the on site photovoltaic panels. As a Net Zero Energy building, the annual energy costs will be non-existent.
Main Category: Green Building Design
Category: Green Building
Entrant: Silver Creek Industries
Size: 89 x 49 x 15 feet
Total Square Feet: 4,361 sf
Read about all the Modular Building Institute Awards of Distinction winners.
Related Stories
| Sep 13, 2010
World's busiest land port also to be its greenest
A larger, more efficient, and supergreen border crossing facility is planned for the San Ysidro (Calif.) Port of Entry to better handle the more than 100,000 people who cross the U.S.-Mexico border there each day.
| Sep 13, 2010
Triple-LEED for Engineering Firm's HQ
With more than 250 LEED projects in the works, Enermodal Engineering is Canada's most prolific green building consulting firm. In 2007, with the firm outgrowing its home office in Kitchener, Ont., the decision was made go all out with a new green building. The goal: triple Platinum for New Construction, Commercial Interiors, and Existing Buildings: O&M.
| Sep 13, 2010
Stadium Scores Big with Cowboys' Fans
Jerry Jones, controversial billionaire owner of the Dallas Cowboys, wanted the team's new stadium in Arlington, Texas, to really amp up the fan experience. The organization spent $1.2 billion building a massive three-million-sf arena that seats 80,000 (with room for another 20,000) and has more than 300 private suites, some at field level-a first for an NFL stadium.
| Sep 13, 2010
'A Model for the Entire Industry'
How a university and its Building Team forged a relationship with 'the toughest building authority in the country' to bring a replacement hospital in early and under budget.
| Sep 13, 2010
Committed to the Core
How a forward-looking city government, a growth-minded university, a developer with vision, and a determined Building Team are breathing life into downtown Phoenix.
| Sep 13, 2010
Conquering a Mountain of Construction Challenges
Brutal winter weather, shortages of materials, escalating costs, occasional visits from the local bear population-all these were joys this Building Team experienced working a new resort high up in the Sierra Nevada.
| Sep 13, 2010
Data Centers Keeping Energy, Security in Check
Power consumption for data centers doubled from 2000 and 2006, and it is anticipated to double again by 2011, making these mission-critical facilities the nation's largest commercial user of electric power. With major technology companies investing heavily in new data centers, it's no wonder Building Teams see these mission-critical facilities as a golden opportunity, and why they are working hard to keep energy costs at data centers in check.
| Sep 13, 2010
3D Prototyping Goes Low-cost
Today’s less costly 3D color printers are attracting the attention of AEC firms looking to rapidly prototype designs and communicate design intent to clients.
| Aug 11, 2010
Cubellis principals reorganize as CI design
Former principals of Cubellis Inc. have formed ci design "with a stellar group of projects in the United States and internationally," states John Larsen who, with Richard Rankin and Christopher Ladd, is leading the architecture and planning firm.
| Aug 11, 2010
Leo A Daly changes name of STH, completes acquisition
LEO A DALY has changed the name of STH Architectural Group to the name of its parent company, Leo A Daly. STH was acquired in February 2009 as a strategic move to accelerate growth in its core business sectors and to strengthen the firm's presence in the Florida market.
