At Greenbuild 2012, Building Design+Construction sponsored the fabrication of a modular, energy-efficient classroom, which was displayed outside the North Hall of the Moscone Center in San Francisco. BD+C talked to several people as they left the SAGE classroom to see what they thought and what caught their eye. Here’s what they had to say:
Joy Bennett, Market Development Manager, Ashland Inc. (right) – “I think there were a lot of interesting products featured. There seemed to be a fair amount of space. I’m guessing it goes up pretty fast, which is a huge benefit, and that with all the windows and lighting that it’s a much better temporary solution than many of the things that have been used in the past.”
Anthony Garrison, Installed Business Consultant, Ashland Inc. (left) – “I could see it being used in a place like Haiti where they want to bring normalcy back to the children. Obviously you want to put them back in a situation where they’re more familiar. Something like this could be shipped in and would go up pretty quick. The insulation was pretty amazing; I’ve never seen anything like that. It’s nothing like the classrooms I was used to.”
Amelia Feichtner, Principal, Cuningham Group Architecture Inc. – “One of the major takeaways for me was the amount of natural daylight they got into the space, and not just with the windows but also the controllability of them. What we face a lot is that we get all this natural daylight in, but if you need a blackout situation to do presentations or something, it gets difficult. So that was definitely something that left an impression. Overall, as someone who’s looked into this for a while, it was a really beautiful space.”
Francis Gichuhi, Habitech Consultants, Nairobi, Kenya – “This project offered a lot of interesting insights that I will consider for a similar project that I will be working on in Kenya. I hope this will lead to more contacts and greater information on the subject.”
Annie Argento, Assoc. Principal, Gaia Development – “The modular classroom is very inviting and just the kind of space one wants for a child to learn and grow. The natural daylight penetration, healthy and vibrant materials, and the obvious adaptability are all best practices for healthy schools, and it’s wonderful to see these principles and strategies come to fruition in a structure like this.” +
Related Stories
Lighting | Aug 2, 2017
Dynamic white lighting mimics daylighting
By varying an LED luminaire’s color temperature, it is possible to mimic daylighting, to some extent, and the natural circadian rhythms that accompany it, writes DLR Group’s Sean Avery.
Healthcare Facilities | Aug 2, 2017
8 healthcare design lessons from shadowing a nurse
From the surprising number of “hunting and gathering” trips to the need for quiet spaces for phone calls, interior designer Carolyn Fleetwood Blake shares her takeaways from a day shadowing a nurse.
Sponsored | Architects | Aug 2, 2017
Are visual ergonomics the new key to project delivery?
An Australian Home Theater Company is out to prove that the easier you can see it, the easier you can sell it.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 27, 2017
Apartment market index: Business conditions soften, but still solid
Despite some softness at the high end of the apartment market, demand for apartments will continue to be substantial for years to come, according to the National Multifamily Housing Council.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 27, 2017
Game rooms and game simulators popular amenities in multifamily developments
The number of developments providing space for physical therapy was somewhat surprising, according to a new survey.
Building Enclosure Systems | Jul 26, 2017
Balcony and roof railings and the code: Maintain, repair, or replace? [AIA course]
Lacking familiarity with current requirements, some owners or managers complete a roof or balcony rehabilitation, only to learn after the fact that they need to tear noncompliant railings out of their new roof or terrace and install new ones.
Office Buildings | Jul 26, 2017
Meeting space leads to innovation
PDR Principal Larry Lander explains how to design for workplaces where four generations are working together.
Architects | Jul 25, 2017
AIA 2030 Commitment expands beyond 400 architecture firms
The 2016 Progress Report is now available.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 19, 2017
Student housing trends: The transformation of co-living in college
The Student Hotel is representative of a new model for delivering housing solutions for students globally.
Designers | Jul 19, 2017
5 laws every designer can live by
What is design? Who are designers? And are there any common laws or rules than can unite the many types of design that exist?