flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Prefab helps Valparaiso student residence project meet an ambitious deadline

Prefab helps Valparaiso student residence project meet an ambitious deadline

Few colleges or universities have embraced prefabrication more wholeheartedly than Valparaiso (Ind.) University.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | November 7, 2014
Precast units from Coreslab Structures (left) being put in place at Valparaiso (
Precast units from Coreslab Structures (left) being put in place at Valparaiso (Ind.) Universitys new student residence. A bath

Few colleges or universities have embraced prefabrication more wholeheartedly than Valparaiso (Ind.) University. The Lutheran-based institution completed a $27 million residence hall this past summer in which the structural elements were all precast. The modular bathroom pods were manufactured in and shipped from New Jersey.

“The primary motivation for prefab was an accelerated schedule,” says Andy Frank, Construction Executive with Mortenson Construction. Much of the structural and exterior work on the 85,000-sf building was completed before the start of winter, which was critical in an area prone to blinding snowfalls fed by nearby Lake Michigan. 

Manufacturing precast flooring planks and exterior panels that mimic limestone and brick masonry in a climate-controlled plant saved two to three months on the construction schedule, says Frank. The modular bathroom units, made by AmeriPOD, Dayton, N.J., shaved another month off the construction timetable of the suite-style residence hall. The time savings enabled the building to be ready for the fall 2014 semester.

FGM Architects and Mortenson collaborated on the design-build project using 3D BIM modeling to deliver a Collegiate Gothic structure that blends in with the prevailing campus architectural style. One of the critical factors in the construction process was leaving wall openings large enough for the bathroom pods to be transported from a staging area at one end of each floor through the building to their final position. Workers rolled the bathroom units through each floor to a preformed depression, where they were lowered by jacks into place.

Frank attributes the success of the prefab approach in part to the type of project. “When you have a large number of users involved in programming the building”—such as an academic building shared by multiple departments—“you’re going to need a longer design process,” he says. Housing projects tend be more suitable for prefab because they usually have a limited number of stakeholders—in the Valparaiso project, primarily residential life officials and some students.

 

Related Stories

| Nov 6, 2012

Simpson Strong-Tie donates $25K to hurricane support

The company will also be matching employees’ personal contributions to the Red Cross and other nonprofit disaster relief organizations.

| Nov 6, 2012

Goettsch Partners designs new tower in Shunde, China

200-meter-tall building will be located between Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

| Nov 5, 2012

Brasfield & Gorrie awarded new steel processing facility for Kloeckner Metals

The construction will take place on a 16-acre greenfield site at ThyssenKrupp Industrial Park in Calvert.

| Nov 5, 2012

Trimble acquires Vico assets, extends design-build-operate capabilities

Software to add 5D management to Trimble’s Solutions for vertical construction contractors.

| Oct 30, 2012

Lord, Aeck & Sargent announces four student life facility wins

Projects recognize the architecture firm’s expertise on a nationwide basis.

| Oct 30, 2012

The Beck Group announces CEO succession plan

Current Eastern Division Director and company veteran, Fred Perpall, named CEO.

| Oct 30, 2012

Two-hour fire rated curtain wall passes CDC tests

CDC (Curtain Wall Design and Consulting) is an independent firm providing a wide range of building envelope design, engineering, and consulting services to design professionals nationwide.

| Oct 30, 2012

Wight & Company announces three hires

Expands team and adds staff to work on the UNO project.

| Oct 15, 2012

Silicones from Dow Corning solve high-altitude technical challenges at the world’s tallest tower

The spectacular Burj Khalifa skyscraper soars to 828m above ground level, holding the record for being the world’s tallest building and also for the highest installation of an aluminum and glass façade. To take on its numerous challenges and technical difficulties, it required proven silicone solutions and full support from Dow Corning.

| Oct 15, 2012

Three new members elected to AISC Board of Directors

New members will immediately begin serving on the AISC Board of Directors, assisting with the organization's planning and leadership in the steel construction industry.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Great Solutions

41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors

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.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021