Modo, the first modular apartment building in Washington, D.C. has begun construction. In a period of only eight days 44 custom designed modular boxes shipped from Pennsylvania were lifted into place by crane to create 16 of Modo’s 17 three-bedroom apartments.
The modules arrived onsite 80% finished. Each three-bedroom Modo apartment features built-in custom closets, shelving, desks meant to facilitate remote working, and a spacious living room with a pre-installed jumbo flat-screen TV.
“We were looking for more efficient and environmentally-friendly alternatives to typical construction types,” said Grant Epstein, President of Community Three, the project’s developer, in a release. “Modular construction can reduce construction time by almost one-third, while generating far less onsite construction waste. Construction components typically exposed to the elements – such as windows and wood framing – are built with higher quality because they are assembled indoors. As a result, these modular units offer superior insulation, weather barriers, sound attenuation, and indoor finishes compared with those constructed traditionally.”
The community is designed to appeal to the twenty-somethings of Generation Z, with enough bedrooms to accommodate multiple roommates. An automated entry system will allow tenants to use a smartphone app to access both the building and their apartments.
In addition to the apartments, a concrete-and-steel podium, under construction since April, will house the building’s lobby and a 3,000-sf street-level retail space that can provide over 100 outdoor cafe seats. The lobby will be furnished with a seating area for relaxing, eating, and remote working. A green roof deck with seating and grilling areas will also be included, along with a single penthouse apartment with a private outdoor terrace that is being built on the roof level.
Urban Pace will begin pre-leasing the apartments in March, 2021. Community Three is partnering with Washington, DC-based Rooney Properties on the project. The team worked with the Modular Mobilization Coalition to select Philadelphia-based VBC Construction as modular contractor. VBC in turn partnered with Scranton, PA-based Simplex Homes as the modular fabricator. The manufacturing team worked closely with DC-based project architect Eric Colbert & Associates to ensure seamless integration of market focus and construction methodology.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Jul 27, 2021
Call for submissions: ‘Affordable Housing Projects' Cover Story
MULTIFAMILY Design+Construction is looking for the best new "affordable housing" communities for the Fall Issue 2021.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 23, 2021
26-story apartment tower tops out in Silver Spring, Md.
The building will be the tallest in Silver Spring.
Market Data | Jul 20, 2021
Multifamily proposal activity maintains sizzling pace in Q2
Condos hit record high as all multifamily properties benefit from recovery.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 19, 2021
HAL Architects designs 'swimmable bridge' that connects two residential buildings
The project has been dubbed Sky Pool.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 19, 2021
Artesa at Menifee Town Center provides urban-style living in a small-town setting
MBK Rental Living is the project’s developer.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 15, 2021
Greystar’s The Pullman is a new mixed-use apartment community in Denver
The Mulhern Group designed the project.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 15, 2021
Economic rebound leads to record increase in multifamily asking rents
Across the country, multifamily rents have skyrocketed. Year-over-year rents are up by double digits in nine of the top 30 markets, while national YoY rent growth is up 6.3%. Emerging from the pandemic, a perfect storm of migration, enhanced government stimulus and a hot housing market, among other factors, has enabled this extremely strong growth.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 13, 2021
489-unit multifamily community completes redevelopment in Missouri
The community is located in Chesterfield, Mo.