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 | Apr 3, 2019
Multifamily rent growth hits two-year high in February, rising 3.6%
A survey of 127 major U.S. real estate markets by Yardi Matrix shows no signs of slowing for multifamily rental demand.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 3, 2019
New multifamily development rises in Summerville’s Nexton mixed-use community
The new complex offers easy access to I-26.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2019
New York’s largest office-to-condo conversion nearing completion
One Wall Street will feature 100,000 sf of amenities and a three-level Whole Foods.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 18, 2019
New luxury multifamily development set to bring 254 units to the Maryland suburbs
Dwell Design Studios is designing the project.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 15, 2019
Portland’s new affordable housing development includes units for families transitioning out of homelessness
Salazar Architect is designing the building.
Building Tech | Mar 13, 2019
Almost everything you wanted to know about industrial construction
Our experts offer 15 tips on how best to perform factory-based construction.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 11, 2019
Kaiser Permanente takes aim at reducing chronic homelessness
Initiatives include a multimillion-dollar investment fund, and collaborating with a group that works with communities to house the unsheltered.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 6, 2019
MLK Plaza brings 167 units of affordable housing to the Bronx
The project was financed by the City’s ELLA program.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 26, 2019
275-unit residential building under construction at 2111 S. Wabash
Solomon Cordwell Buenz is designing the project.