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
Cultural Facilities | Apr 7, 2015
Mies’ Martin Luther King Jr. Library to get makeover
The architects say the modernization aims to improve “Mies in a contemporary Miesian way.”
Cultural Facilities | Apr 6, 2015
Berkeley’s West Branch Library generates more energy than it uses
The 9,400-sf facility is California's first Net Zero Energy-certified building.
Codes and Standards | Apr 6, 2015
Industry groups petition for change order reform on federal projects
Nine design and construction associations ask for assurance that funds available for additional work.
High-rise Construction | Apr 6, 2015
Melbourne tower will light up depending on weather
The tower will be illuminated by 164-foot-tall beams of LED light based on weather updates from the Bureau of Meteorology.
BIM and Information Technology | Apr 3, 2015
French startup develops drone camera that overlays video with 3D images
The new drones can capture video and overlay the shot results with 3D images and augmented reality remotely.
Libraries | Apr 2, 2015
6 award-winning libraries showcase next-gen design strategies
The new Cedar Rapids Public Library and the restored Slover Library in Norfolk, Va., are among six breakthrough projects honored with 2015 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards.
Contractors | Apr 1, 2015
ABC: Nonresidential construction spending flat in February
The Associated Builders and Contractors forecasts a robust nonresidential construction spending recovery in 2015, despite an underwhelming start.
Office Buildings | Apr 1, 2015
IBM's supercomputer Watson finds new home in Manhattan's Silicon Alley
The new headquarters for the former Jeopardy champ was conceived as a showcase for Watson’s capabilities, and as an inspirational workspace for Millennials and idea generators of all ages.
Sponsored | Fire and Life Safety | Apr 1, 2015
Radiant Heat: The Invisible Killer
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s fire, there’s the deadly threat of radiant heat.
Modular Building | Mar 31, 2015
Phoenix apartment complex will be made from recycled shipping containers
The eight-unit complex, called Containers on Grand, was inspired by the need for affordable and sustainable housing near the city's core.
