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
| Nov 17, 2014
Mastering natural ventilation: 5 crucial lessons from design experts
By harnessing natural ventilation, Building Teams can achieve a tremendous reduction in energy use and increase in occupant comfort. Engineers from SOM offer lessons from the firm’s recent work.
| Nov 14, 2014
Bjarke Ingels unveils master plan for Smithsonian's south mall campus
The centerpiece of the proposed plan is the revitalization of the iconic Smithsonian castle.
| Nov 14, 2014
Haskell acquires FreemanWhite, strengthens healthcare design-build business
The combination expands Haskell’s geographic presence by adding FreemanWhite’s offices in Chicago, Charlotte, Nashville, and San Diego. FreemanWhite will retain its name and brand.
| Nov 14, 2014
What college students want in their living spaces
In a recent workshop with 62 college students, architects from Little explored the changing habits and preferences of today's students, and how those changes affect their living spaces.
| Nov 14, 2014
JetBlue opens Gensler-designed International Concourse at JFK
The 175,000-sf extension includes the conversion of three existing gates to international swing gates, and the addition of three new international swing gates.
Sponsored | | Nov 12, 2014
Eye-popping façade highlights renovation, addition at Chaffin Junior High School
The new distinctive main entrance accentuates the public face of the school with an aluminum tube “baguette” system.
| Nov 12, 2014
Collaboration as competitive advantage
A collaborative planning and design process may seem like a common-sense goal, but the concept can be a challenge to achieve in the fragmented AEC industry. SPONSORED BLOG
Sponsored | | Nov 12, 2014
Williams Scotsman plugs into the jobsite
Many of our customers conduct important business from their temporary modular jobsite office and most require access to technology to get their job done effectively and efficiently. SPONSORED CONTENT
| Nov 12, 2014
Chesapeake Bay Foundation completes uber-green Brock Environmental Center, targets Living Building certification
More than a decade after opening its groundbreaking Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the group is back at it with a structure designed to be net-zero water, net-zero energy, and net-zero waste.
| Nov 12, 2014
Refocusing the shifted line
A recent trend in the practice of architecture that I’ve been noticing is the blurring of responsibility between design and construction coordination. I’m not sure why this trend began, but the subject is worth exploring, writes FXFOWLE's Mark Nusbaum.
