At Greenbuild 2012, Building Design+Construction sponsored the fabrication of a modular, energy-efficient classroom, which was displayed outside the North Hall of the Moscone Center in San Francisco. BD+C talked to several people as they left the SAGE classroom to see what they thought and what caught their eye. Here’s what they had to say:
Joy Bennett, Market Development Manager, Ashland Inc. (right) – “I think there were a lot of interesting products featured. There seemed to be a fair amount of space. I’m guessing it goes up pretty fast, which is a huge benefit, and that with all the windows and lighting that it’s a much better temporary solution than many of the things that have been used in the past.”
Anthony Garrison, Installed Business Consultant, Ashland Inc. (left) – “I could see it being used in a place like Haiti where they want to bring normalcy back to the children. Obviously you want to put them back in a situation where they’re more familiar. Something like this could be shipped in and would go up pretty quick. The insulation was pretty amazing; I’ve never seen anything like that. It’s nothing like the classrooms I was used to.”
Amelia Feichtner, Principal, Cuningham Group Architecture Inc. – “One of the major takeaways for me was the amount of natural daylight they got into the space, and not just with the windows but also the controllability of them. What we face a lot is that we get all this natural daylight in, but if you need a blackout situation to do presentations or something, it gets difficult. So that was definitely something that left an impression. Overall, as someone who’s looked into this for a while, it was a really beautiful space.”
Francis Gichuhi, Habitech Consultants, Nairobi, Kenya – “This project offered a lot of interesting insights that I will consider for a similar project that I will be working on in Kenya. I hope this will lead to more contacts and greater information on the subject.”
Annie Argento, Assoc. Principal, Gaia Development – “The modular classroom is very inviting and just the kind of space one wants for a child to learn and grow. The natural daylight penetration, healthy and vibrant materials, and the obvious adaptability are all best practices for healthy schools, and it’s wonderful to see these principles and strategies come to fruition in a structure like this.” +
Related Stories
Justice Facilities | Oct 17, 2022
San Antonio’s new courthouse aims to provide safety and security while also welcoming the public
The San Antonio Federal Courthouse, which opened earlier this year, replaces a courthouse that had been constructed as a pavilion for the 1968 World’s Fair.
Market Data | Oct 14, 2022
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Jumps in September; Contractor Confidence Remains Steady
Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 9.0 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 20 to Oct. 5.
| Oct 13, 2022
Boston’s proposed net-zero emissions code has developers concerned
Developers have raised serious concerns over a proposed new energy code by the City of Boston that would require newly constructed buildings over 20,000 sf to immediately hit net-zero emissions goals.
Education Facilities | Oct 13, 2022
A 44-acre campus serves as a professional retreat for public-school educators in Texas
A first-of-its-kind facility for public schools in Texas, the Holdsworth Center serves as a retreat for public educators, supporting reflection and dialogue.
Building Team | Oct 12, 2022
Real estate development practices worsened impact of Hurricane Ian
A century ago, the southwest Florida coast was mostly swamps and shoals, prone to frequent flooding and almost impossible to navigate by boat.
Market Data | Oct 12, 2022
ABC: Construction Input Prices Inched Down in September; Up 41% Since February 2020
Construction input prices dipped 0.1% in September compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today.
Hotel Facilities | Oct 12, 2022
Global hotel chain citizenM opens its first Chicago property and its fifth of the year
citizenM, a global chain of affordable luxury hotels, has opened its first Chicago property—its fifth opening of 2022.
Building Team | Oct 11, 2022
Associated Materials® Celebrates the Company’s Rich History, Which Began 75 Years Ago with the Founding of Alside
Since its inception in 1947, Alside® has been a leader in innovation and continues this very commitment to excellence – in people, products and services.
Standards | Oct 11, 2022
Peter Templeton named new USGBC and GBCI president and CEO
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) appointed Peter Templeton as president and CEO.
Legislation | Oct 10, 2022
Chicago’s updated building energy code provides incentives for smart HVAC, water appliances
The Chicago City Council recently passed the 2022 Chicago Energy Transformation Code that is intended to align with the city’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 62% from 2017 levels by 2040.
