As the student population rose at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., so did the demand for housing. Because residence officials at the school needed to have a new dormitory in place for the upcoming academic year—and use a method in line with the school’s focus on sustainability—modular construction was the logical choice for one of two dorms on campus.
“After visiting other campuses, we decided a modular style project was the correct approach,” said Tom Kane, director of University Housing.
By using modular, the university was able to open a dorm a full year earlier than a similar dorm built at the same time with traditional construction. The traditional dorm, a 333-bed suite style hall, opened in August 2012. The modular facility, a 460-bed complex, was finished in just nine months and was ready for students by August 2011.
Even though the project was completed quickly, construction was not without challenges.
“Coordinating the transport of the units to the site without interrupting traffic on campus was a concern from the very beginning because of the sharp turn and incline entering the site,” said project manager Dustin Hunter of Hunter Saak Modular. “Safety was our number one concern from the very beginning.”
Once finished, Mountaineer Hall became a beautiful home for students. The 97,000-sf, brick-exterior facility features two-person hotel style rooms with individual bathrooms for increased student privacy. Common areas on each floor lend a feeling of community between the residents.
Not only is the dorm attractive and comfortable, it is LEED Gold certified. The facility received a total of 68 points based on its energy-saving and sustainability features. (Sixty-five points are needed to receive Gold certification). LEED-certified homes complete a technically rigorous process that often includes a home energy (HERS) rating and onsite inspections to verify that the home is built to be energy and water efficient, environmentally sound and a healthier place to live.
The building’s energy and water conserving features include energy-efficient, tinted windows and a 40-panel solar thermal system to provide hot water.? Site stewardship involved erosion control measures taken during construction, landscaping and storm water controls.
Mold-resistant drywall was used throughout the entire building, improving future indoor air quality. The same type of drywall was placed throughout the building to reduce the amount of drywall waste.
Pre-built floor assembly was utilized at the factory to lessen production time. Identical boxes with an average size of 12- x 64- x 10-ft allowed for shortened production and installation time. The dormitory was 80 percent complete when it arrived on site, lessening the time spent on trim work and finishing on site.
All utility chases were designed to be accessed from the building exterior, eliminating unnecessary down time when crane setting the units. The modules were set and sealed in 12 days.
With its outstanding design features, Mountaineer Hall received Honorable Mention in the Permanent Commercial Housing: Over 10,000 Square Feet category in the Modular Building Institute’s 2012 Awards of Distinction. The modular contractor on the project was Hunter Saak Modular with affiliates Clayton Building Solutions and R&S Tavares.
For more information about the project, visit Hunter Saak Modular.
The Modular Building Institute (MBI) is the international non-profit trade association serving the modular construction industry. Members are suppliers, manufacturers and contractors engaged in all aspects of modular projects from complex multi-story solutions to temporary accommodations.
As the Voice of Commercial Modular Construction, it is MBI's mission to expand the use of offsite construction through innovative construction practices, outreach and education to the construction community and customers, and recognition of high quality modular designs and facilities. To learn more about modular construction, go to www.modular.org. +
Related Stories
K-12 Schools | Mar 1, 2015
Are energy management systems too complex for school facility staffs?
When school districts demand the latest and greatest, they need to think about how those choices will impact the district’s facilities employees.
Office Buildings | Mar 1, 2015
Google unveils dramatic tent-like, modular-focused plan for corporate HQ
The master plan by Bjarke Ingels and Thomas Heatherwick will wrap highly flexible office blocks in soaring translucent canopies.
Industrial Facilities | Feb 27, 2015
Massive windmill will double as mixed-use entertainment tower in Rotterdam
The 571-foot structure will house apartments, a hotel, restaurants, even a roller coaster.
Architects | Feb 27, 2015
5 finalists announced for 2015 Mies van der Rohe Award
Bjarke Ingels' Danish Maritime Museum and the Ravensburg Art Museum by Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Oei are among the five projects vying for the award.
Office Buildings | Feb 26, 2015
Using active design techniques to strengthen the corporate workplace and enhance employee wellness
The new Lentz Public Health Center in Nashville, Tenn., serves as a model of how those progressive and healthy changes can be made.
K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015
Should your next school project include a safe room?
Many school districts continue to resist mandating the inclusion of safe rooms or storm shelters in new and existing buildings. But that may be changing.
K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015
Construction funding still scarce for many school districts
Many districts are struggling to have new construction and renovation keep pace with student population growth.
K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015
D.C.'s Dunbar High School is world's highest-scoring LEED school, earns 91% of base credits
The 280,000-sf school achieved 91 points, out of 100 base points possible for LEED, making it the highest-scoring school in the world certified under USGBC’s LEED for Schools-New Construction system.
K-12 Schools | Feb 25, 2015
Polish architect designs modular ‘kids city’ kindergarten using shipping container frames
Forget the retrofit of a shipping container into a building for one moment. Designboom showcases the plans of Polish architect Adam Wiercinski to use just the recycled frames of containers to construct a “kids city.”
Cultural Facilities | Feb 25, 2015
Bjarke Ingels designs geodesic dome for energy production, community use
A new building in Uppsala, Sweden, will serve as a power plant during the winter and a venue for shows, festivals, and music events during the warm months.
