In the annals of jobsite productivity, the portable restroom—better known as a porta potty or Porta John—has played a prominent, if underappreciated, role.
Dating back to the 1940s, these single-occupant restrooms within fiberglass boxes are essential fixtures in construction management. And there have been advances along the way: in 2016, for example, a New York-based supplier named Callahead introduced Waterloo, a self-contained system that Callahead touted as giving users the look, feel, and comfort of a home bathroom.
But portable restrooms can’t always be conveniently placed, especially on high-rise projects where bathroom breaks can be an arduous, time-consuming process.
BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE TIGHT SPACES
Lendlease thinks it’s found a solution to this dilemma with its H3 Wellness Hub, a modular bathroom system whose design optimizes mobility, installation, and maintenance. (The three “H”s stand for hub, health, and hygiene.)
Lendlease invented H3, and has licensed its exclusive manufacturer, B&T Manufacturing in Black Hawk, S.D., to market and sell the units that are 60-1/8 x 49 x 82 inches (length, width, height, outside) and 49 x 44-1/4 x 75 inches (inside). Lendlease started rolling out H3s last November and there are currently eight in the field and 11 more scheduled for delivery within the next month in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.
B&T is in negotiations with other Porta John suppliers and subcontractors.
The H3s are designed to accommodate tight spaces. They can fit in a construction hoist or be lifted by crane vertically onto a project’s site. Their built-in wheel system can lock in place or be rolled around for versatile positioning.
MULTIPLE HOOKUP OPTIONS
Chemicals aren't needed to clean the interior of H3s, which can by connected to septic tanks or city utilities.
The units provide an enclosed, climate-controlled space that can be connected to standalone septic tanks or directly, on single or multiple floors, to sanitation, fresh water, and electrical utility risers. Conventional cleaning materials can be used, thereby eliminating the need for chemicals that are common in most portable restrooms. (A wall-mounted toilet allows for obstruction-free floor cleaning.)
H3s include HVAC, hot water, natural lighting (via a translucent roof), and porcelain fixtures. UV options are available for germ and bacteria prevention.
Tim Torpey, B&T’s general manager, tells BD+C that his company isn’t sharing pricing information publicly, preferring instead to have customers call and request a price quote. Torpey adds that B&T is offering volume discounts.
The units are designed to make personal hygiene more convenient for jobsite workers.
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
Urban Land Institute honors five 'outstanding' developments in Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Five outstanding developments have been selected as winners of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) 2009 Awards for Excellence: Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) competition. This year, the competition also included the announcement of two special award winners. The Awards for Excellence competition is widely regarded as the land use industry’s most prestigious recognition program.
| Aug 11, 2010
USGBC considering LEED for Data Centers program
In a blog post this morning on Earth2Tech, Justin Moresco writes that the U.S. Green Building Council is giving strong consideration to developing a version of its LEED green building rating system for data centers.
| Aug 11, 2010
Johnson Controls announces program to help customers reduce chiller energy costs by up to 40%
Johnson Controls Inc., the global multi-industrial leader in providing energy efficiency solutions, is launching a new program to help owners of YORK® centrifugal chillers reduce chiller energy use by up to 40 percent. The program encourages facility managers to install variable-speed drive (VSD) technologies and identifies rebates and other financial incentives to assist with the payback.
| Aug 11, 2010
A glimmer of hope amid grim news as construction employment falls in most states, metro areas
The construction employment picture brightened slightly with 18 states adding construction jobs from April to May according to a new analysis of data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, construction employment overall continued to decline, noted Ken Simonson, the chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America.
| Aug 11, 2010
Theater Renovation—A First-Class Production
In 1985, the city of San Diego ordered the historic Balboa Theatre, its beleaguered performing arts center, to be shuttered due to seismic safety concerns. It would take another two decades to restore the landmark building.
| Aug 11, 2010
American Concrete Institute forms technical committee on BIM for concrete structures
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) announces the formation of a new technical committee on Building Information Modeling (BIM) of Concrete Structures.
| Aug 11, 2010
10 tips for mitigating influenza in buildings
Adopting simple, common-sense measures and proper maintenance protocols can help mitigate the spread of influenza in buildings. In addition, there are system upgrades that can be performed to further mitigate risks. Trane Commercial Systems offers 10 tips to consider during the cold and flu season.
