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Breitung Building Veterans Apartments

On of the biggest challenges currently for Modular Construction in the city of Portland is the lack of parallel review process. Many surrounding jurisdictions allow for an initial submittal to both the City of Portland and the State or Oregon BCD (in charge of modular structures) which allows for a shorter timeline and avoids the back & forth between the two jurisdictions. With the City of Portland requiring the modular permits to be issued prior to allowing for submittal, there are challenges with the modification of the modular structures with city related issues, typically to do with the exterior egress pathways, setbacks and other items that are not related to the Modular construction. Nashua_248243070E.jpg Nashua_248243070-Breitung Site Install - 1.jpg Nashua_248243070-Breitung Site Install - 2.jpg Nashua_248243070-Breitung Site Install 3.jpg Nashua_248243070V.jpg

Additional Info

Award Winner : Nashua Builders

Architectural Excellence : The project provides 28 units of affordable housing for veterans. Located on an urban site between single family homes, small scale apartments and a 4-story apartment building. By keeping the building at 3-stories, it avoids the need for an elevator, that would complicate construction. Comprised of 15 modules, 14'6" x 72', 5 per floor. In order to comply with local zoning regulations, one stack of modules and the top row of modules is shifted back 5'. By placing stairs in the end modules with a connecting corridor down the middle, efficiency is optimized. The exterior is fiber cement and metal panels, and vinyl windows. Bold colors ensure a premium aesthetic without premium cost. Interior finishes are kept simple and robust, with a veteran-painted mural in the lobby. Every aspect of the project was designed specifically to take advantage of the efficiencies of the modular construction while resulting in a building that looks completely at home in its unique neighborhood.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : Modular is a way to increase both cost and time efficiencies while maintaining design integrity and building quality. Maximizing offsite construction for this project was a key goal to ensure rapid and affordable on-site completion. Shortened site construction time as well as the cost certainties that are achieved through the modular factory for traditional wet climates like Portland. Allowing the majority of the building construction to be completed off-site, allows the timing of the factory and the site work to coincide, which allows for projects to have significantly shortened timelines, shaving between 3 to 6 months off the total project timeline.

Design Firm Name : Ink:Built

Green Building Description : The project is pursuing LEED for Homes Platinum. This was achieved with minimal cost to the project through a combination of "no brainer" improvements and the use of available grants and incentives. Low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-emitting paints, sealants and adhesives were selected. Exceptional air tightness was achieved through factory air sealing methods and on-site sealing of the exterior envelope. Wall and floor insulation are to code, but increased roof insulation and high performance glazing provide optimal "bang for the buck" in terms of energy savings. Since the housing is affordable to veterans, reducing their utility costs is a main concern. The project qualified for a renewable energy grant to add solar panels. The team captured utility incentives through the "Path-to-Net-Zero" program, funding the use of an innovative central heat pump water heating system. These measures result in a building that uses 70% less energy than a comparable code-compliant new building.

Occupied Date : 8/15/2020

Owner Firm Name : Garfield Housing, LLC

Production Start Date : 9/17/2019

Project Location City : Portland

Project Location State Name : Oregon

Technical Innovation : Maximizing offsite construction for this project was a key goal to ensure rapid and affordable on-site completion. It also needed to be meet LEED for Homes certification requirements, which was new for the factory. With the help of the design team, Nashua was able to meet the specifications for materials and constructed interior units that passed stringent requirements for air tightness (minimal energy leakage). Nashua was also able to accommodate specific structural design requirements for the solar energy system mounted on the roof.

Total Square Feet : 15950

Category : Permanent: Special Application: over 10,000 sq. ft.

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