Chicago Botanic Garden Green
Additional Info
Award Winner : McDonald Modular Solutions, Inc.
Architectural Excellence : Chicago Botanic Garden desired a mobile office in keeping with their organization’s sustainability values for use as a base for their wetlands rehabilitation project. A straightforward open plan accommodates the Army Corps’ engineer, owner’s representative and the coordination meetings they jointly hold. The interior colors were chosen to bright and harmonize together. Horizontal siding and the blue band toward the sky were chosen to accentuate the prairie setting. These lines and materials were chosen to make a statement that this was not a traditional mobile office.
Cost Energy Effectiveness : Collaboration between Modularair, Manufactured Structures Corporation engineering and McDonald Modular’s LEED AP combine to find the most effective means to accomplish the design criteria. Up front costs were reduced by significant savings through selective reuse of materials within the building. An energy study by Modularair showed a minimum of $3,000 per year electric energy savings at $0.10 per KW. The LED light panels are rated at 50,000 hours. Fabral 24-guage steel siding with Kynar finish is a significant upgrade in exterior treatment. Both items will reduce the on-going maintenance cost for the owner. Relocatable aspects of the design such as overall dimensions, installations and hauling methods were chosen to be as standard as possible to minimize costs and allow for competition to move the structure.
Occupied Date : 2/3/2012
Production Start Date : 12/19/2011
Project Location City : Glencoe
Project Location State Name : IL
Technical Innovation : LEED principals guided our design. By weight 78 percent of the building is recycled or reused content. New materials such as Armstrong Biobased tile, Masonite wheat fiber core doors and new lumber from FSC certified mills were chosen. Formaldehyde free insulation, low VOC chemicals, high MIRV filters & plasma filters ensure indoor air quality. Natural light is provided through skylights and low-e argon filled windows. Water is conserved by using a pressure assist low flow toilet and metering faucet. Building comfort is achieved with a High Efficiency heat pump (HSPF 10.5;SEER 18) with an ERV and programmable thermostats for each space. LED light panels with motions sensitive switches and point of use water heating conserve electricity. Less technical measures such as applying housewrap, sealing all openings and hydraulic door closers keep the building sealed. Matching insulated skirting protects the underside of the building. COMcheck indicates this building exceeds the 2009 IECC.
Total Square Feet : 672
Category : Relocatable: Single-Wide: any square footage