Coastal Bathhouse

Additional Info

Award Winner : Public Restroom Company

Architectural Excellence : The United States Air Force needed a restroom/exterior showers/changing room/storage building to service their beach site at the Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City Beach, Florida. This project utilized modular construction because of timing and one-source for design, construction, and installation. This modular building houses single-occupancy restrooms, a single changing room, exterior showers and a mechanical room with storage area. This 5-module, 3-story, building utilized a 8” thick precast concrete floor slab with integral floor drains and openings for underground plumbing connections. The wall structure was 8” thick full-height CMU block, precast sonotube columns for the covered porch area, and wood-framed roof structure with standing seam metal roof with cupola. This matched the architectural style for typical Florida beach site.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : The Air Force wanted a turn-key solution for this project. That’s why they explored the modular option with engineered construction documents, construction and installation by one responsible party. Plus, the reduced on-site construction time without the attractive nuisance of a construction site was also a key factor. The complete installation time was only five days.

Green Building Description : This building utilized passive, natural ventilation for the restroom in lieu of mechanical fans. Also, it had LED lighting throughout with efficiency controls. The interior lighting was controlled by an integral occupancy sensor and the exterior is controlled by photocell. The plumbing fixtures are 80-percent recycled stainless steel, which can be reclaimed after use and recycled again.

Installer Firm Name : Public Restroom Company

Occupied Date : 10/21/2020

Owner Firm Name : US Government - Air Force Base

Production Start Date : 11/20/2019

Project Location City : Tyndall Air Force Base (outside of Panama City)

Project Location State Name : FL

Technical Innovation : This modular building utilized materials and methods to reduce downstream maintenance costs and minimize potential vandalism. The entry doors and frames are pultruded fiberglass with continuous aluminum hinges to prohibit rusting at this location while still meeting the high wind loads. The restrooms feature tile walls with epoxy grout, and epoxy-coated floors for easy cleaning. The restrooms are passively-ventilated with 316 woven-wire stainless steel venting and also incorporated flood vents throughout the structure because of potential future flooding. The plumbing fixtures are 14 gauge, 316 stainless steel, wall-hung, made for high abuse environments. All of the plumbing is mounted securely in the mechanical room away from the users to reduce vandalism.

Total Square Feet : 654