JCM Northlink

Additional Info

Award Winner : Modern Building Systems, Inc.

Architectural Excellence : Sound Transit required office space and a shower facility for their tunnel project connecting light rail from the University of Washington to Northgate Mall. The project consisted of two locations in congested areas of Seattle. The two sites had very limited space and required stacked single wide trailers craned into position. Sound Transit had a very tight timeframe on when the buildings were needed, since they had to move their office staff from locations that they were renting.
Modern Building Systems provided stacked single wide facilities for both the University District and the Northgate Mall sites, as well as an additional 576 square foot shower/bathroom facility for the Northgate Mall site. The facilities were designed to maximize space on narrow properties with limited access.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : The ability to manufacture the buildings off site allowed the General Contractor, JCM, the space it needed to prepare for drilling the tunnel. The site where the buildings were placed was used by the General Contractor up to 3 days before the buildings were delivered. Reconfiguring those sites with a practical solution of temporary single wide trailer space provided Sound Transit the savings of not having to purchase additional property. Once the buildings arrived on site they became operational within a week - enabling Sound Transit to maximize its site and contracts. The use of stacked single wide trailers allows future flexibility in the layout and use of these facilities when relocated to another project site.

Engineering Firm Name : Modern Building Systems, Inc.

Installer Firm Name : Modern Building Systems, Inc.

Occupied Date : 4/28/2014

Owner Firm Name : JCM Northlink LLC

Production Start Date : 11/7/2013

Project Location City : Seattle

Project Location State Name : WA

Technical Innovation : The University District site was in a former parking lot only 80’ long and lined with mature trees and shrubs that couldn’t be trimmed. The two story facility had to be delivered and then craned into place over the trees during the night due to traffic restrictions. Modern had to coordinate the delivery and the ability to use a crane with the local utility company as well as the City of Seattle Transportation Department. Along with the site being narrow it was also on a slope that required Modern to engineer a foundation that could support the two story facility. With this limited space Modern had to utilize a system of stacking temporary single wide buildings in order to provide Sound Transit enough office space, but still having enough room for a meeting room and men’s and women’s ADA restrooms and showers, including engineering custom foundation supports. The North Gate Mall site offered an entirely separate set of challenges.

Total Square Feet : 720