Modular Utility Plant
Additional Info
Award Winner : Modular Genius, Inc.
Architectural Excellence : The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) required a utility building that was relocatable to support one area of their overall 4.5 million gross square feet of new construction for the DHS headquarters at the St. Elizabeth’s campuses. Due to the vast project size and required future changes this building had to be modular and relocateable. It was designed and installed in less than two months. The design includes a 50’ wide open clear span roof truss throughout (no intermediate columns) and a 16’ interior ceiling height. This open area was required to house large and complex electrical and mechanical equipment to support the new buildings in the area. DHS required a modular utility building that would unify with their existing main campus buildings. Appearance, especially as if permanent, was extremely important. This was accomplished by using upgraded high ribbed steel siding, a white EPDM roof, and the same exterior door and door hardware spec from existing buildings.
Cost Energy Effectiveness : In addition to relocatability, an expedited installation was required in order to minimize site disruption and to help reduce the overall project costs. This was accomplished by completing all site work (utility runs) and foundations at the same time as the building fabrication. Additionally, the crane was set-up and put into place first thing in the morning so all five modules could be set in one day. The modular delivery and install was limited to one day and the overall major site disruption was limited to less than two weeks. Ninety-five percent of the building was built in the factory, which was needed to meet the fast installation requirement.
Occupied Date : 6/7/2012
Production Start Date : 5/7/2012
Project Location City : Washington
Project Location State Name : DC
Technical Innovation : The design was very technical and uncommon to the modular industry because each module was designed, built and shipped on flatbed trucks as a modular hinged roof and wall assembly. Once at site, each module was lifted by crane, then the outside walls were hinged down, lagged into place and secured to a site installed foundation slab. The sidewalls were built as panelized sections in the manufacturing plant and were also set with a crane and secured to the foundation slab. The hinged roof and wall assembly design, coupled with the foundation system, required special engineering and installations to meet the easily relocatable application needed for this project. For ease and flexibility, steel anchor plates with a nut and bolt assembly were installed into the foundations to allow the building to be bolted to the foundation system. Nudo, Truss Core Wall Panels, were installed on the interior walls to eliminate static electricity in special electrical, mechanical and fuel equipment areas.
Total Square Feet : 3000