Summit Hall ES Modular Addition
Additional Info
Award Winner : Modular Genius, Inc.
Architectural Excellence : Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland has a significant school overcrowding issue and has over 500 portable/modular classrooms. In particular, Summit Hall Elementary School had 24 single, dated classrooms with no plan for relief. The community was pressuring MCPS for a permanent resolution that was required to be completed in the summer of 2017. Modular Genius was contracted to design/build a modular classroom complex that did not look like a temporary building, and that matched the aesthetics of the existing red brick school building. The (2) new 14,000 sf buildings were designed with a below grade crawl space foundation system to keep the concrete entryway at ground level. The exterior walls extended beyond to actual roof line with brick imprinted Nichiha fiber cement siding to closely match the existing school. Steel collection boxes with commercial grade down spouts connected to a below grade storm water management system to completed a clean permanent look.
Cost Energy Effectiveness : In the initial design Modular Genius included a thin brick exterior that would require onsite fastening brick by brick and grouting. In addition to being time consuming the brick was costly. The Niciha fiber cement siding saved more than 25% on labor and materials while offering a more durable solution. The fiber cement siding is more conducive to module separation in the event that the buildings would be relocated in the distant future.
Occupied Date : 8/22/2017
Owner Firm Name : Montgomery County Public Schools
Production Start Date : 2/24/2017
Project Location City : Gaithersburg
Project Location State Name : MD
Technical Innovation : In order to maintain a clean exterior appearance, and to meet the aggressive air quality demands of Montgomery County Schools, Modular Genius designed the classrooms with I-TEC Step Capacity Heat Pumps with dehumidification. These interior units are ideal for the high efficiency demand and he lowest possible sound levels that are practical and achievable. The units are vented above the sill at window level with louvers that complement the exterior fiber cement siding. The panelized siding is installed with special clips that hold the panels away from the sheathing to provide a rain screen exterior to control water intrusion and increase the durability of the wall system.
To further gain energy efficiency, Occu-SmartStat thermostats are installed. These learning thermostats the anticipate the arrival of occupants but return to energy saving temperature when the classrooms are unoccupied.
Total Square Feet : 18940