Vernonia School District

Additional Info

Award Winner : Modern Building Systems, Inc.

Architectural Excellence : The Vernonia School District lost three-fourths of their district wide classroom space in a single devastating winter flood, Modern found itself in the sole position of being able to provide classroom space for the district. As word spread of the dilemma, empathetic clients who were made aware of the situation, began working with Modern to reschedule their projects so Modern could devote it’s entire facility to producing the units required for the Vernonia project. Within days, Modern was moving in the first of 26 classrooms and a large restroom facility to help the district return to operation.

The buildings were placed on site in an efficient formation that allowed joint use of ramps and landings throughout the complex while minimizing the amount of land that needed to be prepared for the units. This value-engineered solution provided a cost effective response to both site and code requirements for this 23,000 square foot project.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : The additional strain placed upon the ravaged community of having to share classroom space with another district during the construction period was substantial. There was a large financial cost to the community and an even more significant cost to the students’ morale. One month after the flood tore through town, children began using the buildings Modern was able to provide. Through the well-organized use of resources and installation in adverse conditions the end result of this concerted effort is a perfect example of the value and efficiency of modular construction.

Design Firm Name : Modern Building Systems

Occupied Date : 11/28/2008

Production Start Date : 11/3/2008

Project Location City : Vernonia

Project Location State Name : OR

Technical Innovation : The site where the buildings were to be located was still located in the existing flood plain, as such Modern worked with FEMA to provide a site situated above the flood plain. Using 4,000 cubic yards of compacted fill the site was prepared for building installation. To provide additional comfort to a concerned administration, the buildings were engineered and elevated above normal block and level standards. Utility services and communications were being installed as the last buildings were being mended together.

Transportation during the middle of winter into the small alpine community provided another challenge for the project. State highway crews helped move debris out of the way as the large buildings being shipped over winding two lane roads rolled into town.

Total Square Feet : 24016