Williams Scotsman, the leading provider of modular space and storage solutions in North America, and Skanska USA Building Inc., have joined together to provide new sustainable modular offices to construction sites across the nation.
Sustainable business practices have been top of mind for the construction industry for several years as evidenced by the dramatic increase in application of the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™. However, modular space has been overlooked when it comes to sustainable design. The sustainable units will provide Skanska with an additional tool for lowering the environmental impact of construction.
"Our new sustainable line demonstrates job site innovation and may afford project teams the opportunity to obtain additional innovation and design points, making a higher level of LEED certification achievable," said Michele Cunningham, vice president of marketing and business development for Williams Scotsman.
The companies signed a strategic supplier agreement that affords Skanska’s U.S. operation the opportunity to lease or purchase one of three sustainable mobile office models developed by Williams Scotsman. The sustainable line is comprised of refurbished offices from Williams Scotsman’s existing fleet for the light and mid-green models, complemented by newly constructed units for the dark green option. Williams Scotsman recently supplied light green units to Skanska and its subcontractors on a project site for a technology company. Skanska also sourced mid-green units for jobsites at Virginia Tech University and a large detention center project.
"Improving the sustainability of the temporary space on our jobsites is an important part of Skanska’s overall commitment to green building," Elizabeth Heider, senior vice president of sustainability for Skanska. "The collaboration with Williams Scotsman resulted in an innovative and flexible product portfolio that enables us to reduce our impact regardless of project scope or scale. Together, we were able to prove that we can work green while we build green."
The three-pronged portfolio provides flexibility for jobsites with different requirements:
The light green unit utilizes an existing mobile office retrofitted to include eco-minded elements, such as energy efficient light bulbs, motion sensors, weather stripping, caulk, and programmable thermostats, among others. The mid-green unit is based on the same structural framework but includes energy-efficient HVAC units, eco-minded finishes, and other system enhancements. The dark green concept includes all the light and mid-green options as well as an eco-minded interior and exterior design and framework. Composting systems and self-sustaining renewable resource systems maximize energy efficiency in the units.
"We understand the importance of balancing environmental imperatives with customer needs and as such we developed a product line that makes green modular offices a viable option for the construction sector," said Cunningham. "Skanska has a strong track record of focus on sustainability, and we are delighted to further their commitment by providing green modular offices for projects across the country."
Williams Scotsman collaborated with Hord Coplan Macht, an architectural design firm in Baltimore, to create the sustainable units. For more information on the new sustainable product line or to read a white paper about best practices in sustainable modular design, go to www.willscot.com/green.
