At Greenbuild 2012, Building Design+Construction sponsored the fabrication of a modular, energy-efficient classroom, which was displayed outside the North Hall of the Moscone Center in San Francisco. BD+C talked to several people as they left the SAGE classroom to see what they thought and what caught their eye. Here’s what they had to say:
Joy Bennett, Market Development Manager, Ashland Inc. (right) – “I think there were a lot of interesting products featured. There seemed to be a fair amount of space. I’m guessing it goes up pretty fast, which is a huge benefit, and that with all the windows and lighting that it’s a much better temporary solution than many of the things that have been used in the past.”
Anthony Garrison, Installed Business Consultant, Ashland Inc. (left) – “I could see it being used in a place like Haiti where they want to bring normalcy back to the children. Obviously you want to put them back in a situation where they’re more familiar. Something like this could be shipped in and would go up pretty quick. The insulation was pretty amazing; I’ve never seen anything like that. It’s nothing like the classrooms I was used to.”
Amelia Feichtner, Principal, Cuningham Group Architecture Inc. – “One of the major takeaways for me was the amount of natural daylight they got into the space, and not just with the windows but also the controllability of them. What we face a lot is that we get all this natural daylight in, but if you need a blackout situation to do presentations or something, it gets difficult. So that was definitely something that left an impression. Overall, as someone who’s looked into this for a while, it was a really beautiful space.”
Francis Gichuhi, Habitech Consultants, Nairobi, Kenya – “This project offered a lot of interesting insights that I will consider for a similar project that I will be working on in Kenya. I hope this will lead to more contacts and greater information on the subject.”
Annie Argento, Assoc. Principal, Gaia Development – “The modular classroom is very inviting and just the kind of space one wants for a child to learn and grow. The natural daylight penetration, healthy and vibrant materials, and the obvious adaptability are all best practices for healthy schools, and it’s wonderful to see these principles and strategies come to fruition in a structure like this.” +
Related Stories
BIM and Information Technology | Mar 11, 2024
BIM at LOD400: Why Level of Development 400 matters for design and virtual construction
As construction projects grow more complex, producing a building information model at Level of Development 400 (LOD400) can accelerate schedules, increase savings, and reduce risk, writes Stephen E. Blumenbaum, PE, SE, Walter P Moore's Director of Construction Engineering.
AEC Tech | Mar 9, 2024
9 steps for implementing digital transformation in your AEC business
Regardless of a businesses size and type, digital solutions like workflow automation software, AI-based analytics, and integrations can significantly enhance efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness.
Office Buildings | Mar 8, 2024
Conference room design for the hybrid era
Sam Griesgraber, Senior Interior Designer, BWBR, shares considerations for conference room design in the era of hybrid work.
Architects | Mar 8, 2024
98 architects elevated to AIA's College of Fellows in 2024
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is elevating 96 member-architects and 2 non-member-architects to its College of Fellows, an honor awarded to architects who have made significant contributions to the profession. The fellowship program was developed to elevate architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 7, 2024
Bjarke Ingels’ design for the Oakland A’s new Las Vegas ballpark resembles ‘a spherical armadillo’
Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in collaboration with HNTB, the new ballpark for the Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball team will be located on the Las Vegas Strip and offer panoramic views of the city skyline. The 33,000-capacity covered, climate-controlled stadium will sit on nine acres on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 7, 2024
3 key considerations when converting a warehouse to a laboratory
Does your warehouse facility fit the profile for a successful laboratory conversion that can demand higher rents and lower vacancy rates? Here are three important considerations to factor before proceeding.
Shopping Centers | Mar 7, 2024
How shopping centers can foster strong community connections
In today's retail landscape, shopping centers are evolving beyond mere shopping destinations to become vibrant hubs of community life. Here are three strategies from Nadel Architecture + Planning for creating strong local connections.
Market Data | Mar 6, 2024
Nonresidential construction spending slips 0.4% in January
National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.4% in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.190 trillion.
MFPRO+ Research | Mar 6, 2024
Top 10 trends in senior living facilities for 2024
The 65-and-over population is growing faster than any other age group. Architects, engineers, and contractors are coming up with creative senior housing solutions to better serve this burgeoning cohort.
Architects | Mar 5, 2024
Riken Yamamoto wins 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize
The Pritzker Architecture Prize announces Riken Yamamoto, of Yokohama, Japan, as the 2024 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the award that is regarded internationally as architecture’s highest honor.
