(Above Video) 2021 Awards of Distinction, presented by the Modular Building Institute
The Modular Building Institute presents annual awards for North American projects that demonstrate distinctive achievements in offsite construction. The 2021 awards honor companies that found unique ways to incorporate the use of offsite construction to cut project timelines and enhance efficiency.
The use of non-combustible cold-formed steel (CFS) framing was included on the following projects.
Sustainable Use of Steel
Good Samaritan Pediatric ED Addition
Permanent Modular Healthcare, First Place
Axis Construction Corp. teamed with Modlogiq on the construction of the Good Samaritan hospital’s new pediatric emergency room in West Islip, New York.
- Project: Pediatric emergency room
- Size: 8,600 square feet
- Feature: 12 private treatment bays
- Timeline: 199 days to complete
According to MBI, the building includes structural steel post and beam assembly with light gauge infill and pre-poured concrete floors to help achieve sound deadening and fire ratings. The customized facility was built and assembled at the plant to ensure precision fit and finish of all features and systems. Once finished, it was deconstructed and transported to the site.The use of steel as a “green feature” was highlighted in MBI’s award criteria.
Hybrid of CFS and Structural Steel
Aqsarniit Hotel and Conference Centre
Permanent Modular Hotel, First Place
Stack Modular and BIRD Construction built the 89,900-square-foot Aqsarniit Hotel and Conference Centre in Iqaluit, Canada, in 825 days.
- Project: Hotel, conference center and restaurant
- Size: 89,900 square feet
- Feature: Structural steel podium
- Timeline: Completed modules assembled on site in 9 days
Modules had to be delivered by boat, tugged to shore then brought to site at high tide. The creative turn-key fashion of delivering units via boat reduced construction time by over a year, says Construction Dive.
The final building’s design includes a structural steel podium conference center, lounge, restaurant, commercial kitchen and staff facilities.
“Everything from the steel frame to the internal fixtures was pre-fabricated in the Canadian-owned advanced manufacturing facilities, and shipped to the worksite,” said Graham Finch, Principal and Senior Building Science Specialist at RDH Building Science. “On the site, the completed hotel was assembled in just nine days, making it incredibly efficient when compared to other building methods.”
Steel Framing for Modular Construction
CFS is the preferred framing material for prefabricated structures for many reasons.
Cold-Formed Steel is:
- A pre-engineered material that can be cut to exact lengths
- Dimensionally stable and does not expand or contract with changes in moisture content
- Lightweight compared to wood and concrete
- Will not warp, split, crack or creep when exposed to the elements
- Sustainable and 100% recyclable
- Durabile and has a high tensile strength
- Non-combustible and is a safeguard against fire accidents
Additional Resources:
- Steel, Modular Homes and an Opportunity to End the Housing Shortage
- Prefabrication with Cold-Formed Steel Saves 14 Working Days Per Floor, and More
- Prefabricated Steel Panels Boost Quality and Construction Speed for Church and Retirement Community Projects