3 Game-Changing Building and Construction Innovations in 2014

May 17th, 2014

Patric and Leslie Horn of Three Squared, Inc., a property development market leader in the cargo-based construction industry. Learn more at www.threesquaredinc.com.

With the construction industry on the upswing and with 2013 construction starts on the whole advancing 6% to $516.8 billion over the year prior according to McGraw Hill Construction (a division of McGraw Hill Financial), attentions are turning to emerging building methodologies, technology resources and materials that have extreme upside potential and can positively impact bottom lines.

With this in mind, here are three game-changing advancements that will significantly impact building and construction concerns in 2014 and beyond:

Cargo Container Construction With the U.S. new construction industry desperate for ways to cut costs and provide sustainable solutions without undermining quality, cargo container construction is a boon — especially for America’s multi-family, mixed use and commercial markets that are completely underserved despite growing demand for this new and novel building methodology.

The escalating marketplace acceptance of cargo container construction is being driven by the reported superior cost efficiencies, heightened profitability and minimal build time associated with this emerging building option. It’s estimated that, on average, cargo container construction is fully half the costs of other building methods. Shipping container-based construction marries the trend toward sustainable housing solutions with addressing escalating building costs and the surplus of durable, versatile, widely available, economical and code-friendly cargo containers that can be readily repurposed to frame houses, condominiums, dormitories and other residential, retail and commercial structures. In addition, these heavy gauge steel structures only take a fraction of the time to build and are more energy efficient than their counterparts due of a high-purposed combination of new technologies used in the design and construction process.

Given the range of benefits and advantages, architects, contractors and individuals are increasingly seeking retired shipping containers to build homes, offices, apartments, schools, dormitories, artists’ studios, emergency shelters and shops. For example, Travelodge completed a hotel in using cargo container construction methods and finished 6-months early and 10% under alternative building estimates, saving them approximately $900,000. Starbucks is also building hundreds of stores across the U.S. using shipping containers. Real estate developer Three Squared, Inc. has a 20-unit, four-story condominium complex underway that spans 26,000 square feet and integrates 93 shipping containers.

Building Industry Modeling (BIM) Software The emerging BIM process allows building designers and architects to work in “5-D” — a 3-D model of the project with the 4th and 5th dimension being the addition of scheduling and cost estimating, respectively.

Using BIM, developers can employ an integrative project delivery approach to planning and design and bring all members of the architectural, design, engineering, construction and environmental teams to the table at the onset of a project. This team can then benefit from a 3-D model of the structure to see each individual consideration, and with clash detection capabilities that seamlessly integrate input from architectural drawings, MEPS designs, constructability and interior designs into a holistic building approach. By seeing a project from a whole building vantage point rather than viewing a building plan as a series of silos, developers are capable of producing efficiencies and a more streamlined approach to the design and construction process.

Benefits associated with employing BIM software include reduced errors and reworks and an overall maximized project outcome with long-term savings.

Insulation Advancements
Insulation needs with regard to nontraditional building methods, including solar and cargo containers among others, differ greatly from customary approaches and solutions. Insulation for emerging building methods must create an easy-to-manage living environment from a thermal comfort perspective while minimizing the space utilization requirement to create a desirable effect. Traditional insulation actually does not stop the transfer of heat or cold between external environments and interior living spaces, but rather it simply works to delay the transfer through multiple inches of material designed to absorb hot and cold.

New insulation, like that being manufactured by? Cargolinc, actually repels external heat or cold without having to factor in the necessary 4 to 8 inches of insulation space that, in fact, would not mitigate the condensation factor that metal runs against when facing a temperature difference between outside and inside spaces. Thus, traditional insulation would only create moisture in hard-to-reach spaces that would promote mold and rot, rather than a comfortable, appealing living environment in all climates.

Emerging insulation technologies maximize space while providing the highest form of a thermal barrier that utilizes the Bernoulli Effect — the effect that gives wings lift and creates eddies in rivers (and in the case of insulation diverts heat and cold from the surface to block transfer versus attempting to just slow it down as with common insulation).

By spraying the inside and outside of a structure with this sort of product that only requires 20 mm of thickness equating to the depth of two stacked business cards, usable living space is greatly maximized. In addition, this process also eliminates the condensation effect on metal and produces a comfortable environment even in such remote locations as the desert and above the Arctic Circle. This allows scaling down HVAC systems to meet the reduced demand, which with this method is not competing with the transfer/loss of heat and cold to the exterior environment. All combined this lowers operating costs for building facility managers and homeowners.

For a complete, interactive version of this article, click here to download the Summer 2014 issue of Sustainable Construction.

* Use with Patric and Leslie Horn photo

10 Reasons Cargo Container-Based Construction Will Revolutionize the Building Industry

In the wake of economic challenges, concerns over the environment and significant natural disasters, many industries are seeking alternative building approaches. One of these approaches has been to consider the revolutionary advances that cargo contained-based construction has made. Here are ten reasons that illustrate why this type of construction is so compelling.

Commercial and Residential Application. While traditional construction has had two distinctive practices for commercial and residential buildings as well as regional differences in construction, the container model works across both, offering a wide range of applications being used around the world in a standardized way. This includes everything from residences and multifamily units to motels and offices to pop-up shops. The containers have even been used for schools and dormitories. In providing a solution for disasters, or to help with humanitarian efforts during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, container-based construction has provided a practical solution.
Availability. Retired shipping containers are abundant in the United States with 21,000 shipping containers arriving in the U.S. every day. Port authorities estimate that over 700,000 used shipping containers are stockpiled on prime waterfront real estate without a significant use, purpose or method for disposal. Many cargo containers originate from China and are used only on their maiden voyage overseas. Since the U.S. imports many more manufactured goods than it exports in shipping containers, most remain here, wasting precious space in our ports and landfill.
Protective and Weather Resistance. In exceeding all building and safety codes, the containers can easily withstand 150-mile-per-hour winds when used in residential and commercial construction. Their design offers a level of infrastructure protection not found in traditional construction. Also, residents and tenants alike know that their walls have traveled the world and have a story to tell. They’ve seen the ocean and other countries and have stood the test of time.
Time and Cost Savings. Containers end up saving 60% of the framing cost and cut the time in half for construction. The savings also come from the labor that goes into the containers as well as long-terms savings in terms of reduced maintenance and repair as well as energy efficiency savings.
Strength and Durability. Strength and durability of shipping container-based construction far exceeds the traditional stick-built and most modular construction. Compared to traditional construction that uses wood, which can rot over time, the containers will experience no rot because the containers are made of steel. In addition, the frame can withstand severe damage in natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes.
Creativity and Flexibility. Working with different materials and applications provides a way to think more creatively about the construction process. And, despite the fact that the containers come in pretty standard sizes, the actual possibilities are endless. The buildings provide an elegant balance of simplicity with inherent character and personalized style in each wall.
Environmentally Responsible. Containers are much more environmentally responsible in terms of materials, much of which has been essentially recycled, as well as due to construction practices that do not rely on trees for materials and the overall use once they are in use, including energy efficiencies.
Expands Shelter Accessibility. For developing countries as well as domestic housing markets where quality shelter is difficult to come by, the containers are providing an effective solution. With a price tag as low as $900 each, used shipping containers offer a relatively inexpensive construction medium. Even when purchased new, shipping containers rarely cost more than $6,000.
Mobility. Because they can be stacked on top of each other and moved quite readily, they are considered to have high mobility, which makes them more convenient than other buildings. The interlocking mechanism of the containers facilitates mobility so that structures made from them can be easily disassembled, moved and reassembled.
Higher Profitability. With reduced costs for framing, and labor and the ability to generate revenue sooner by expediting the building timeline, those utilizing such a construction approach are achieving higher profitability.

With the U.S. new construction industry desperate for ways to cut costs without undermining quality, green home construction gaining significant momentum, and a growth rate from $49 billion to $140 billion (representing 20% of new construction) forcasted over the next five years, shipping container-based construction is an extraordinarily well-positioned solution.

Patric and Leslie Horn of Three Squared, Inc., a property development market leader in the cargo-based construction industry. Learn more at www.threesquaredinc.com.

* Use with Rosa Parks photos - one or both

First U.S. Shipping Container Condominiums to Break Ground in Detroit

America’s first multi-family dwelling built from retired shipping containers showcases alternative solution with significant fiscal and environmental benefits

Three Squared, Inc. is set to break ground on its $3.4 million, 20-unit, 4-story Rosa Parks Squared condo complex — the company’s flagship project in Detroit (at Rosa Parks Boulevard and Warren Avenue) representing the first multi-family dwelling constructed from retired shipping containers in the United States.

Designed by local architect Steven Flum, the Rosa Parks project spans 26,000 square feet and integrates 93 shipping containers. The complex boasts energy efficiency features that include ductless heating and air systems, tank-less water heaters as well as other amenities that combine to reduce each unit’s energy costs by up to 80%. The Rosa Parks complex has an approved $603,000 tax credit, and is approved for buyers with $20,000 down payment assistance available.

“Detroit was selected as our headquarters because of the state and local governing bodies’ positive leadership, proactive attitude, and commitment to becoming an environmental leader in the 21st century,” notes Leslie Horn, CEO of Three Squared. “Land costs are also very reasonable, allowing us to yield attractive margins while keeping our prices to consumers affordable”

“We are the perfect solution to construction for all types of projects,” Horn explains. “With the U.S. new construction industry desperate for ways to cut costs without undermining quality, green home construction gaining significant momentum, and a growth rate from $49 billion to $140 billion (representing 20% of new construction) forcasted over the next five years, shipping container-based construction is an extraordinarily well-positioned solution. This is especially true for America’s multi-family, mixed use, and commercial markets that are completely underserved even as demand for this segment rises."

“Our company marries the trend toward sustainable green housing solutions with the problems of escalating building costs and a surplus of unlikely yet durable, versatile, widely available, economical and code-friendly shipping containers, which we use as the primary material for construction framing of houses, condominiums, dormitories and other residential, retail and commercial structures,” Horn continues. “In fact, our cargo container-based construction costs an average of half of other building methods. The structures take a fraction of the time to build and are more energy efficient than their counterparts because of a high-purposed combination of new technologies our team is creating and blending together.”