Modular Apartment Building The Stack Recognized as Potential Solution for Affordable Housing in NYC

NEW YORK, NY - Modular Building Institute announced that the August 2014 Modular Building of the Month is the iconic Broadway Stack, located at 4857 Broadway in New York City. This seven-story modular multifamily housing unit was manufactured by Deluxe Building Systems, Inc. of Berwick, Pennsylvania and designed by architecture firm Gluck+ of New York. It is one of the first modular apartment buildings to be completed in Manhattan and is a move towards more affordable housing in the city.
Modular construction was chosen for this project because it shortened the construction timeline by as much as half and cut the budget by nearly 20 percent. Offsite manufacture of the Stack allowed for an overall streamlined construction process – modules arrived on site with fixtures like towel bars, cabinets, and countertops already installed. Any mechanical, electrical, and plumbing was already in place, with only connections between the modules to be completed.
Manufacture of the 56 modules began at Deluxe’s Pennsylvania plant, while at the same time a construction crew on site began to prepare the foundation, basement, and first floor in Manhattan. After site prep and manufacture, installation of the modules took a mere 19 days, an eight-person crew, and a crane. The Stack’s developer estimates he saved 6 to 8 months of construction time and 15 to 20 percent of the approximately $7 million in construction costs.
Its speedy construction and cost-savings for the developer is a potential solution to NYC’s growing housing problem. The Stack is being marketed as housing for “moderate income” families. Additionally, six of the 28 apartments were reserved for affordable housing for families who met certain income and household size requirements. Architect Gluck+’s website reads “The Stack is a pilot project for developing a quality and economically viable housing solution to strategically rebuilding and filling gaps in outmoded housing infrastructure.” Future projects like this one may even have a shorter timeline as these processes become more conventional.

Source: Modular Building Institute / #Affordable #Housing

Five level modular building in Brooklyn

New School building built offsite in USA
/article_30d591a6-02c5-11e4-9457-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=storyFive level modular school in Brooklyn

Australand uses PreFab Floor Cassettes

This 57-unit, 5100 square metre apartment, the first five-storey timber-framed building in Australia, was built by Australand in conjunction with Citta Property Group, using a process they have developed called “hybrid construction”.

The building was constructed in layers, with the floor of each level “dropped in” by crane using prefabricated flooring cassettes while the internal walls were simultaneously installed. 

PreFab Floor Cassettes

A Portable Town for Australia, 1853

Who said that modular housing was a new idea? 

In 1853 these houses were ordered and sent to the Bishop of Melbourne, shipped flatpack. 

Car vs. Home Manufacturing in Australia?

Car manufacturing in Australia has now clearly been dealt the final death blow with General Motors Holden announcing last week that they were joining Ford in closing their Australian manufacturing plants in 2017. The debate is now about how to salvage the skilled workforce and facilities and provide new manufacturing opportunities.

It is surprising that the answer has been quietly going about its business under the noses of politicians for years; offsite prefab construction.

Australia has always held a world-class advantage in design and innovation. I believe that factory manufacturing of modular and prefabricated building units; be they housing, workforce accommodation, commercial offices, schools, hospitals or apartments; is one answer to the dilemma facing all levels of Government.

Over the past several years we have heard about the death of Australia's manufacturing industry, the crisis in the construction industry and the lack of affordable housing around the country.

I know if the offsite industry was given one billion dollars a year for the next seven years (as the car industry was promised), it could solve all of these issues at once; building affordable housing and building products offsite in world-class manufacturing facilities. I am sure that a large proportion of the existing car manufacturing equipment and techniques (including welding robots, wiring loom systems, plasma steel cutting, rapid prototyping and a skilled workforce) would be able to be used directly for building construction.

Remember, Australian's built approximately 200,000 cars and 160,000 houses this year. Which industry deserves more Government support and investment in technology and manufacturing assistance?

Something to ponder.

Workforce planning for Queensland's Gas Industry

Are you looking for information and statistics on future workforce planning for the Queensland CSG and LNG industries? The prediction is for the workforce to peak at 17,000 workers in 2024. See a new report from Energy Skills Queensland.

Non-Confoirming Products in your supply chain?

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