Gaby Change House
Additional Info
Award Winner : ATCO Structures & Logistics Ltd.
Architectural Excellence : One of the hottest and driest deserts in the world, the Atacama Desert was a spectacular location for the metal type, bright green Gaby Change Home. It was designed for a 25 year life span and consists of two different buildings. The largest building accommodates the subcontractors with 750 men and 60 women. With 375 people at any give time, the change home consists of a locker room and shower section, bathrooms, and an area for picking up and dropping off laundry. Locker room and shower areas are connected by an 18 foot atrium providing two functions, one to give access to the locker and shower areas and the other to access an orientation/meeting room.
Cost Energy Effectiveness : Built in Santiago and transported over 800 miles through Chilean territory the true effectiveness of this modular system lends itself well in this type of harsh climatic condition. Having this project built in the Tecno Fast ATCO S.A. manufacturing facility allowed us to reduce costs and manufacture in the most efficient way. With numerous mines in the area, finding skilled tradesmen and local workers is scarce. Also, obtaining material on site would have been challenging as resources are not always available or cost efficient, thus building in our own controlled environment allowed the safety of workers to be better monitored and ensured production would not be compromised due to extreme climates. In an effort to become more environmentally safe using a renewable energy source the building has solar panels on the roof to add and supplement the traditional hot water system for the showers. The intent is that 35 per cent of the hot water requirement is subsidized by solar panels.
Occupied Date : 9/30/2007
Production Start Date : 5/12/2007
Project Location City : Calama
Technical Innovation : Special built in features include: a wood structure with the wall and ceiling created by PVC and fiberglass glued to a special water resistant gyproc for easier cleaning and a longer life. The atrium is site built with panelized wall panels, tubular steel columns and open web curved steel joists. In each locker room there is plenty of natural light, due to the large quantity of roof skylight fixtures. Providing ventilation was a major concern for the client, therefore the ventilation system installed actually pumps make up air in and louvers dampers with a mechanical exhaust fan circulating and expelling the air out.
Total Square Feet : 13974
Category : Permanent: Institutional or Assembly: over 5,000 sq. ft.