Hilda L. Solis Care First Village
Additional Info
Award Winner : CRATE Modular, Inc.
Architectural Excellence : The project is anchored by two signature buildings, each three stories tall, built from repurposed shipping containers. Drawing on decades of experience with modular construction, NAC designers used the building circulation elements – case exterior walkways and stair towers – to modulate the exterior architectural treatment of the building. Judicious use of color accentuated these features. All mechanical and electrical services elements were routed to an interior mechanical chase left open to the sky.
While the exterior treatment of the buildings was driven by the industrial character of the shipping containers and steel walkways, the interiors focused on providing a warm, dignified and inviting space for the residents. Shelving, casework, furnishings, floor finishes and wall colors were all used to accomplish this goal, accented by an over-scaled window bringing light and air into each space.
Cost Energy Effectiveness : During the pandemic the unhoused Los Angeles population was disproportionately at risk, and the need for a solution was immediate. The team managed to execute the design, construction, and agency approvals to reach substantial completion in just 120 days. By shortening the permitting timeline, the project saw positive cost impacts.
Design Firm Name : NAC Architecture
Green Building Description : Traditional construction methods can often be delayed by weather or staffing challenges, and cause prolonged disruptions within a community. Through the use of prefabricated modular units made from recycled shipping containers, this project was built in a sustainable and socially conscious way. The container-based modular construction method was better for the environment and local community, while also creating a new standard for cost-effectiveness and deploying units for homelessness in record time during a pandemic.
Installer Firm Name : Bernards
Occupied Date : 4/30/2021
Production Start Date : 10/15/2020
Project Location City : Los Angeles
Project Location State Name : California
Technical Innovation : Innovative technology allowed this project to be completed at an accelerated pace. Utilizing CRATE Modular’s factory-built modules as housing units had several advantages. The modules themselves, produced from repurposed shipping containers, proved beneficial in boosting value and sustainable building practices while reducing landfill waste. Because these buildings are modular, they’re permitted by California’s Housing Community Development agency’s efficient approval process. Leveraging simplified and standardized design of the modules, permits were secured quickly and the permitting process took weeks to complete as opposed to months. The greatest benefit was the speed of fabrication. All 66 modules were fabricated and delivered to the site within ten weeks.
Total Square Feet : 21120