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| Sustainable modular building solution for the STAR School  In early 2010, Pac-Van received an order for a highly customized 1400 sq. ft. modular classroom. The request from Painted Desert Demonstration Projects specified a building that would depend heavily upon the environment for its heating, cooling, and electrical needs. The modular school reflects not only today's trends toward environmentally-friendly construction techniques but also the respect for the land held by the Native American students that are now attending the completed school. The STAR (Service To All Relations) School is a Montessori-based preschool program for three and four year old children mostly of Navajo descent. The prefabricated building is designed to accommodate up to 80 children and staff and includes several energy-saving features. The floors provide radiant heat instead of a more typical forced-air system while overhead ducts provide cooling from a roof-mounted A/C system. The facility utilizes both solar panels and wind-turbines to generate the electricity for all of its power needs. The roof and stucco-like exterior finish have a high insulation factor, and the reflective windows help to moderate interior temperature fluctuations due to the intense desert sun. The modular construction process has several inherently "green" qualities as well. There is minimal site impact since the construction is primarily completed in a controlled factory setting. This results in lower carbon emissions as well as reduced waste of construction materials. Also with the elimination of weather-related construction delays, the modular classrooms were ready for occupancy in less than 90-days from the time that Pac-Van received the order. Pac-Van is proud to have been able to participate in this project, and with LEED certified staff, the company looks forward to working on many more energy-efficient modular buildings. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Construction News :: home page |