Silver Creek Wins Several Awards at World of Modular

Silver Creek Industries, a manufacturer of modular and portable commercial buildings, won several awards at this years World of Modular meeting sponsored by Modular Building Institute. They won Honorable Mentions for Permanent Healthcare and Green Building.

Award Criteria

Thermal Comfort Strategy

An inventive air transfer system was developed to cool and
ventilate the warehouse space without adding tonnage to their air handling
system. The roof mounted unit has an economizer and demand control ventilation.

Daylighting Strategy

High performance glazing and/or tubular skylights were
provided in every regularly occupied space to provide natural daylighting and
exterior views. Dual level switching with occupancy sensors and automatic
daylight dimming controls were provided for all light fixtures in order to ensure
that electrical lighting would not be used when adequate daylight was available
or when the space was not occupied.

Energy Efficiency Strategy

The project was developed to utilize a photovoltaic array
for all building energy uses resulting in a Net Zero Building. A single ply “cool
roof” was combined with increased thermal insulation throughout the
building to provide a highly efficient building envelope. Potable water usage
was reduced by over 30% through the installation of high efficiency fixtures.
Located in the Antelope Valley area of North Los Angeles
County, the building
houses the Operations and Maintenance team of a 230MW solar site that will
produce sufficient electricity to support the annual energy needs of
approximately 75,000 homes. The building will continue to provide significant
cost savings in the future since it is fully powered by the on site
photovoltaic panels. As a Net Zero Energy building, the annual energy costs
will be non-existent.

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Award Criteria

Architectural Excellence

Silver Creek was approached following the design development
phase to provide modular design assistance and to prepare the construction
documents for a 2,880 sf community medical and dental care clinic. The project
consists of 6 exam rooms, 4 private offices, a two station dental clinic, a
meeting room, a benefits office, a dispensary, a laboratory/preparation room, a
lobby/waiting room, and restroom facilities. The building exterior utilizes
cement panel siding with horizontal and vertical aluminum reveals as well as
aluminum storefront windows and doors. Shading devices custom fabricated by
Silver Creek were provided at the south and west facing windows to diffuse the
direct sunlight while providing a striking architectural feature. The interior
combines multiple ceiling surfaces with general and task specific illumination
to create a welcoming and professional environment.

Technical Innovation & Sustainability

In order to meet the mechanical requirements and provide the
desired interior ceiling heights, Silver Creek developed customized building
modules. Each module was developed to accommodate a 9′-6″ ceiling
(10′-0″ in some places) while also allowing adequate attic space for the
large mechanical duct runs required for the clinic spaces. Sustainable features
were seamlessly integrated into the project wherever possible. A high
performance air handler was specified to meet the unique volume and quality
requirements of a clinic while also maximizing energy efficiency. Nearly every
regularly occupied space has natural day lighting available from a window or
tubular skylight. All electronic lighting features dual level switching with
occupancy sensors, which ensure that lights are turned off when the spaces are
unoccupied. Low and no-voc finishes and materials were selected and installed
throughout the building to ensure a high level of indoor air quality.