The five-story building located right next to Temple University’s main campus includes a ground floor parking garage, a bike garage, and a maintenance station topped with four stories of apartments and a roof deck. Thanks to a double-H layout, each apartment at The Modules has access to views and light. Inside there are 72 apartments with either 2 or 3 bedrooms priced at appropriate rental rates that students could afford.
The complex is aiming for LEED Silver certification under the LEED for Homes Mid-rise pilot program, and it is expected to be the largest modular LEED-certified building in the country. The project’s stormwater management system includes a rain garden, a green roof, and pervious pavers that reduce stormwater runoff by 50%. On the exterior of the building is a fiber cement rain screen facade system, that protects the building from the elements.
From start to finish, the entire project was constructed within 9 months. It involved building 80 prefabricated boxes off-site at Excel Homes, and then shipping them to the site where they were put into place. Design took about 3 months before construction commenced, so the total project timeline was one year — impressive for a 80,000 sq ft building.
Jetson Green had a chance to ask Brian Phillips, principal and LEED AP at Interface Studio Architects, a few questions about the process and modular construction. Phillips said, “At this scale there appear to be clear advantages on cost of construction and speed of deployment. This 80,000 square-foot, 5-story building was built from excavation to finish work in 9 months. The ability to fabricate elements of the building outside of Philadelphia County allows for a more competitive labor rate. Also, if time is money – the speed of modular is a savings.”
+ The Modules at TempleTown
+ Interface Studio Architects
Via Jetson Green
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Modular and prefabricated construction projects are praised for their efficient use of resources, quick construction times and energy-efficient design. While a lot of projects are still on the boards, one housing project at Temple University could serve as the poster child for modular housing. The Modules at TempleTown, by Interface Studio Architects, is a five-story apartment building constructed from modular boxes and was finished off with a green roof, rain garden, bike garage and is expected…
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The Modules were recently completed over the summer to provide additional housing options for students around Temple University in Philadelphia.
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The project was designed to LEED Silver Certification under the LEED for Homes Mid-rise pilot program.
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The modular housing project is also expected to become one of the largest modular LEED-certified buildings in the country when it receives its certification.
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The building is arranged in a double-H layout so that each apartment receives natural daylighting and ventilation.
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There are 72 apartments total in the five-story building. 2 or 3 bedroom units are available.
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The five-story building includes a ground floor parking garage with a bike garage and maintenance shop.
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A storm water management plan includes various systems that reduce stormwater runoff by 50%.
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A rain garden plus a green roof collect some of that storm water.
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The green rooftop deck also provides residents a place to enjoy being outside and has great views of the city.
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The building is composed of 80 prefabricated boxes built off-site and then assembled on top of a concrete and steel plinth.
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Design of the project took three months and then construction and assembly took a record 9 months, making this one speedy construction job.
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The lead architect on this project, Brian Phillips from Interface Studio Architects, said in an interview with Jetson Green, “While modular prefab can save a lot of time in construction – it almost takes more time on the design and coordination side.”
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The Modules was developed by Carlisle Street Partners, LLC, with Equinox Management & Construction, LLC as the general contractor and Excel Homes as the modular manufacturer.
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