St. Patrick Modular Project--Apalachicola Fla.
This page contains details for a 2128 sf modular
structure I designed for St. Patrick's Church, Apalachicola Fla. The church
needed
additional classroom space
as well as a small conference room and flexible meeting space for social
functions. Modular construction
was chosen for budget considerations and that
posed
an immediate challenge because the site lies within a well known historical
district
in the area and they were rightly concerned about how this building
would fit into
their architectural guidelines for any new construction.
Modular buildings have
had a bad reputation in the past for looking like shoe box's with windows and a
door
and if this little building was
ever to see the light of day, something creative
would have to be done to make it acceptable to the historical committee.
I incorporated several features into the design
to make the structure's appearance acceptable to the community, namely:
-----a faux mansard roof for the modular unit was integrated with the existing parish
hall mansard roof to make the modular unit appear to be part
of a two building complex.
-----connecting pavement and a new small sitting area were configured to
make it look like both structures were part of one unit
-----the building's siding and window frame color was matched to it's larger
neighbor in both color and material--e.g. a cream colored stucco.
-----creative planting design was employed to fuse the look of the two buildings-e.g.
similar plant material was used for both structures
-----negative elements were hidden with either new vine covered lattice screens and or
planting--this included a messy utility area and a
garbage collection point.
Plan of both the new modular structure and its adjacent
neighbor, the existing parish hall.
I incorporated the new 28 x76' modular structure into the south campus in such a
way as to make the two buildings appear to be one solution.
Creative planting design was used to screen out the utility sheds and a service
area to your left or eastern end of the site and to visually integrate
the two buildings.
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proposed front
elevation of the 78' long modular structure
note the similarity of roof design and material, siding type and color, creative
planting design and screening of negative elements.
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A birds eye perspective giving a better view of how
I would integrate
both structures to work together to form one visual unit
▼▼
A before view
of the future front or north
elevation of the modular unit. See the completed view below taken from exactly
the same camera position. Note the
massive carya illinoensis (pecan) tree had to be removed before construction
because of severe fluting in the trees primary branch structure that
could cause a several ton branch to come crashing down on the modular unit in a
severe wind storm or hurricane common in this area. Somebody's
fishing net was drying at the time and not a planned part of the shot. Also note
the unfortunate utility sheds that I used planting design to screen out
of view
▼▼
Completed views of the modular addition.
Note how the integration of roof
structures, stucco colors, and planting design combine to achieve the clients
objective
of a total visual marriage between the new modular addition and the older parish
hall. Without these essential visual tools the project
would never have seen the light of day because of the objections the historic
district watchdogs rightfully had about building a
"modular" building in their prestigious district. The use of advanced plant
material was a great assistance in accelerating the intended
new look of a total union of the two structures.
Completed north elevation--to your right is the existing parish hall--in the
center is the new "modular" addition
▼▼
Completed north elevation--existing parish
hall to your left--new "modular" addition to your right. The north elevation has
the ada rated access ramp
▼▼
A half section of the 28' dimension of the building
showing my faux mansard roof integration and interior structure detail. The unit was built by
Design Space International in Douglas Ga. in 6 days,
shipped
down to
Apalachicola in two sections and put in place the same day. It took about 2 weeks
to mate the two sections, mud and paint the
interior, stucco the exterior, install electrical and plumbing hook up and
landscaping.
The total cost of the project including hookup and landscaping was $94/sf.
A similar in place or stick built version built in the same place would have
conservatively cost $275/sf. This means that instead of spending
$585,000,
the church had a cost of $200,300 with a net saving of
$384,820.
So much for why the church went modular
and why this type of building has such a bright future in meeting tomorrow's
shelter needs.
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Details of the state mandated 1200 sf retention basin
and handicap ramp
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kent mccoy landscape architect
email:
kentmccoy40@gmail.com