After breaking ground on a major renovation of the HUB (Husky Union Building) in the heart of the University of Washington campus, school administrators quickly realized that displaced students needed a convenient place to eat and study.
The University asked HUB project prime contractor Skanska to install a centrally located temporary building for students that worked well with the surrounding campus architecture, and their tight budget.
Skanska enlisted ModSpace to help deliver the new facility quickly. Together, Skanska and the ModSpace team worked with the architect for UW to design and deliver a building in just 43 days.
After visiting ModSpace.com, the architect was intrigued by the ModSpace Fan Pier Marketing project in Boston for its high-end finishes and professional appearance. That served as the inspiration for the Food Services Pavilion at More Hall.
The university was especially fond of the modular approach, as 90% of the construction would be completed offsite ensuring minimal disruption to the very busy campus and students. To further minimize campus disruption, the building was crane set over a weekend.
Before the crane could place the new modular building, engineers had to design a foundation that would leave no mark on the campus once removed. Initial engineering schematics required the foundation to employ several large concrete footings in strategic places along the building perimeter. This would require a lot of extra work, cost, and time, and would’ve left indelible scars on the campus. ModSpace worked with the project engineers to find an acceptable foundation system that eliminated the need for the large concrete footings.
When it was all finished, the modular Food Services Pavilion allowed the UW to focus on their primary task: the education and care of their students. Skanska was also able to direct their focus on the renovation of the HUB while knowing they had a satisfied customer in UW.
