Various Locations

Sustainable Alternative Modular House

Scope/Solutions

The Sustainable Alternative Modular (SAM) House is a new home construction technology developed to combat current and future impacts of climate change. It provides home buyers and developers with a structure designed to withstand forest fires, hurricanes, and moderate earthquakes, with the option to live carbon neutrally. The SAM House system, which is modular, factory-fabricated, can be assembled quickly and efficiently at the site with minimal equipment, reducing the time and waste associated with conventional construction. Designed to address critical needs, the SAM House meets the demand for safe, sustainable, and affordable housing in disaster-prone areas. SGH provided structural design consulting for the prototype and multiple models.

SGH developed the structural design for the prototype for the single-story house, utilizing glass fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels as the primary structural elements for the walls and roof. The prototype is approximately 24 ft by 24 ft with a concrete slab-on-grade and a sloped roof supported on exterior bearing walls and a central steel column. Highlights of our work include:

  • Reviewing the architectural concept drawings
  • Performing structural analyses to determine the panel and roof geometry
  • Developing panel-to-panel connection details throughout the house
  • Designing elements and components resistant to hurricane wind forces and moderate seismic loading
  • Coordinating and reviewing material and component testing as part of our validation of the design methodology

Project Summary

Icon: award-winner

Award

Winner
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures
Markets
Residential
Client(s)
SAM House Inc.
Specialized Capabilities
Building Design

Key team members

Sal Capobianco
Senior Principal
Michael Bolduc
Associate Principal

Additional Projects

Mid-Atlantic

8001 Woodmont Avenue

The new mixed-use development at 8001 Woodmont brings 475 apartments to the Woodmont Triangle district of Bethesda, Maryland. SGH consulted on the building enclosure design for the project.
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Mid-Atlantic

Jessup House, 12th & Sansom

Located at 12th and Sansom Streets in Philadelphia's Washington Square West neighborhood, Jessup House is a twenty-story, mixed-use, multifamily development. SGH consulted on the building enclosure design developed by Perkins Eastman and provided engineering support during construction.
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