“Modular Is Here. It’s Going to Happen”
One of our top posts in 2013 featured ‘N’ Habit Belltown, the first modular apartment building in Downtown Seattle. The project is nearing completing and will soon open for occupancy. We tagged along for a tour of the seven-story building last week, checking out a number of the pre-fabricated units.
Walking through the structure, you wouldn’t guess that it’s basically about 50 wooden boxes stacked and sealed together on top of a concrete podium. The building feels just as solid as the more traditional buildings that are popping up around the city.
‘N’ Habit, developed by Daly Partners, is likely a sign of things to come in local construction. Jim Donohoe, vice president and commercial team leader at Charter Construction, which built the foundation and integrated the units, said “modular is here. It’s going to happen.”
Donohoe explained that this is Charter’s third modular project – after one in Vancouver and one in Portland – and the company “are true believers in modular.”
‘N’ Habit Belltown, located at 3rd Ave between Bell and Blanchard
Garrett Hodgins (right), development manager for Daly Partners, explains features of the ‘N’ Habit’s construction.
Members of Seattle’s Belden Club tour the model unit at ‘N’ Habit Belltown
The developer and contractor explained that the modular concept doesn’t necessarily reduce costs but it does save months of construction time. The one big lesson is that builders have to make decisions early and on time. With modular units coming together, you do not have as much time as with traditional construction to wait and make certain design and build decisions.
A visitor looks out onto 3rd Avenue in Belltown from a unit on the fourth floor. The balcony had not been finished yet.
Patrick Ashman, co-founder at Daly Partners, said he and the company has learned quite a bit since it purchased the site in 2011 ad had to figure out how to develop the in-fill site.
“It was new for everyone. It hadn’t been done before,” said Ashman. “We’re very proud of it.”
So far, nine of the 49 apartments have been leased. For more information, check out ‘N’ Habit’s website.