Ecosteel featured as cover story of Modern Metals
Prefab building technology branches out from high-end luxury dwellings to affordable housing applications.
Often, when developing and perfecting a new technology, you must have other experimenters, other risk-takers, buy into your vision. Such was the case with EcoSteel, which works with iconoclastic architects whose clients are clearly after sustainability as well as beauty.
Based in Laguna Niguel, California, EcoSteel’s building system was used in a six-level, 9,570-square-foot home in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco that was listed last autumn for $25 million. Indeed, EcoSteel found other architects and designers that understood the vision of making prefab structural steel frames and insulated roof and wall panels both gorgeous and functional.
Now Phase II of the experimentation is coming to fruition. EcoSteel is focusing on another goal: to create affordable housing in regions where it is rare, like California.
Let’s first review the system and its benefits. EcoSteel’s construction process begins with 3D engineering/modeling and shop details. It then produces a prefabricated kit of parts that is assembled on the building site. Architects and their clients benefit financially by using prefab technology and readily available materials and labor.