Making Modular

You know we love cross-promotion, and we know we love cross-promotion. So, leaving all shame behind, this post is on a wholly different kind of development, one that just happens to be designed by our friends over at ISA. The Modules is an apartment complex built right off of Temple’s Campus, and it is the largest LEED certified prefabricated apartment complex in this whole sweet land of liberty.

The Development:
The Modules at Temple University

How it measures up:
60,000 square feet, 80 containers, 72 apartments, 38 parking spots, 50 spots for bikes, $650 a month, 1 block from Temple, and a late 2010 completion.

“The Deal”:
No, this isn’t dream and if you’ve spent this whole time pinching yourself, please stop. I promise, this is real. There are prefabricated apartments being built in Philadelphia right now. I know, Dwell magazine is always getting your hopes up, making you believe that modern prefab developments actually exist, only to break your heart again and again. Well, modern, green, prefabricated developments no longer belong in the world of imaginary things, like unicorns and Swedish people. They are real, and are conveniently located one block off of Temple’s campus. Seriously, I have pictures to prove it. The Modules are LEED certified and have all the cool green features you’ve come to know and love. They have a green roof, pervious concrete, lots of room for bikes, and a fiber cement rainscreen facade system. Also they’re located in walking distance to, about, everything…

Live here if:
You shop at the container store

Don’t live here if:
You say things like “Hey you kids, get off my lawn!”. With a lush roof garden lounge just blocks off Temple campus the developers shouldn’t be surprised when their building becomes the site of chill sessions, stargazing, and talking about the universe.

The Hater:
All of the units were built in Harrisburg (better than most actually – ed.) and individually driven over. Maybe Prius came out with a line of trucks? Basically, prefab isn’t always green.
Also, building developments named some variation of the word ‘modular’ is like naming your kid John Smith or your band CrystalDeer. Jus sayin!

Additional bragging rights:
Prefabricated apartments make you seem so European

Bonus Footage:
Unfortunately, no one from Postgreen has been out to the site to take footage of The Modules, I know this might disappointing for the diehard fans of “shakeyhands”. However, I am including some shots by Sam Oberter to fill that void left in your heart.

MODULES from Sam Oberter on Vimeo.