Page 63 - Green Builder May-June 2018 Issue

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SMART CITIES CREDIT: KANTERRA When doing things “better, faster, cheaper,”

Katerra’s primary goal is to emphasize the
“better” part, Curtis notes. That doesn’t mean
“faster and cheaper” is out of the mix. “When
[we] explain what Katerra is doing—and
that they can do it much faster, people pay
attention,” Curtis says.
Also, empowering architects, engineers and
developers to be in control of the project up
front, and having a model tied to a supply
chain, enables the design and build elements
to function in a more integrated fashion.
Curtis also commented that doing
environmentally responsible design is in
Katerra’s DNA. The company will naturally
“do the right thing,” from smart harvesting of
forest products to through project completion.
Sustainability and energy efficiency are also
core to Katerra’s work.
Solidly built. Tech construction firm Katerra specializes in factory-style construction of individual Katerra is conducting research on worldwide
walls, floors and roofs for new homes. These can be assembled after arrival at a worksite, allowing for sources of materials and products. In some
better quality control.
cases, the company will design and manufacture
Katerra’s Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters is a compilation of open its own line of products for use in its buildings. Kitchen faucets and
offices, glass walls, lots of big screens and a buzz of activity. The LED light fixtures are examples of such products. It is also looking
company’s construction factory is in the Phoenix area, with more at innovative ways of connecting buildings using various renewable
factories in various locations being planned. This includes plans for sources of energy and battery storage.
a cross-laminated timber (CLT) plant under construction in Spokane, The company takes a lot of lessons from the Silicon Valley’s
due to come online in 2019. There is also have a Seattle office where computer and chip industry, and applies them to the building
Design Director Craig Curtis, FAIA, is based. industry. It has also learned lessons from studying the 10 to 20
One of the first things to understand is that Katerra is not a startup. years of European experience with CLT. The major investments
It was formed in 2015 and already has a considerable backlog— that Katerra is making in their plants reflect its research comparing
almost $1 billion of booked work. With the infusion of funding, CLT systems with glu-lam systems. Katerra is even studying the
Katerra is bustling with hiring and its planned expansion. possibility of the 3D printing of wood fiber in the future, and is
One aspect of what Katerra is doing does include “factory involved with university research programs to study such issues.
construction” of building elements—walls, floors and roofs. The Curtis acknowledges that overall, there is very little research
walls, for example, are built in a factory setting, with windows, conducted by the building industry on improving its methods. It’s
wiring, some plumbing, interior and exterior wall finishes. They also very difficult to introduce new ideas, technologies, processes
are then “flat packed” and shipped to the building site. This differs and products into the industry. This is a challenge, but an important
from modular housing, where buildings are shipped and assembled. aspect of Katerra’s work, he notes. “For the Silicon Valley guys, this
Katerra is not “shipping air.” is a no-brainer,” he says. “That is an industry that has always been
In concept, the factory construction allows Katerra to control the about technology and change. Katerra has that perspective in its
materials, labor and quality of construction to a higher degree than management and executives.”
“stick building” on the site, according to Curtis. Most of the firm’s current work focuses on multi-family structures,
In many of its projects, the company will serve as the architect, with some student housing and office buildings. But Katerra may
off-site manufacturer and on-site contractor. Katerra will generally grow to include other types such as government buildings.
contract directly with owners for their projects. It also collaborates The company’s other goals include considering working with other
with other appropriate teams on some projects, and may control companies on designing projects “the Katerra way.” Katerra includes
planning, design, manufacture, delivery to the site and coordination the team-building required in construction, but expands the process
of installation upon arrival. to integrate planning and design, with a focus on hiring, training,
At the construction site, the idea is that nothing will touch the providing experience and mentoring. This includes educating
ground. No more lumber or other building materials laying around employees on how to collaborate as the business expands further. GB
on site, getting wet or muddy. Building panels are put in place
directly from the truck. This is another aspect of Katerra’s approach Terry Beaubois is an architect in Palo Alto, Calif. He is CEO of the
to creating an end-to-end, “better-faster-cheaper” method of design- internet startup BKS (Building Knowledge Systems) LLC, and an
build for its projects. adjunct lecturer at Stanford University.

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