challenge (spring 2009) - boil down the vital services for shelter and basic off-grid utilities into as small a package as possible—a pre-fab core

Prefab cores provide services including power generation, lighting, water, wastewater, communication to remote sites. Working together with Nathaniel Corum at Architecture for Humanity HQ, architecture students at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of Auckland (New Zealand) together with the respective AfH chapters at USC and Auckland have developed a range of prefab core approaches and variations:

University of Southern California School of Architecture Studio with Professor R. Scott Mitchell:

• Jessica Holland
• Kellie Barlow
• William Molina
• Tiffany Wong
• Jeff Bird
• Chris Busch
• Katayoon Jalaie
• Scott Nusinow
• Tiffany (Tifa) Tate

University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning Studio with Professor Alexandra-JaYeun Lee:

• Janice Au
• Melissa Bennett
• Xiaoyi (Sean) Bian
• Anas Hafeedth
• Marie-Claire Henderson
• Barbara Lau
• Mark Schmidt
• Meng-Yu (Mavis) Shih
• Hui Min (Judy) Tan

In many humanitarian applications providing a prefab core packed with remote utility systems is a useful strategy in humanitarian relief work. Structural enclosures and building envelopes may be constructed with site materials and community or volunteer labor, but systems for water, waste, power and heating/cooling require more technical expertise and non-local components. Prefab cores allow such technical systems to be bundled and fabricated off-site and shipped to sites where they can be encapsulated into a larger design/build project.