Solix Biofuels Uses Modular Units to Expand as a Company
With 12 employees packed into a 10 foot wide construction office, Solix knew they needed a more professional workplace in order for their pioneering company to continue growing. They called ModSpace, the nation's leading provider of modular building, storage, and services for temporary or permanent space needs. ModSpace was up to the challenge of creating a space to house the new Solix offices. They completely reoriented two out of nine of their current pre-designed units with specific modifications to meet Solix's goal of connecting to an existing pre-engineered steel building. By doing so, they were able to add a commercial door that exited to the steel building, which gave employees direct and convenient access to the building from the office complex. "We worked together with ModSpace to customize the design," says Chris Macbeth, Project Manager for Solix Biofuels. "What we created was nothing that was off the shelf and we had to work to fit the modular building into the existing property line. They needed to make sure the exterior was aesthetically pleasing and fit the lot space between existing buildings." ModSpace
was specifically able to re-orientate these units
due to the use of ModSpace's E-Plex stock equipment.
ModSpace's E-Plex units have a symmetrical structural
design, making them interchangeable and allowing
for a high degree of flexibility in arranging the
complex. After performing this re-orientation, Solix Biofuels was able to utilize the fire-rated door
installed on the end wall of the complex. The fire
rated door allowed Solix Biofuels to enter the
steel building that was later erected and connected
to the modular complex. The complex that ModSpace designed was initially tailored to hold office space for two companies, one company using six of the modular units, and the other using three. Specific accommodations were made to meet Solix's needs, including bathrooms for each company through delivering the complex directly to the branch and then building two additional ADA bathrooms. ModSpace also built a kitchenette into the office that connects to the steel building so employees could easily wash their hands while traveling from one office area to another. Because Solix's original location lacked access to plumbing, ModSpace supplied holding tanks in conjunction with the United Site Services which provided fresh water and sewage removal.
"A modular building gave us a lot of flexibility because we could keep it close to our experimental area where we do all our work," says Chris Macbeth, Project Manager for Solix Biofuels. "We went with ModSpace because it was much more economically feasible. It gave us the flexibility to get the space we needed without being offsite. In comparison to offsite office space this was much more economical." Today, Solix Biofuels is operating out of a 6,480 square foot office space that meets their every need, as they continue to expand and develop as a company.
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In 2008, Solix Biofuels needed an alternative
to their current working space. Solix Biofuels
works in conjunction with Colorado State University,
and specializes in refining the science of converting
algae to conventional fuel. At the time, they were
operating in makeshift conditions in an old warehouse.
Additionally,
two conference rooms were constructed cost effectively
and carpeting was installed throughout the space
to dull the existing tile floor's noise level. The
final project was complete and up and running in
90 days.