77
SLIP FRAME:
A PROCESS FOR UTILIZATION
OF SERVICE UNITS
BY
GEORGE CHARLES WEINER
B.S., City College of New York
(1967)
B. Arch,
(1968)
City College of New York
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE
DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE,
ADVANCED STUDIES
at the
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
June,
1972
Author....a...
.
.
.
.
.
.
........
..
ripartment of Arclitecture
Certified by.
Thesis,-upervisor
Chaersia
Dprmenta
/
Accepted by.
Chairrdlan,
Departmental
Committee on Graduate Students
Rotch
opkss,
.
JUL 7 1972
LI&RARIEO
ii
Dean William Porter
School of Architecture and Planning
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
May 1972
Dear Dean Porter,
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Architecture, Advanced Studies,
Slip Frame: A
I hereby submit this thesis entitled:
Process for Utilization of Service Units.
Respectfully,
George Charles Weiner
-2
iii
"Slip Frame: A Process for Utilization of Service
Units."
by George Charles Weiner
"Submitted to the Department of Architecture on May
fulfillment of the requirements for
1972,in partial
the degree of Master in Architecture, Advanced Studies."
ABSTRACT
The first part of this thesis provides a brief explanation of a marketing strategy for an industrialized
building system utilizing wet modules. A major problem
in producing low cost housing is explored: resolution
of the conflict involving marketing, delivery and
planning.
The second part describes through 32 drawings the "slip
frame process", a 3 storey box, delivered horizontally
which is both an extension of the plumbing chase and
a packaging system. The box is capable of expansion in
one or two directions to include service modules and other
"wet" building components.
Thesis Supervisor:
Title:
Eduardo Catalano
Professor of Architecture
iv
FOREWORD
"Start from where you are,
not from where you wish you
were."
Saul Alinsky
"Principles of Change"
v
INTRODUCTION
This thesis focuses on the conflict inherent in the
production of modular housing:
Marketing - volume production, code and labor acceptance
Delivery
-
size, weight and strength constraints
Planning
-
special dimension and flexibility
requirements
There are many products already produced which are potentially industrializable (e.g., packaged bathrooms and kitchen units) . There are also available many building
systems, American and European, all with the common goal
of lowering the cost of housing. They all share the
common requirement that to lower costs significantly
they must have volume production. Clearly, not required
are more building systems, but better marketing strategies.
The service area of a dwelling (including HVAC, bathroom,
kitchen, stairs) has assumed an increasingly disproportionate percentage of the total building cost, compared
to the shell. This proposal, the "slip frame", packages
this service area in the factory and attempts to maximize
application possibilities by the capability to vary in
dimension.
The idea of expanding modules on site after compliance
with road width constraints
is
not a new one.
The "slip
frame" approach attempts.to simplify the process and
add to the body of knowledge on alternative solutions.
With the increasing production of modular housing, limited
in dimension by delivery constraints, will come new
pressures to explode dimensions imposed by constraints
vi
other than those of good design practice.
This proposal would "factor out" the high cost elements
of the dwelling and package them at the factory where
maximum savings in labor can be achieved. Perhaps the
most significant feature of this approach is that the
package is hidden within the shell of the building.
The implication here is
that acceptance of an industrial-
ized building product may be increased since it
read as a box or "pre fab"
system.
A small change in
the industrialization of the mechanical
of building should result
in
cost reduction of low cost,
does not
equipment sector
a significant impact on
and housing in
general.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-
-- - - -iii
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-
.- - - --
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ABSTRACT................. . .
. . ..
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. ..
FOREWORD................. . .
. . ..
.
INTRODUCTION............. . .
. . ..
.
-
.
...
iv
V
DRAWINGS
Ca
o
l
f
oJ%
STe r1 i0 vL cen i
1-5
s0.
..6
Application...
.. 8
Planning......
...........
0
.15
Frame Unit....
Structure.....
.. 0
.
..
.
.16
.
.18
Mechanical....
.. 0 .
..
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.
.19
Process.......
............
0
.20
Package .....
.. 0
.
..
.
.
Delivery......
.25
Expansion.....
.26
Erection......
.27
Building Types /Application
.28
PHQTOGRAPHS
-
WET MODULE
Horizontal/Expanded......
.
.
Tilted to Vertical.......
.
.
BIBLIOGRAPHY ...............
.. 0
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.33
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.34
........................... 35
May 18,
1972
Institute Archivist
Massachusetts Institute
of Technology
Dear sir:
This is to acknowledge that the drawings of this thesis
do not conform to the standard format set by the Institute.
The author assumes all responsibility for any damages
occurring during the binding process.
Yours truly,
George C. Weiner
THESIS SUPERVISOR
MARKETING
DELIVERY
PLANNING
8'-0"1
12'-0"1+
CONFLICT
1
4
E-1BR
K1
Bl
L
S
'IL
i1-2BR
K2
B2I
3-4BR
K3
B3
3'"
C1-
CDI
4-BR
PLAN
K4 iB4
2'-6" C2,3
EMqM
ELEVATION
B
SERVICE UNITS
K
KITCHEN
2
B
K
BATHROOM
UTILITY
SERVICE UNITS /CODE
K3
0011
Ki
oo
L__JLI
Bi
LOCATION
WITHIN
PLANNING
MODULE
A
~f1001
CATALOG /-POSITION
4
L -C2
K4I
--.---. --
B4
_ATA__
/_PITIOC3
CATALOG /POSITION
2B1
____
GlD
CAT ALO
6
SELF SUPPORTING
COLUMNS OF SERVICE
MODULE ARE STRUCTURAL
AND REDUCE IN DIMENSION WITH INCREASING
HEIGHT
CORRIDOR SUPPORTE
BY UNITS
SERVICE
MODULES
CROSS WALL'.
FLAT PLATE
SERVICE MODULES
LATERALLY
SUPPORTED
EVERY 3RD
FLOOR
CORRIDOR SPANS
LATERALLY
BETWEEN WALLS
APPLICAT[ON
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
SERVICE MODULES
LATERALLY
SUPPORTED
EVERY 3RD
FLOOR
STAGGERED TRUSS
SERVICE MODULES
CONNECTED TO
MAIN STRUCTURE
FOR INCREASED
STABILITY
............
............
11
APPLICATION
8
EFFICIENCY
PLIN
9
Ej El
1 BEDROOM
PLAN
0
rlI
LI
BEDROOM
IIILI m1
0m0
CORNER
2 BEDROOM
PLAN
'111
-2nd FLOOR
DUPLEX
2 BEDROOM
PLAN
2
CORNER
3 BEDROOM
PLA N
13
3 BEDROOM
PLAN
14
D
CORNER
4 BEDROOM
lIZ
PLAN
--4
aE"
/
S
/
U1
16
SERVICE UNIT
I ~Afl
--------------- 4
1-i
F
TT 7 TAVT
STEEL DECKING
I.
171:,
I.
-WELDED TO
FRAME
II~
PLAN
FINISHED FLOOR LEVEL
~~fT
m
m
ri rr-1
2-~P
SERVICE UNIT
zt
c:)
cn
ELEVATION
STRUCTURE
17
PLAN
COLUMN DETAIL
HR. FIREPROOFING
I
BOLTS -'
FINAL POSITION
3/4
DIA. BOLT WELDED TO COLUMN
CAP PLATEATCRIO
PECOST PAI
BOX CONNECTION DETAIL
ELEVATION
DETAILS
18
BRONZE FLEXIBLE
HOSE
VENT PIPE
ADJUSTABLE
LENGTH
COPPER OR PVC
PLASTIC WATER
PIPE
PIPING CONNECTION DETAIL AT CEILING
MECHANICA E
19
CLOSETS, DOORS,
WALLS ADDED
AFTER SERVICE
MODULE IS
POSITIONED
PROCESS
PLAN
20
Ii
I,
I
L
I
~-~Z~z~-,J
ALTERNATE CHASE
LOCATION
FRAME
UNIT
SERVICE MODULE
.....................
.................
................
.. .
ELEVATION
PACKAGE
PLAN1
21
0
B
ALTERNATE LOCATION
OF CHASE
FRAME
UNIT
SERVICE MODULE
ELEVATION
PACKAGE
PLAN
22
B
PLAN
FRAME
UNIT
SERVI CE UNIT
(FIBRE GLASS)
ELEVATION
PACKAGE
PLAN
23
DOUBLE UNIT - SHARED CHASE
2B1I
Do
PACKAGE
PLUN
24
PACKAGE
PLAN
25
IF PACKAGE REMAINS
WITHIN CRITICAL AREA
SHOWN THERE ARE NO
DELIVERY CONSTRAINTS
CRITICAL DIMENSIONS
FOR DELIVERY
TELESCOPING TRAILER
I
DELIVERY
26
-v
TOP
BY STAGES
-9
SIDE
EXPANSION POTENTIAL
EXPANSION
27
CRITICAL HEIGHT
(13'-6")
M,
FOR THIS STUDY =
12'-0"
A
STAGES
AT SITE
-EXPANSION
TIGHTEN BOLTS
WELD DECKING
-PRETEST PLUMBING
-REMOVE BRACING
-LIFT TO POSITION, ALIGN
AND LEVEL
-FIREPROOF THE STEEL
-TILT TO VERTICAL
-FINAL CONNECTION
AND FINISHING
ERECTION
28
LOW RISE
Eq
TOWER
SINGLE LOADED
DOUBLE LOADED
----
TOWER
r
PINWHEEL
SERVICE UNITS
ALTERNATE
CONNECT ION
E
BUILDING TYPE
29
PLAN
_____________________
I
I
_____________________
ELEVATION
________
HIGH/LOW MIE
30
PLAN
HIGH RISE
FIZFZI
I
LA
I
- 1mmI
N-
U
a
ELEnA"LLON__
TOWER COMBINATIONS
31
I
SERVICE UNIT
INSERTED
DOUBLE-LOADED TOWER
32
SERVICE UNIT
INSERTED
I
I
/
I
/
I
I
1
I
/
-/
/
/
/
I
I
/
I
I
I
/
PINWHEEL TOWER
\
y
35
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Industrialization Forum
Cornell University
2. The New Building Block
3. Crane Report
Dec '68
logical Innovation
2173
-
Application of Techno-
HUD
4. The Architecture of the Well Tempered Environment
Reyner Banham
5. Transportation Breakthrough
Pre-Fab Transit Co.
6. Steel in Hi Rise Construction
7. Staggered Truss System
M.I.T.
M.I.T.
8. Industrialized Builders Handbook
R.J. Lytle