By utilizing the r3 Building System consulting and materials, this project owner saved 10 percent on construction and consulting fees, will average an additional $75,000 per year in utility cost savings, and realized construction two weeks faster than similar projects using conventional construction means.

Many owners are searching for feasible ways to build green, but are hesitant because of the increase in construction costs, delay in store openings, and risks associated with falling short of achieving their goal. r3 Building Systems has completed one of the most difficult challenges in the industry: creating an environmentally conscious building without increasing construction costs. Fresh and Easy — a wholly owned subsidiary of Tesco PLC — tasked r3 Building Systems with achieving its budgetary goals while achieving its sustainable goals. By utilizing the r3 Building Systems, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market accomplished its quest to actuate its prototype from LEED Certified to LEED Gold, decreased the construction schedule, and most notably, cut construction costs.

In addition to reducing the initial costs of construction, r3 Building Systems provides an energy-efficient building system. The patent-pending structural steel design integrates materials with the highest levels of recycled content, ease of use, and cost effectiveness. The building system provides integrated solutions and key components by reducing costs to deliver a more efficient and technologically advanced building envelope. Scott Jones, P.E., of Wright Engineers in Irvine, Calif., said, “The r3 product is a great mix of economy, sustainability, and reliability. The genius of the system from a structural engineer’s perspective is the method of construction. r3 is assembled entirely with bolted connections — with every piece prefabricated and arriving on site ready to assemble. This greatly reduces the chances for construction error and helps ensure an excellent finished structure.”

The patent-pending structural system consists of a pre-engineered brace frame structural system that bears all building loads. The walls consist of a light gauge wall panel system, which is fabricated in the shop, and brought to the site ready to be installed. The frame is bolted together using torque bolts and the walls are secured using clips and fasteners. Once the frame is complete, the roof is installed. The MEP sub trades are able to begin work in the space while the walls are being installed. This, as well as pre-fabrication of the components, helps consolidate the schedule.

r3 Building Systems provides successful solutions for the design team. To help expedite the schedule, r3 Building Systems provides the structural design and calculations for its patent-pending structure (frame, roof, and walls). This information, inclusive of all load cases, is then submitted to the structural engineer for review and integration into the plans. The structural engineer then designs the foundations, as well as addresses any embellishments to the structure including any architectural features. Holistically, the project is still designed and engineered by the architect and structural engineer.

r3 Building Systems not only provides additional savings for the initial cost of the project, but also provides substantial cost savings because of its qualitative material selection. The building is made up of 84 percent recycled material, based on weight, and 97 percent of the material can be recycled once the building has reached obsolescence. The r3 Building Systems also helps to provide a 43-percent more efficient building because of additional insulation in the walls and roofs. The wall panel system consists of 6 to 10 inches of open wall cavity that is filled completely with insulation, providing up to R-38 in the walls. Insulation is also increased in the roof. Because the r3 Building Systems utilizes purlins in lieu of trusses, there is additional room in the roof deck area for insulation. With the added insulation, the roof admits up to an R-50 rating. The r3 Building Systems also demonstrates greater seismic strength because of the walls and structure operating independently, an increase in the building life span because of the use of steel, an increase in occupancy loads, and a decrease in insurance rates because of reduced flammability.

By utilizing the r3 Building System consulting and materials, Fresh and Easy saved 10 percent on construction and consulting fees, will average an additional $75,000 per year in utility cost savings, and realized a building constructed two weeks faster than other projects using conventional construction means. r3 Building Systems is working on its second project with Fresh and Easy in Oceanside, Calif., and is slated to start construction by the end of the year. “Our clients are always tasking our firm with providing them with simple, fast, and cost savings solutions,” said Dan Medina of the Bergman Companies. “The r3 Building Systems enables our team to deliver an integrated package to the client that is cost effective for both the construction and maintenance of the building. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the r3 Building Systems team on our next project.”

David Bergman is the executive director of r3 Building Systems. He has been in the construction industry for more than 20 years, with experience on the contractor, engineering, and development side. He can be reached at 909-548-3514 or davidbergman@r3buildingsystems.com.