By Georgie Ampudia
Since September, our team has disassembled, craned, assembled, and furnished our home, set up our competition landscape, given house tours, undergone juror evaluations, thrown house parties, and won second place overall in the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon.
But in all of this time, we haven’t kept you readers updated on our renowned newsletter. In this issue, a composed timeline full of dates, events, and the build process will keep you updated from when our home was transported from Orange Coast College to the OC Fairgrounds, to its final destination for HIS-OC in Placentia, CA.
September 23, 2023 – Moving Day
– On this day, “luminOCity” was carefully prepared for transport to the OC Fairgrounds.
– Bragg Crane arrived at Orange Coast College early in the morning, overseeing the transportation of the four individual modules via trucks.
– Team members played a crucial role in assisting with material transportation, organizing piers, and setting up for the assembly at the OC Fairgrounds.
– Successfully, the home was transported and assembled later that day.
September 24, 2023: Deck and Ramps, Drywall, and More
– The team initiated the installation of decks and ramps.
– Attention was given to drywall finishing, material transportation, lights and air repair, installation of two exterior doors, exterior floor finishing, and floor registers.
– This marked a significant phase in creating a functional and visually appealing living space.
September 25, 2023: MEP Start and More
– Continued work on decks and ramps was complemented by the initiation of MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) systems in collaboration with contractors.
– Progress was made in roofing, floor registers, and resin coating for enhanced durability.
September 26, 2023: Ikea Delivery and Casework Installation
– Ikea delivered casework and appliances, bringing the home closer to its furnished state.
– Ongoing work on decks, ramps, drywall finishing, roofing, solar installation, and MEP systems.
– Concurrently, the team focused on finishing wood for site walls and benches.
September 27, 2023: Ikea Casework Installation and Site Preparation
– Ikea’s casework installation marked a significant milestone in the interior furnishing process.
– The day involved painting, screen support build, and work on decks, ramps, eaves, and screens.
– Additionally, the team loaded and transported the Bike Shed, planters, mulch, and site wall elements to the Fairgrounds, setting up for the next phase.
September 28, 2023: Ikea Casework Continues and Tree of Life Truck Delivery
– The team continued with the installation of Ikea casework, solidifying the interior design.
– Work persisted on decks, ramps, eaves, screens, and painting.
– A notable event was the delivery of plants by Tree of Life, requiring team assistance in unloading, setting up plants, mulching, watering, and initiating site lighting.
September 29, 2023: Final Touches and Special Visits
– Ikea concluded the installation of casework, adding the finishing touches to the home’s interior.
– A dynamic day unfolded with painting, controls, electric work, resin coating OSB, and a partner showcase.
– Special visits included Schluter for shower installation, UCI Strat Comms for b-roll footage, and GoGreen Solar for the delivery of solar panels, battery systems, and inverters.
September 30 – October 2, 2023: Final Preparations and Furnishing
– Activities included stucco metal lath, touring practice, signage, and work on electric, plumbing, HVAC setup, and controls configuration.
– The installation of flooring and sliding doors, potential furniture/decor from Ikea, and stucco additions to south elevations by CTS Rapid.
– The final touches included HVAC setup and deck work in the evening.
October 3, 2023: Final Touches and Testing
– The team concentrated on decks, ramps, stucco, testing, baseboard, and finish trim.
– This phase brought all elements together for a cohesive and functional design.
October 4, 2023: Final Preparations for Decathlon
– Final tasks included the setup of Arktura perforated screens, the deck, stairs, railings, punchout, site cleanup, and house cleaning.
– The team home was meticulously staged for the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon.
October 5-15, 2023: Orange County Sustainability Decathlon Events
October 5, 2023 – Opening Day
– Team members led engaging house tours.
– The sponsor wall was officially set up to showcase home materials, the build process, and sponsors.
– Deck setup, site cleanup, house staging, punchout, and cleaning up the lot were underway.
– The team delivered a compelling three-minute project pitch to the public.
October 6, 2023 – Education Day
– The team continued leading house tours.
– Special Education Day welcomed K-12 classes, fostering awareness about sustainable living.
October 7-11, 2023 – House Tours Continue
– House tours continued, engaging visitors and providing insights into sustainable living.
– A VIP/partner event on October 11th enhanced community connections.
October 12, 2023 – Awards Ceremony for Architecture & Interior Design and Sustainability & Resilience
– Team members continued leading house tours.
– Awards for Architecture & Interior Design and Sustainability & Resilience were received from 2-3 PM, where teamMADE secured third place in Architecture & Interior Design and second overall in Sustainability and Resilience.
October 13, 2023 – More Awards
– House tours persisted, allowing visitors to further experience the home.
– Awards for Engineering & Construction and Communications & Marketing were received from 2-3 PM, where teamMade achieved first place overall in Engineering and Construction and third overall in Marketing and Communications.
– Additional awards for Energy Efficiency, Water Use & Conservation, Health & Comfort, Light & Appliances were received from 9-10 PM, where teamMADE tied for first place, secured second overall for Water Use & Conservation, and achieved third in Health & Comfort.
October 14, 2023 – Final Awards
– Team members continued the series of house tours.
– Awards for Innovation, Market Potential, and Overall Contest Awards were received from 4:30-5:30 PM, where the team celebrated placing 3rd overall in the Innovation category, 1st in Market Potential, and winning 2nd overall against 13 other teams in the final overall decathlon award. Turning green dreams into a silver reality!
October 15, 2023 – Conclusion
– Team members concluded the series of final house tours, providing a last chance for the community to experience “luminOCity”.
– Preparations for disassembly began, wrapping up the remarkable journey of “luminOCity.”
October 20, 2023 – Temporary Transportation
– Disassembly and temporary transportation within the OC Fairgrounds to get the home modules off of the competition lot. The modules were parked in Lot G, awaiting transportation to Placentia, CA.
November 7, 2023 – Arrival in Placentia, CA.
– “luminOCity” was transported to the HIS-OC house’ neighboring Church parking lot, awaiting site preparation, transportation, and assembly to be a permanent addition to the HIS-OC home!
This accomplishment is a testament to the collective efforts of students, faculty, staff, and project sponsors who collaborated to contribute to the success of the project. teamMADE expresses gratitude and invites everyone to continue supporting us as we work towards our ultimate goal – implementing our “luminOCity” ADU for the Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) Housing Program in collaboration with HIS-OC in Placentia, CA.
Excitingly, we are on the verge of reaching our goal! Currently situated in Placentia in the local church’s parking lot, “luminOCity” is ready to be relocated to the backyard of the TAY house. However, to make this happen, we require additional financial support.
For more information on how you can contribute to this move, please visit the teamMADE website! Your support will make a significant difference in bringing this project to fruition and making this house a home.