Old Faithful Employee Residence | Yellowstone, Wyoming

The Old Faithful Employee Residence was designed to create state-of-the-art housing for seasonal park employees using techniques and materials that support our environment and will last for many years to come. Built in a national park, the project is an expression of the holistic thinking you would expect in nature.

The building has received Platinum LEED certification, the top rating for energy and environmental design. In order to achieve LEED certification, the project needed to meet stringent sustainability requirements in areas such as site selection, water use reduction, energy performance, materials usage, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design. The project also was awarded the 2015 BIG (Best In Green) Award from NAHB for Best Systems-Built Project at the International Builder’s Show.

A key approach to building the 78-unit residence was to use a modular construction process that allowed for a swift schedule while minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency during the construction process. Constructed in Boise, Idaho, the modular units were transported 400 miles into the park for final assembly and finishing. This approach meant that in the fall when the temperatures dropped, crews were able to continue to work inside the building instead of putting the project on hold until spring.

One unique thing about this project is that the developer initially opted to build the project using traditional site-build methods. A month into the project, they were so delayed with the ground work owing to a long winter and difficult ground conditions, it became obvious that they would never be able to meet their intended deadline. They made the quick decision to change to modular and were able to meet their target opening date. Fortunately, they had previously been considering modular construction with Guerdon so we had a good grasp on what the project entailed and were able to rush things along quickly.