Popular Science "Smart Garage" Article

The November Issue of Popular Science Highlighted the "Smart Garage". Structall Building Systems worked in conjuction with Popular Science to design and build the structure for the Smart Garage.
What follows is the feature article.



In the late afternoon sunlight, the Smart Garage rapidly takes shape as workmen scramble to enclose the building before an approaching thunderstorm. Its construction moves ahead with amazing speed, but without the usual clamor of hammering and sawing. Unlike conventional buildings, this one is built entirely of large, lightweight, aluminum-skinned structural insulated panels, or SIPs, that simply snap together to form the walls and roof.

As garages go, the Smart Garage is unique in both its appearance and its promise. When complete, the tall, shining structure mimics the colors of its surroundings, its metal and glass surfaces reflecting the earth, sun and sky, its sharp geometric angles blending into the softer shapes of trees and brush like dazzle camouflage on a rough sea.
Designed as an alternative to the conventional, boxy garages typically built for homes since cars first rolled up the driveway, the Smart Garage makes the utmost of innovative, energy-efficient materials, while at the same time squeezing every square inch of utility out of its interior spaces.

Its aluminum-clad exterior reflects this design philosophy. Because SIPs require little, if any, additional support, they easily create high-volume interiors with soaring ceilings and expanses of usable space. The manufacturer, Structall Building Systems®, offers precut and pre-engineered home and building packages of extremely energy-efficient, expanded polystyrene foam-filled SIPs. These panels are stronger than conventional framing, erect quickly and are available with oriented strand board (OSB) or metal cladding. Three banks of skylights drop into opening precut into the panels. An overlay of ocean-blue sheet roofing from Metal Sales Manufacturing®, with matching Clopay™ steel roll-up doors, adds a colorful crowning touch.

Within its 930 sq. ft. “footprint” - roughly the size of any two-and-a-half-car garage - multiple levels combine with high headroom to make the interior “live” larger than it really is. The Smart Garage divides into six distinct areas: Its main floor includes parking for two vehicles plus a tool and equipment alcove; sliding glass doors separate this area from a workshop, and behind that a “garden garage” with walk-in storage space. A half-level above the main floor, directly over the storage area, a 200 sq. ft. mezzanine serves as a lounge complete with couch, entertainment center and wet bar. Three steps up from this level is another space that can be used as an office, hobby or workout area, or even a compact apartment.

The interior is anything but cramped. Mini roll-up garage doors allow the workshop and garden areas to expand outside in good weather. Super-efficient benchtop and cordless tools help make the most of this premium real estate. Taking a cue from industrial design, steel stair-treads and an overhead catwalk are self-supporting, which further reduce structural buildup.

Smart organization also provides extra room for jobs required in any full-service home garage. Task areas include auto maintenance, detailing, welding and parts-washing stations, as well as a dedicated cleanup area with First Aid locker.

Even in normally ‘unusable” areas, innovative products and ideas maximize available space. GearWall™ panels from Gladiator GarageWorks® create vertical storage to get bulky items like bikes and inflatables off the floor. A nautical hoist system suspends a canoe overhead. Clopay’s™ compact and efficient roll-up doors eliminate the horizontal tracks required by standard garage doors. And underneath the mezzanine there’s enough room for lumber storage, as well as a motorcycle or a jet ski.

The Smart Garage is an ambitious structure. But is it smart? Yes, and with all that it offers, it’s hard to think of a garage anymore as just a big empty space to park your stuff.