Buchowski Residence

2022 Offsite Construction Award Winner: Best Panelized Project- Over 5,000 Sq. Ft.

Built by:

Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) member, Premier Building Systems LLC

Project at a Glance

Project Name: Buchowski Residence

Summary: Located in Los Gatos, CA, the Buchowski Residence was extremely difficult to build due to a multitude of acute wall angels, the structure was designed with very few 90 degree angled walls. Due to this design decision, it was determined this would be a costly build using conventional construction methods.

Location: Los Gatos, California

Days to Complete: 5,111

Total Square Feet: $500

Case Study

The Buchowski Residence located in Los Gatos, CA designed by David Giannella of Acadia Architecture was an extremely difficult build due to a multitude of acute wall angels, the structure was designed with very few 90 degree angled walls. Due to this design decision, it was determined that the project would be quite costly to build using conventional construction methods. Both the architect and the owner looked to SIPs as a better alternative.

The site and the overall construction process was managed by Shell Building Systems of Moraga, CA. Incorporating SIPs saved considerable labor costs and reduced material waste because every angled wall section was pre-calculated in the shop drawings before being manufactured and delivered to the site.

SIP wall panels used are 6" thick and SIP roof panels are 10", all with EPS core insulation. The insulating properties of SIPs provided additional benefits including the ability to reduce initial HVAC equipment costs by 65% as compared to traditional stick-framed construction. The project achieved certifications exceeding Title 24 for California and Cal-Green requirements.

The Buchowski Residence was designed to includes multiple levels using unique angled elements giving the house a very clean, contemporary look. The result is an award winning project that has been featured in many architectural publications.