This paper describes the process to design a modular hurricane-resistant facility in Saltillo, Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, using shipping containers. Puerto Rico is in the Caribbean, a region known as Hurricane Alley. Their geographic location and state of public infrastructure make the island incredibly susceptible to extreme damage in hurricane season. The goal of the project is to create a sustainable and resilient facility that can withstand hurricanes and provide a safe haven for the community before, during, and after natural disasters. The project's use of shipping containers as building blocks not only provides a cost-effective and readily available construction material but also has the added benefit of reducing waste by repurposing the shipping containers. Furthermore, the modular design allows for scalability and adaptability, enabling the facility to be expanded or repurposed for application in various communities. The design process involved extensive research on the region's topography, weather patterns, and building regulations, as well as research into local stakeholders to ensure that the facility's design was tailored to meet the unique needs of the community. Once the design was created, it was checked for structural soundness to ensure that the facility could withstand extreme weather events. Additionally, an energy analysis was conducted, and optimizations were made that resulted in a net zero facility. The modular hurricane-resistant facility designed for the mountainous region demonstrates a sustainable and adaptable solution for disaster response and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Deptula, Emily
• Delo, Makayla
• Hazelton, Holly
• Bissoondial, Aradhana

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042723-135301
• 106256

Keyword

• Puerto Rico
• Shipping Containers
• Resiliency
• Hurricane Shelter
• Adjuntas, PR
• Architectural Design

Advisor

• El-Korchi, Tahar
• Van Dessel, Steven
• Ma, Nan

Year

• 2023

Date created

• 2023-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Fire Protection Engineering
• Architectural Engineering
• Civil Engineering

Source

• E-project-042723-135301

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-06-12