New modular facilities for KOMA MODULAR employees with fermacell materials on ceilings, walls, and floors

The modular multifunctional building in the Vizovice facility of KOMA MODULAR s.r.o. is a clear example of how KOMA can popularize modular construction. A well-thought-out concept from the architectural office CHYBIK+KRISTOF, the most modern materials including fermacell greenline fiber cement boards, and a professional visual presentation of the new building on social media can attract not only customers but also the media, architects, and the general public.

At the end of last year, employees of the company received a brand new multifunctional building where they can change, shower, eat, and relax. The building also serves as a conference room and a space for social events. The author of the new modular facilities for employees of KOMA MODULAR s.r.o. from Vizovice is the architectural office Chybík+Krištof AA. Young architects see the future of construction in modular building and prove it with the new pure modular structure in the company's premises. This replaced the already unsuitable dining facility, which operated until the summer of last year.

The building made of large-format Comfort modules is not only intended for dining and facilities. The structure is designed to host various events such as conferences, meetings, and lectures within its interiors. The modular building also includes relaxation areas where employees can unwind or sort out their thoughts. For this purpose, three outdoor terraces will likely be the most used. KOMA's marketing director Martin Hart evaluates this project retrospectively as follows: "I am glad to be part of a company that cares for its employees in such a way, whether it is in the form of a modern production plant or a facility. I am proud that KOMA has this philosophy. The success of any business lies in the ability to create a functional, hardworking, and loyal team."

Concept of the building
The main goal of the design was not only to ensure dignified conditions for employees but also to create a structure that would well represent the company and express the specific properties of the KOMA modular system. The building's concept is based on the idea of two clearly defined volumes. The ground floor is designed with the main entrance to the premises and employee facilities in the form of new changing rooms, while the first floor features a generously sized dining area. The dining area is intentionally located on the first floor - according to the authors, it symbolizes a detachment from the work process, ensuring the necessary peace and relaxation during breaks and lunches. This principle also supports the operational logic of the new building. With its horizontal mass and orientation not only towards the cardinal directions but primarily towards the entire manufacturing facility of the company, it supports the necessary identification of all professions with their workplace. The spatial concept is based on the idea of communal dining for all professions regardless of the company's hierarchy. The outdoor terraces allow for dining during the summer months. The chosen mass solution creates a showroom for presenting not only the structural and material possibilities of the modular system but also the company culture and the relationship with all professions.

Construction
The building is assembled from large-format Comfort modules, which are used in two sizes. 16 modules with basic dimensions of 3300 x 3000 x 9000 mm and 3 modules with basic dimensions of 3300 x 3000 x 7500 mm. The façade on the ground floor consists of PUR insulation and a cladding of expanded metal, while the first floor is fully glazed around the perimeter. Shading is provided by external fabric blinds.

Fermacell fiber cement materials are used in the surfaces, walls, and floors of the new building. The ceilings are made of 10 mm fermacell greenline boards with a fire resistance of 30 minutes, while the walls / partition walls are made of 12.5 mm fermacell boards with a fire resistance of 30 minutes. The structure with fermacell boards excels not only in fire resistance but also in very good acoustics.
The floor on the first floor consists of a leveling layer of fermacell, upon which are placed the floor elements fermacell 2 E22, made of two 12.5 mm fermacell boards. These floors have a permissible point load of 4kN and are intended for areas of use no. 4, that is for the most heavily trafficked spaces such as shopping centers, concert and conference halls, or hospitals.