Christina and Hannah are using Structural Insulated Panels, or SIPs, to build their studios. SIPs construction is a relatively new technology that uses prefabricated panels to replace the 2x4 studs, insulation and sheathing found in standard construction. The panels are a sandwich of OSB plywood and polystyrene foam, and are incredibly light and strong - the same basic principle that gives surfboards their rigidity. Being structural, SIP assembly requires no 2x4 frame to hold the building up (although 2x4's are used as splines to connect the panels). Being a solid-core insulated panel gives the walls great thermal performance and soundproofing.
Most SIPs are ordered from a factory at a cost of around $3 per square foot of panel. This is too expensive for us; we are attempting to fabricate our own SIPs out of OSB and polystyrene. A typical 4x8' panel should cost around $35, or just over $1 per square foot.
SIP construction holds several great advantages for this project: once the panels are prefabricated assembly on site is extremely fast - generally a house can be built in around a day. The lack of structural framing saves wood, making a very environmentally friendly studio. And because the studios have to be removed at the end of the school year, these prefab panel studios can be easily dismantled and reassembled elsewhere.
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