The demolition process has begun!

The Gateway Gardens project has officially broken ground starting with the demolition of a few abandoned and condemned houses along 97th Avenue in NE Portland. This phase of construction was handled with more caution and care than an average demolition process because materials from these old houses are being sorted and recycled. This process certainly ads time to the project but we believe the 13 truck loads of 100% recycled material we salvaged was worth it. A more formal term for this process would be “building deconstruction”. Essentially deconstruction is the selective dismantlement of building components, specifically for re-use, recycling, and waste management. It differs from demolition where a site is cleared of its building by the fastest means possible. Deconstruction has also been defined as “construction in reverse”. The process of dismantling structures is an ancient activity that has been revived by the growing field of sustainable, green building. Buildings, like everything, have a life-cycle. Deconstruction focuses on giving the materials within a building a new life once the building as a whole can no longer continue.

Although many of the materials collected in the deconstruction process are fit to be recycled, these materials are unfit to be repurposed for the new construction of Gateway Gardens because of their inconsistent nature and condition. The four proposed buildings for Gateway Gardens have already been engineered based on a series of sustainable factors ranging from the bare bones of framing to decorative detailing in railings and siding types.


The new construction process for The Gardens promises to pay off in ways other than recycling. The Gardens will be built under LEED enforced regulations regarding something called Embodied Energy. The term embodied energy is defined as "the sum of energy inputs (fuels/power, materials, human resources etc) that was used in the work to make any product, from the point of extraction and refining materials, bringing it to market, and disposal / re-purposing of it. Embodied energy is an accounting methodology which aims to find the sum total of the energy necessary for an entire product lifecycle. This lifecycle includes raw material extraction, transport, manufacture, assembly, installation, disassembly, deconstruction and/or decomposition." (Wikipedia)

Our crew at Miranda Industries is constantly developing new strategies to save time, costs, fuel, and any other types of energy that we use to build our homes. Our biggest saver is having each part of the building pre-manufactured and ready for assembly. This way we save on time by getting more accomplished in a quicker time frame. We also don’t end up with extra manufactured parts which would waste materials and the energy it took to create those materials. Also, steel is lighter and more predictable than wood allowing for easier transport on the job site (less heavy lifting for our crew) and more secure connections between building components.

Transportation is another issue when it comes to conserving energy. We are able to avoid a huge percentage of trips to the job site by having sets of framing packages on site and ready for installation. There will be no time wasted in finding particular measurements of joists or studs on site because these panels have already been programmed and assembled. The more our crew gets accomplished per day, the less days and trips (embodied energy) they will have to spend throughout the process.

Using the right materials in the correct way is also a large component of the building process for Gateway Gardens. Typically, steel framed buildings are thought to develop thermal bridging between stud connections and the outside air because metal is such a great conductor for thermal energy. Thermal bridging is created when materials that are poor thermal insulators come into contact, allowing heat to flow through the path of least thermal resistance. This leads to infiltration which is essentially, the leakage of outside air to the inside of the building. Proper insulation is the key to solving this problem and preventing infiltration from occurring. We use spray foam insulation instead of typical blown or batt insulation because it is able to mask each metal connector from conducting any unwanted thermal energy.

Creative engineering is also a major factor in calculating our amount of embodied energy. Our engineering department at Miranda is aggressively researching possible floor systems and we have narrowed in on two options. One of those options is The Bubble Deck System. Basically this system distributes the weight of the building in multiple directions throughout the slab with its incredibly innovative design which is a series of gridded spheres that are sandwiched between two concrete slabs and reinforced with rebar. This system is great not only for using completely recycled materials but it also drastically cuts structural components and associated costs. The Bubble Deck system will reduce the amount of concrete needed for each slab by 35% and saves 50% with the same bearing effect. This means less materials required for structural support below and less usage of expended energy in development.


Miranda’s process of both site preparation and building construction along with creative engineering and proper use of materials has given us merit in what is both a true sustainable process as well as a sustainable product. We do whatever we can to conserve energy in both our building process and the life of the building, Gateway Gardens is sure to be an excellent example.

New Home Underway in Parkdale

Single family homes have always been Miranda’s specialty and since our homes are specifically engineered to stand the test of time, we want our clients to be comfortable. Local architect, Paul McKean and home owners Mr. and Mrs. Reese came to us a few months ago with a slightly unconventional design which met their exact needs. This new home, in Parkdale, Oregon, is two stories with the first level partially submerged into a hillside. These first level walls are composed of insulated concrete forms (or ICFs) which have a high insulation value and are ideal for sub-terrain building because of their durability and strength, which in this case, will retain the hillside.

The first level is mostly storage with two bedrooms and a full bath. The second floor is level with the driveway and contains a two car garage and main living quarters. This 3 bedroom/ 2.5 bath home is roughly 2,850 S.F. and features a few extra perks such as a media room, ample storage space, and walk-in closets. This home also features aligned plumbing which allows for better water pressure, fewer materials, and less work for our in-house plumbing crew.



The Reese project is just one of our many current homes being constructed. We used Revit Architecture 2011 which we have customized to include MWF software to create a unique engineering platform. Through this program were able to create a 3D model of the Reese’s home and add in all of the structural elements, including trusses, studs, and joists. Our process is very new but proving to be extremely beneficial in the industry. Revit software has the ability to instantly create elevation and section views as well as develop door and window schedules. This process drastically reduces time by eliminating draft work and it also gives the client a very clear perspective on what their house is going to look like.

If it fits, it ships.

Shipping container housing has become a very practical (even trendy) form of sustainable building in the United States. Parts of Europe, such as Holland, have gone as far to create temporary housing out of containers for students and travelers.

With all that is happening around the world in terms of natural disasters, we at Miranda believed it was important to contribute and design for those in need. We created a relief housing shelter to be quickly assembled and used wherever needed.

When Japan endured the catastrophic 9.0 earthquake in March, and suffered critical damage beyond repair, Rob Boydstun (President of Miranda Homes) received a call from Business Oregon which put him in contact with a Japanese building official. It was then that Miranda Homes decided to fully develop a temporary housing solution. Designer, Kelly Geiger and Miranda Boydstun developed the patent-pending design including crucial details of the plan such as cost, functionality, energy efficiency, & durability. The product is essentially a stack-able duplex unit that will arrive in a standard 40'x8' shipping container and can be assembled anywhere in the world. In the original design, the shelter was intended for relief efforts in Japan and was in compliance with Japanese building code. Since then, it has now become a universal design.

There is an over abundance of shipping containers in the U.S. because it is not cost effective to ship back an empty container and because the U.S. does not provide enough of an export market to make up the difference. At Miranda, the answer was obvious; why not re-purpose these containers into something useful? Two birds with one stone- we recycle the abundance of shipping containers (which are essentially just taking up space) and create housing for those in need at the same time.



Our product is called S.L.I.C. (Sustainable Living In Containers) and it is just that. All of the materials have been selected to provide high durability, easy assembly, energy efficiency, and above all sustainability.

Click here for continued information on S.L.I.C. housing.

Think Big

Recently, the use of steel construction is gaining more attention in smaller residential projects. On a larger scale, steel continues to be a main contributor to the commercial building industry. Miranda Homes caught the eye of local developer Gordon Jones when he was searching for sustainable builders with quick construction methods. Jones' vision was the development of Gateway Gardens; a low-rise, multi-family complex which will consist of four separate buildings. Miranda Homes is now bringing forth their knowledge of energy efficient residential building to a commercial scale.

Gateway Gardens was designed by Craig Monaghan in partner with Miranda Homes. The complex is intended o provide affordable housing for young professionals working in the city of Portland. The Gardens will be located at 333 NE 97th Avenue in Portland, Oregon. The area provides for a quick commute for tenants working in the downtown area.


Features of the Gardens include:
- Covered parking on the first floor of the building
- Electric car ports & charging stations for electric vehicles
- Outdoor spaces for each unit
- On site water harvesting
- Passive solar design
-Community garden beds



Engineering plans for the project are well into completion and we are excited to move forward with the demolition process. Demolition is projected to begin Fall of 2011.

Similar projects are happening all around the U.S. but this particular type of construction is relatively new to the Northwest. Here is an example of a very similar up and coming project by BORM; a steel building company out of California.

New House on the Block

Miranda Homes is currently finishing one of its first homes designed and built with our new in house Revit 3D modeling software. This software was customized (see previous post) to manage our steel stud and truss machines as well as provide detailed schedules of building elements such as doors and windows. With this project, we were able to prove that a custom designed home could be built using our signature process of panelization and off site manufacturing.

For example, the fire places (on both levels) where built and pre-applied with masonry. and most of the manufacturing was completed in our shop. All of the wall panels that include rolling the steel, sheeting, exterior insulation, host plumbing and electrical holes were done in our shop.

One of the challenges we faced, like many other builders, was building on a small site. Storage for materials and even parking for our work trucks was difficult. Our process lends itself to this type of situation. During the building process, we store our materials in our warehouse and move most of the necessary building materials out the day they are required for installation. This way, we can bring an accurate amount of material to the job site every working day. This process also drastically reduces hours of labor needed and in turn, a quicker more efficient build.

There is a great deal of planning involved in our design and building process. We believe that having control over the process is key to saving time and money.


We are very excited about this new home and have a well documented process to show you.

RediPour.com Site Launch

Miranda Industries is proud to present the Redi Pour Wall System. This Patent Pending new product was developed by a team at Miranda to be used by architects, masons, builders, and even home owners. This system substantially reduces the amount of time needed for typical retaining wall construction. The Redi Pour Wall can be customized for any site and location because it is designed using state of the art software run by our in house engineers.

Our engineers will take your concept and transform your project into a 3D platform that allows you to see how your wall will look before it gets built. This process is very similar to how we construct our custom homes.

Once designed, the Redi Form Wall is built in our plant and delivered to the site ready to pour with concrete or filled with other materials to create a vertical garden or ivy wall. The Redi Form wall can also be covered with any type of masonry product from cultured stone to stucco and everything in between!

Visit the newly published Redi Pour website today at RediPour.com to answer all your questions and give you more information on this highly efficient and easy to use product.

Innovation in Sustainability Award Finalist!

Portland Business Journal will be holding their awards luncheon for "Innovation in Sustainability" on May 19th. Miranda Homes has been selected as one of three finalists in their "Innovation in Sustainable Operations" category. As a finalist, we will be featured in their May 20th publication, Sustainable Business Oregon. The luncheon will feature keynote speaker, Martha Wyrsch, President of Vestas American Wind Technology, Inc. We are very excited to be considered for this award!

Event information, including other finalists, can be found at this link: http://www2.bizjournals.com/portland/event/35651?mp=3

Miranda Homes has worked tirelessly to perfect its business model that has become very unique to the industry. Our vertical integration concept, that allows us to control the build process, proves very beneficial to our clients. It provides better design and visual aids that convert their Dream home to very detailed construction documents. These documents, or "deliverables" help eliminate the waste caused by rework from miscommunication, unnecessary change orders, and also gives our crews the information they need when they need it. This process reduces man hours, which drastically shortens the length of the project. That in turn is why we can afford to use much higher quality materials that allow us to achieve much higher Energy Efficiency standards, Quality standards and build a project that will "Sustain the Test of Time.”

To find more information regarding our green building strategies, please visit this link to an article written by commercial broker, Rick Bean:
http://www.rosecitycre.com/articles/earth-day-special-the-future-of-green-multifamily-construction/

Portland Business Journal Award finalist

Portland Business Journal will be holding their awards luncheon for "Innovation in Sustainability" on May 19th. Miranda Homes has been selected as one of three finalists in their "Innovation in Sustainable Operations" category. As a finalist, we will be featured in their May 20th publication, Sustainable Business Oregon. The luncheon will feature keynote speaker, Martha Wyrsch, President of Vestas American Wind Technology, Inc. We are very excited to be considered for this award! Miranda Homes has worked tirelessly to perfect our business model which is completely unique to the industry. Our vertical integration concept allows us to control the entire build process, (proving very beneficial to our clients). It provides better design and visual aids that convert their Dream home or building to very detailed construction documents. These documents, or "deliverables" help eliminate the waste caused by rework from miscommunication, unnecessary change orders, and also gives our crews the information they need when they need it. This process reduces man hours, which drastically shortens the length of the project. That in turn is why we can afford to use much higher quality materials that allow us to achieve much higher Energy Efficiency standards, Quality standards and build a project that will "Sustain the Test of Time."

Software processes virtual custom homes into reality

Miranda Homes has recently changed their engineering software to Revit Architecture 2011. This advanced program allows for the home builder and buyer to explore a wider range of customization for their home. The engineers at Miranda are excited about what this software has to offer.

"From inception our goal was to incorporate software that would give us the ability to allow our customers to visualize, in 3-D, their dream home in detail and then turn that into deliverables," said president Rob Boydstun, "Revit, coupled with the Struc Soft program, customization from Miranda's engineers, and other component manufacturers improve our process to construct the home as ordered and on schedule."

Revit has updated its software to enhance the needs of efficient builders like Miranda. New features include estimates on total energy and carbon emissions annually, monthly and even hourly, estimates on water usage throughout the house, and calculations of heating and cooling loads based on occupancy. All of these features collectively work to simplify the process of designing a house.

Revit also supplies a panoramic 3-D view of the home allowing each room to be seen as it will look structurally in detail. Think of it as an in-depth version of "The Sims" architectural video game series, except you can actually have it built.

To ensure that the buyer has a greater chance of getting the exact product they want with their home, Revit provides the "family" feature. This takes the parameters and dimensions of a product – say, a bathtub – and fits it into the architectural drawings allowing the designer to see what that product will look like in the home when it is built.

The buyer can choose from thousands of household items such as bathtubs, windows, cabinets and appliances from many businesses, such as Andersen Windows, who have pre-made product files ready to be downloaded.


"Because there's so many architects and structural engineers using it there's a large library of components already available," says Hanson (right), "The point of having the geometry already created is a big head start."

These products can be grouped together so that the engineer can simply pick the product and drop it into place in seconds, instead of repetitively putting in dimensions each time, which will save hours over the overall building process.

With requests growing for Miranda custom homes, the Revit Architecture 2011 software is leading the way in providing the home buyer with a more enjoyable and stress-free experience as they begin to construct their dream home.

Colby Residence - Video of Ribbon Cutting