Core smart zone structure and method

Abstract

A core smart zone structure and method are disclosed herein. The core smart zone structure is fabricated off-site and transported to an on-site location for assembly and construction of a building structure. The prefabricated core smart zone structure includes the ‘wet’ rooms of the building, such as a kitchen and one or more bathrooms, and preinstalled utility installations for serving the prefabricated core smart zone structure and other rooms of a building structure.

1 . A core smart zone structure comprising:
 a frame including a base, at least four structure sides, and an interior defined thereby;   a plurality of floor panels installed atop the base;   a plurality of wall panels lining an outer and inner surface of each of the at least four structure sides;   a ceiling panel installed atop the at least four structure sides;   a kitchen defined in the interior of the frame;   at least one bathroom defined in the interior of the frame and separated from the kitchen by at least one inner wall;   a plurality of utility installations including electrical installations, plumbing installations, and a heating and cooling system; and   wherein the core smart zone structure is pre-fabricated off-site and configured for transportation to an on-site location after fabrication thereof for use in constructing a building structure.   
     
     
         2 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a smart home technology system for controlling at least one of the plurality of utility installations. 
     
     
         3 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 2 , wherein the smart home technology system includes a user terminal attached to one of the plurality of wall panels, enabling use of the smart home technology system. 
     
     
         4 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is made from steel. 
     
     
         5 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 4 , wherein the steel is cold rolled steel. 
     
     
         6 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 5 , wherein the kitchen is located centrally within interior of the frame and defined by a pair of inner walls and a front and rear structure side of the at least four main structure sides. 
     
     
         7 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one bathroom is partitioned from the kitchen via one of the pair of inner walls. 
     
     
         8 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of inner walls are defined by the frame and each outer and inner surface of each of the pair of inner walls are lined by one of the plurality of wall panels. 
     
     
         9 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 8 , wherein the electrical installations include at least: lighting, power outlets, switches and pre-cabling. 
     
     
         10 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 9 , wherein the plumbing installations include separate hot and cold water lines supplying at least the kitchen and the at least one bathroom. 
     
     
         11 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 10 , wherein the plumbing installations further include a blackwater discharge line. 
     
     
         12 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 11 , wherein the plumbing installations further include a greywater discharge line. 
     
     
         13 . A core smart zone structure pre-fabricated off-site and configured for transportation to an on-site location after fabrication thereof for use in constructing a building structure, the core smart zone structure comprising:
 a generally cuboidal frame including a base, at least four structure sides, an interior defined thereby, and at least a pair of inner walls installed in the interior;   a plurality of floor panels installed atop the base;   a plurality of wall panels lining an outer and inner surface of each of the at least four structure sides and the pair of inner walls;   an inner and outer wall panel lining each pair of inner walls;   a ceiling panel installed atop the at least four structure sides;   a kitchen located centrally within interior of the frame and defined by the pair of inner walls and a front and rear structure side of the at least one four main structure sides;   at least one bathroom defined in the interior of the frame and partitioned from the kitchen via one of the pair of inner walls; and   a plurality of utility installations including:
 electrical installations comprising at least: lighting, power outlets, switches and pre-cabling; 
 plumbing installations comprising at least: separate cold and hot water lines and at least one water discharge line; and 
 a heating and cooling system. 
   
     
     
         14 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 13 , further comprising a smart home technology system for controlling at least one of the plurality of utility installations. 
     
     
         15 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 14 , wherein the smart home technology system includes a user terminal attached to one of the plurality of wall panels, enabling use of the smart home technology system. 
     
     
         16 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 13 , wherein the frame is made from steel. 
     
     
         17 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 16 , wherein the steel is cold rolled steel. 
     
     
         18 . The core smart zone structure of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one water discharge line includes at least one of a blackwater discharge line and a greywater discharge line. 
     
     
         19 . A method of providing a core smart zone structure, the method comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a frame including:
 a base; 
 at least four structure sides attached to the base; 
 an interior defined by the at least four structure sides; and 
 at least a pair of inner walls in the interior to define a kitchen and at least one bathroom; 
   installing plumbing installations to the frame;   installing electrical installations to the frame;   installing a plurality of floor panels atop the base;   installing a plurality of wall panels to an outer and inner surface of each of the at least four structure sides and the pair of inner walls;   connecting the plumbing installations to plumbing fixtures in the at least one bathroom and the kitchen;   connecting the electrical installations to electrical fixtures in the at least one bathroom and the kitchen;   installing a ceiling panel atop the at least four structure sides;   installing a heating and cooling system and associated ductwork;   performing quality testing and inspection steps;   packaging the core smart zone structure; and   transporting the core smart zone structure to an on-site location.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the entire core smart zone structure is transported to the on-site location on a single truck.