A volumetric modular unit constructed at a modular unit factory and shipped assembled to a modular building project site is disclosed. A modular building constructed from shipped volumetric modular units is also disclosed. Features of a volumetric modular unit and modular building are designed to account for and leverage traditional building practices. Shipping constraints often dictate volumetric modular unit design constraints. The volumetric modular unit and modular constructed building addresses both design needs and shipping constraints to leverage more economical resources available at a volumetric modular unit manufacturing plant.

A movie theater auditorium is disclosed with reclining or reclined seats, whereby patrons are viewing a screen that is elevated and tilted toward the viewing audience. Comparative to traditional movie theaters with vertical screens with fixed or reclining chairs, exemplary embodiments provide a more natural viewing angle and line of sight for the viewing audience. Some embodiments are disclosed which employ repurposed shipping containers as structural elements of a cinema.

The invention is directed broadly to a modular housing system having a structural framework comprising an internal chassis as a core structural element, the internal chassis including: a first ladder frame that defines a base; four columns at least two being extendable columns; and a second ladder frame engaged to the first ladder frame via the four columns, such that at least one of a distance and an angle between the first ladder frame and the second ladder frame is adjustable to define a usable volume of the structural framework.

Hybrid buildings, hybrid building systems and methods of constructing hybrid buildings are disclosed. First and second building sections forming part of such buildings are also disclosed. One such hybrid residential building (1600) comprises a first building section (1610) and a second building section (1620). The first building section is an on-site construction at a final location for the building and comprises a lower storey (1611) defining an internal volume (1613) that provides a lower living space (1615) within the building, and an upper storey (1617) defining an internal volume (1619) that provides an upper living space (1621) within the building. The second building section defines an internal volume (1623) and is transportable to the final location in a substantially assembled form. The first and second building sections are connected at the final location to form the building. The second building section defines a circulation space (1649) for the building, access between the upper and lower living spaces of the first building section being provided via the circulation space.

It is disclosed a densely packable sequential series of external housing units associated with succeeding internal housing units. The external housing units have inside volume and openings for receiving the internal housing unit. Means for facilitating the displacement of an internal unit out of an external unit, like integrated bearings, integrated wheels, integrated retractable wheels, and a low friction coating are installed on an inside shells of the associated external housing unit, on an outside shells of the internal housing unit. The housing units have a uniform cross section along a majority of one of the dimensions of the unit, having outlines like a circle, a triangular frame, a rectangular frame, a circular arc of, a trapezoidal frame, a polygon of five, six or more edges, a hyperbolic arc, and a parabolic arc, or other types of arches. The typical transverse linear size of an internal unit is 80% to 99% of the preceding external unit. The series is transportable as a single cargo item between locations. A shell of an housing unit may include at least one layer like highly insulating layer, anti-ballistic layer, and composite materials such as fiberglass reinforced plastic layer, polymer-metal composite layer, and carbon based composite materials.

A data center may be organized into modules, wherein the modules are purchased pre-configured to provide certain functionality of an information handling system. The modules may include utility modules, information technology (IT) modules, and air handling unit (AHU) modules. The utility module may provide infrastructure for other modules, such as electrical power service infrastructure. Electrical power may be provided by the utility module to other modules through two or more redundant busses connected to different electrical sources. The utility module may also include a control system that allows the utility services to be reconfigured to allow installation of new modules without interrupting service to existing modules.

A multi-unit residential building having a perimeter residential units along the perimeter of the building, and a common area with occupiable spaces that are generally centrally located to the residential units creating two parallel corridors between the residential units and the common area for easy and efficient access to the common areas by residents of the residential units. The common area provides typical amenities and rooms normally found inside a private residential unit. A reservation system can be used to coordinate efficient use of the common areas. Non-residents can rent out the common areas with proceeds used to offset building costs to lower costs for the residents.

A multi-unit residential building having a perimeter residential units along the perimeter of the building, and a common area with occupiable spaces that are generally centrally located to the residential units creating two parallel corridors between the residential units and the common area for easy and efficient access to the common areas by residents of the residential units. The common area provides typical amenities and rooms normally found inside a private residential unit. A reservation system can be used to coordinate efficient use of the common areas. Non-residents can rent out the common areas with proceeds used to offset building costs to lower costs for the residents.

A connector assembly, having an upper connector, a pin coupling the upper connector to a lower connector and a gusset plate sandwiched between the upper and lower connectors. Also, disclosed is a hoistable connector assembly, a lifting frame assembly, a coupling system for modular frame units, a method for assembling a module unit using the connector assembly, and a modular frame unit and building having the connector assembly.

Disclosed is an air umbrella apparatus including an air suction pipe having an air suction hole in an upper end thereof, a water collection pipe disposed concentrically with the air suction pipe and having an upper end coupled to a water-collection-inducing pipe for guiding rain or snow downward, an exhaust pipe disposed concentrically with the water collection pipe and having an upper end coupled to an exhaust-guiding pipe for guiding air outward, a communication pipe coupled to the air suction pipe, the water collection pipe, and the exhaust pipe for communicating the air suction pipe with the exhaust pipe, and a blower disposed between the exhaust pipe and the water collection pipe for the introduction and exhaust of air. The exhausted air forms an air curtain having a predetermined area above the exhaust-guiding pipe, thereby preventing rain and snow from falling from the exhaust-guiding pipe.