Non-bearing modular construction system

Abstract

Methods and apparatus facilitate the construction of a building using prefabricated building units, each having a horizontal upper exterior surface and a plurality of vertical wall surfaces, wherein at least some of the prefabricated building units have at least one hollow column formwork structure. The prefabricated building units are lowered onto a pre-existing base at a construction site. A first story of the building is created by arranging a plurality of the prefabricated building units adjacent to each other on the base. Structural bearing material is applied to fill the hollow column formwork structures to create structural columns connected to the structural deck. Structural bearing material is applied to the horizontal upper exterior surfaces of the adjacent prefabricated building units to create a single structural deck over the prefabricated building units.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A building comprising:
 a plurality of prefabricated modular building units, having vertical and horizontal exterior surfaces;   said prefabricated modular building units being arranged in a stacked configuration that includes upper and lower prefabricated modular building units;   horizontal structural deck composed of poured concrete forming a continuous horizontal plate disposed between said upper and lower prefabricated modular building units, wherein said horizontal structural deck is also disposed between said upper and lower prefabricated modular building units such that portions of said horizontal exterior surfaces of the prefabricated modular building units are in contact with said poured concrete before the concrete is cured, wherein said portions of horizontal exterior surfaces are permanent formwork;   vertically disposed hollow column formwork disposed within said prefabricated modular building units, the vertically disposed hollow column formwork being a distinct and separate structure from the vertical exterior surfaces the prefabricated modular building units; and   poured concrete columns disposed inside said vertically disposed hollow column formwork, wherein there are no load-bearing walls adjacent to the prefabricated modular building units such that structural loads in the building are supported substantially by the structural deck and the one or more poured concrete structural columns.   
     
     
         14 . The building of claim  13 wherein said pre-fabricated modular building units include at least one of: installed floor finish, interior walls, doors, interior glazing, fixtures, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, fixed appliances, electrical wiring, lighting, water and waste piping, and HVAC equipment. 
     
     
         15 . The building of  claim 13  further comprising at least one tower core rising from ground level adjacent to said stacked modular building units. 
     
     
         16 . A method of constructing a building comprising:
 constructing a plurality of pre-fabricated modular building units having exterior surfaces;   installing at least one of said modular building units on a substrate;   installing a structural deck composed of structural bearing material over said installed modular building unit using at least one of said exterior surfaces as permanent formwork; and   installing at least one additional modular building unit on said structural deck.   
     
     
         17 . The building of  claim 13  wherein the exterior surfaces of the prefabricated modular building units include horizontal and vertical exterior surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . The building of  claim 17  wherein the portions of exterior surfaces of the prefabricated modular building units used as permanent formwork include horizontal exterior surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The building of  claim 15  wherein the tower core includes elevators and stairs adjacent to some of the plurality of prefabricated modular building units. 
     
     
         20 . The building of  claim 13  wherein some of the plurality of prefabricated modular building units have doorways opening into adjacent prefabricated building units such that a single occupied habitable space unit is created from multiple ones of the plurality of prefabricated modular building units. 
     
     
         21 . The building of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of prefabricated modular building units include a service shaft with plumbing and electrical components passing therethrough. 
     
     
         22 . The building of  claim 13  further comprising a base upon which a first story of said plurality of prefabricated modular building units rest. 
     
     
         23 . The building of  claim 13  wherein the vertically disposed hollow column formwork is circular in cross-section.