While the actual look of buildings hasn’t changed significantly in thousands of years, the way we design and build them has. Round, oval, square and rectangle are the building blocks of every building. The free-form design may be okay in a few of the more exotic buildings found in some cities, but those four basic shapes make up 99% of every other structure.
When it comes to modular design and building, those four building blocks are also perfect for production on an assembly line. Repetition is fundamental to modular and those four blocks are great for saving time and increasing efficiency.
It should come as no surprise then that modular methods of construction have been steadily increasing in popularity with developers and builders over the past two decades. These methods provide significant improvements in cost, schedule, quality, safety, productivity, client satisfaction and the ability to reduce waste.
The last two years also saw many firms turning to modular to help them meet the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic including labor shortages, supply chain issues, health concerns and others. Even though the core modular concept hasn’t changed, modular’s added benefits have become attractive since COVID-19 and the recent rise in raw material costs.
It’s getting tougher than ever for developers and builders who site build to match the benefits of offsite and modular production. Those benefits become even more compelling as modular companies implement new technologies into their manufacturing processes. Not long ago, handsaws, tape measures and hammers were the “go-to” staple of every modular home factory. Today, expect to see innovations in robotics, automation, computer-designed wall and truss assemblies and Building Information Management (BIM) being used in the modular and off-site industries.
Builders and developers switching to modular construction report improved project scheduling, lower construction costs and better quality compared to what they experienced when they built their projects on-site. In addition, sustainable materials, reducing carbon emissions and energy savings are inherent in today’s modular factory.
Of course, we all know that construction is a risky and often unpredictable business. Many firms are still unwilling to adopt new modular techniques because they fear these unfamiliar processes will further add to those risks.
But if you talk with those who have switched to modular, you will find that the vast majority say they will never go back. That’s why I’m confident that, as more people become familiar with the modular process and comfortable with its results, modular will see its market share grow exponentially.
Hopefully, more building owners and contractors will not only strengthen their overall interest in modular construction, but will also prefer it to stick-built.
