Many builders, developers and project owners have an inaccurate view of modular offsite construction. Modular is very different than conventional site building. As such, it’s a change that requires different processes, different staffing and different skill sets from those that most in this industry are used to.
Of course it’s human nature to resist change. For many people, change is painful. In today’s world of construction, however, change is imperative, and it needs to start at the very beginning of the project: during the design phase.
To talk about design we need to talk about architects. But while architects are required for most commercial projects in the US, rarely do you find them involved with single-family home construction or on small multifamily projects. These residential builds tend to use architectural designers.
In fact, single-family home design courses are rare in architectural schools. And I don’t know of any schools that offer training in how to use offsite construction for residential design. That must change. For modular to increase its market share, it needs architects that know how to design around it and how to specify it for both commercial and residential projects.
Yes, there are some firms and some individual architects that understand and work with modular construction, but we need to take that to the next level. We need to get the information into the schools, so that the academics teaching in those schools can share true and accurate information. Graduating architecture students need to understand all methods of construction, including modular, and need to be able to apply them to projects.
They also need to understand that modular doesn’t have to mean boxy design. (However, with the popularity of contemporary and mid-century modern design, modular construction works quite well.) They need to understand that if they’re designing a Victorian home or a log-style cabin, offsite modular can fill the need.
Architects will be more likely to get on board with modular and offsite if they have appropriate materials to specify. That’s why we need a stream of new and better products that take full advantage of this approach to building.
We need more innovative, high-performance and lightweight materials that are cost-effective and sustainable for modular projects. For instance, how do we replace heavy, hard-to-work-with drywall with an eco-friendly wallcovering that provides structure and is light and quick to finish?
One way to open a discussion with architects about offsite construction is to talk about its sustainability advantages. This method of building is naturally suited for building healthier, more energy-efficient living spaces, more cost-effectively and with fewer workers. Those advantages leave the architect free to focus on creating living spaces that offer maximum beauty and utility.
Architects are trained in many areas, from engineering to landscape design. Their knowledge and experience mean they can find solutions and see possibilities that a project owner or homeowner could miss. Armed with the right knowledge, architects can take full advantage of offsite construction to build beautiful living spaces!
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