Modular construction can deliver projects 20% to 50% faster than traditional methods and drastically reshape how buildings are delivered, according to a new report from McKinsey & Co.
Modular carries a potential cost savings of up to 20%, but there is a risk of up to a 10% loss if delivery or material costs spike, the report says. The global market is primed for the sweeping change that factory-built construction offers.
To realize all of modular’s benefits, the building team must choose the right design and right materials as well as overcome challenges in design, manufacturing, technology, logistics and assembly; and take advantage of locations where they can achieve scale and repetition. Public sector owners and regulatory agencies are well positioned to drive the industry toward modular.
Up to now, prefab home building has achieved a sustainable foothold in only a few places, including Japan and Scandinavia, the report adds. That may change as labor shortages become more acute and the industry adopts new, lighter-weight materials and digital technologies that enhance design capabilities and variability, improve precision and productivity in manufacturing, and facilitate logistics for the construction of prefab homes.
Related Stories
Building Tech | Mar 21, 2016
21 tips for executing radiant cooling systems [AIA course]
BD+C consulted technical experts on what to look for in radiant cooling. To earn 1.0 AIA CES HSW learning units, study the article carefully and take the 10-question exam.
Building Tech | Mar 18, 2016
Chicago museum opens LEGO architecture model exhibit
Structures like Fallingwater and the Burj Khalifa can be seen at Brick by Brick at the Museum of Science and Industry.
Building Tech | Mar 1, 2016
Buckling restrained braced frame debuts in the Northeast, at Bronx health center
Faced with building a mid-rise structure on a site with poor soil conditions, a structural engineering team turns to a West Coast favorite—BRBF technology—for a steadying influence.
Concrete | Aug 11, 2010
8 Innovations That Will Rock Your Next Concrete Project
If you think you've seen it all when it comes to concrete construction, then you haven't sat down with Blaine Brownell. The architect-turned-blogger-turned-author has become the industry's foremost expert in everything that is unconventional and provocative in the building products field. For the past eight years, this LEED Accredited Professional, BD+C “40 Under 40” winner, and vis...
