Modular Construction Continues to Grow
The modular units for Carmel Place in NYC under construction. (Courtesy nARCHITECTS)
A very positive review of the current state of the modular construction industry and the future outlook for it was recently published in The Architect’s Newspaper. The article quotes the The National Real Estate Investor which showed that in the last five years the modular construction industry has doubled in size to over $8 billion. The increased productivity and lower overall design and construction costs were indicated as the most significant factors in the choice of using modular construction for commercial projects. The article also references the 2018 Commercial Construction Index economic indicator, a report jointly published by USG Corporation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that tracks trends in commercial construction. It showed that more than 70 percent of surveyed contractors see eight distinct benefits in using modular construction including increases in efficiency, productivity, safety, and quality, while reducing risk, costs, material waste, and construction times. The reduction in the overall project timeline also leads to an increase in the opportunity costs by allowing revenue-earning buildings to begin doing so faster than facilities built using other construction methods. The whole article can be viewed here.
- Published in Commercial, Modular Building, Modular Construction, Technology
New McKinsey and Company Report Adds to the Case for Modular Construction
Last month, McKinsey & Company published a comprehensive study of the growing impact of modular construction in the U.S and Europe. Titled, ‘Modular Construction: From projects to products‘, the study puts into focus what the commercial modular industry has long held to be the case. Namely, that modular can deliver projects 20% to 50% faster than site construction methods while also reducing project costs up to 20%. The report cites the technological improvements, economic demands, and the changing mind-sets that is drawing significant interest and investment which has the potential to vastly change the way projects are built today. The study goes on to show how a shift to modular construction could have a significant positive impact on global productivity by accelerating and compressing the project timeline while alleviating the impact of labor shortages in many areas.. The full report is available for download here.
- Published in Commercial, Modular Construction, Technology
Gary Davenport Receives New Mexico Architecture License
Gary Davenport, Ramtech’s Project Architect and Design Project Manager, has received his architecture license for the state of New Mexico. Gary applied for the license in order to meet a requirement in the procurement process on our successful pursuit of a $13.5 million multi-use modular office building (MUOB) project for the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The MUOB project requirements stipulated that a registered New Mexico architect must be the Professional of Record and Designer of Record in addition to having five to eight years experience designing similar multi-story permanent modular construction projects. The New Mexico licensure required an intensive review of Gary’s experience, an evaluation by the NCARB, successful passage of the New Mexico legal requirements test, and confirmation of his good standing with the other states in which he is registered. Those states include Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and New Jersey. Gary fit this requirement perfectly so he worked closely with the State of New Mexico Board of Architects and was able to receive his reciprocal approval in just over three weeks time. The licensure becomes the sixth state where Gary maintains licenses and provides Ramtech with an increased capacity to pursue both public and private modular building projects in New Mexico.
- Published in Commercial, Government, Modular Construction
Site Work Progressing on Lifestyle Management’s Dallas (TX) Area Residential Reintegration Facility
After a spring and summer of dealing with heavy rains, Ramtech is progressing with all of the site improvements and foundation preparation for the new residential reintegration facility for Lifestyle Management Inc. of Edmond, Oklahoma. The 31,752 square foot project, which will accommodate up to 296 clients, is being built using Ramtech’s Accelerated Building System permanent modular construction method. Known as the Dallas Transitional Center, the modular building project is located 12 miles south of downtown Dallas on a ten acre portion of an existing 57 acre site owned by Dallas County. The new building will replace Lifestyle’s current 225-bed halfway house with a facility that includes four 50-man dorms, three 24-man dorms, one 24-woman dorm, two classrooms, a full commercial kitchen, and administrative office space. Ramtech is also responsible for the full site development of the four acres required to accommodate the residential reintegration facility, 40 parking spaces, two basketball courts, and two covered pavilions.
- Published in Commercial, Modular Construction, Permanent Construction, Ramtech News
Jeff Ward Appointed Sales Manager for Ramtech
Ramtech is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeff Ward to the position of Sales Manager. Jeff joined Ramtech in August 2010 as a Business Development Representative where he was tasked with expanding traditional modular building sales to both commercial contractors and federal government agencies. In his new role, Jeff will oversee the daily activities of the sales and telemarketing team while continuing to develop project opportunities in the commercial, education, and federal government markets. As a member of Ramtech’s marketing team, Jeff will contribute to identifying industry trends and helping us develop new markets for our design-build approach to relocatable modular buildings and permanent modular construction using our Accelerated Building System. Jeff will also represent Ramtech at all of the industry conferences that we attend or have a trade show booth exhibits.
Jeff began his career in the modular industry in 1997 as a sales representative for Palm Harbor Homes where he rose to sales manager and led a team of eight sales reps at the number one sales center in the company. After leaving Palm Harbor in 2001, Jeff transitioned to the commercial modular building business where he quickly developed a reputation for being able to successfully develop a broad range of relocatable and permanent modular building projects for federal government agencies including each branch of the U.S. Military. Jeff’s tenure on the commercial side of the industry has included positions in both business development as well as senior sales specialist roles. Originally from DeSoto, Texas, Jeff is a graduate of Texas State University-San Marcos and is currently a member of the Society of Military Engineers. Jeff and his family reside in Mansfield where he is active in the community’s Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County program.
- Published in Commercial, Government, Modular Construction, Ramtech News
The Key to Successful Commercial Modular Construction
There are many challenges to modular construction, especially commercial modular construction which includes both temporary as well as permanent modular buildings used for schools, hospitals, office and retail facilities. Here in the U.S. it is challenging enough that the states having different regulatory requirements that control commercial modular construction, however the biggest problem usually occurs when a modular dealer, manufacturer, or general contractor takes on a project that they do not have the past experience to successfully complete. (more…)
- Published in Commercial, Modular Construction