Former Ramtech Building Systems VP of Design and Development Roland Brown addresses the crowd at his induction into the MBI Hall of Fame.
At last month’s 2023 Modular Building Institute World of Modular Conference, Ramtech’s Roland Brown was inducted into the MBI’s Hall of Fame for his contributions as both an innovative designer of modular buildings for the public and private sectors, along with his career-long efforts in shepherding and helping to define the building codes in support of the commercial modular industry.
Roland began his career as a draftsman for a mobile home company in Silver City North Carolina. After an initial stint at PFS Corporation in Dallas where he honed his skills on structural design calculations, he then moved on to PBS Building Systems where he had the opportunity to help develop the structural concepts required to meet the more complex designs that the burgeoning modular building market was starting to demand. Over the course of his career, he became known for his ability to analytically solve problems and to develop the structural design solutions required to meet the challenges required to construct complex modular building projects. Many of these innovative and unique designs went on to make significant contributions to the technical evolution of the commercial modular building industry. These innovations include: the development of a system consisting of steel-trussed frames with panelized roof and wall panels; Type II building designs utilizing steel deck horizontal diaphragms and light gauge shear walls to allow for large open areas without columns; and Ramtech’s award winning slab-on-grade permanent modular construction process, a grade-level permanent modular building approach which allows for the modular sections to be set and attached directly onto a conventional concrete slab foundation.
Initially hired as Ramtech’s engineering manager, Roland was elevated to the Vice President of Design and Development in 1998, leading Ramtech’s engineering department for all of his 34 years with us. Over the course of his five-decade career, Roland became the first modular building industry representative to become the presiding officer for the Texas Industrialized Building Code Council, the advisory board to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on issues related to the regulation of the industrialized housing and commercial modular building industries. He also previously served as the Government Affairs Chairman and the President of the Board of Directors of the Modular Building Institute, the international nonprofit trade association that serves the commercial modular construction industry. Roland was also a member of the International Code Council where he was an active advocate for addressing code and compliance issues that affected the commercial modular building industry.
Former Ramtech VP of Design and Development receives the 2023 MBI Hall of Fame Award from Executive Director Tom Hardiman
Prior to his enshrinement into the MBI Hall of Fame, Roland was the recipient of MBI ‘s outstanding achievement award in 2018, joining long-time Ramtech colleagues Linc Moss, Mike Slater, and Bob Houchin with the prestigious award. At his Hall of Fame introduction, Ramtech President Matt Slataper stated, “Roland has been a mentor to me and for years has invested in the next generation of industry leaders. It has been driven by his passion for our company, his undeniable love for the modular industry, and above all else, a servant’s heart.”
You can read more about Roland and his exemplary career in this article on the MBI’s website here.
Ramtech Receives First Place MBI Awards of Distinction Honor at the 2023 World of Modular Convention
Ramtech is proud to announce that we have received a first place Awards of Distinction trophy at the 40th annual Modular Building Institute 2023 World of Modular Conference and Tradeshow held March 29 – April 1 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Over 1,500 attendees gathered at the sold-out conference to network and hear speakers and presenters from across the globe.
Ramtech received our first first-place award in the Relocatable Modular Workforce Housing Under 10,000 Square Feet category for the 6,550 square foot temporary fire crew quarters we built and installed at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. Designed for living quarters while the base’s existing facility is being remodeled, the temporary nature of the project mandated a limited permanent impact to the site so that the building could be easily disassembled and relocated. The modular building provides for nineteen bedrooms and a private office, men’s and women’s restroom/locker-rooms, a laundry room, janitor’s closets, a complete kitchen, a dining/day room, and physical fitness area. Using a double-loaded corridor layout, a combination of 12′ x 64′ and 12′ x 56′ modules were installed end-to-end, then perpendicularly connected to an off-set wing of 12′ x 62′ modules installed side-by-side. This allowed for the construction of the building utilizing only nine modules with no required site construction.
Ramtech Wins MBI Awards of Distinction First Place Trophy for Temporary Fire Crew Quarters at Vance AFB in Enid, OK.
The Interior wall coverings utilized FRP and VCG with an additional layer of ¼” gypsum between the bedroom walls to reduce sound transmission. Resilient vinyl tile was used in the restrooms, laundry, and kitchen, with carpet tile in the bedrooms and halls, and a poured rubber floor in the fitness room. The ribbed steel exterior features a beige and maroon color scheme to match the Fire Station, with exits leading to fully covered aluminum decks, steps and ramps that connect to the existing building. The shared areas were equipped with ducted, wall-mounted HVAC units with heat strips controlled by zoned thermostats. The individual bedrooms were heated and cooled with PTAC units to allow for rooms to go unconditioned when unoccupied.
Ramtech’s winning projects and all the other 2023 MBI Awards of Distinction entries can be viewed by visiting the Modular Building Institute website at this link.
Ramtech’s Sabrina Queen has served with Meals on Wheels for over 20 years
Community service has always played a big part in what Ramtech’s mission has been as a company. It plays a role in what we call the ‘Ramtech Difference’. We’ve been engaged for years with dedicated team members past and present, participating with, and serving others through a variety of local organizations. Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County is just one of those organizations. For over 20 years Sabrina Queen has steadfastly been one of those servants, visiting 13-15 elderly and disabled clients at their homes and assisted living facilities each week in both the Mansfield and Arlington areas.
Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County provides approximately 1.7 million meals each year to some of Tarrant County’s frailest citizens. By providing home-delivered meals, professional case management, and other needed items or services to homebound, elderly and disabled clients can remain living independently in their own homes. The daily contact by a MOW volunteer helps provide an added level of safety also since a volunteer will be checking on the client.
From all of us at Ramtech, thank you Sabrina for your dedication to making a difference in the lives of others.
Project Estimator Brian Wier Joins Ramtech Building Systems
Ramtech recently made a significant addition to our development team by welcoming on board industry veteran Brian Wier to serve in our estimating department. Brian brings to Ramtech a broad background in project estimating and the managing of vendor relationships for the development of complex projects for a wide variety of industrial and commercial building applications. His previous work experience also includes a leadership roles in creating and implementing training procedures for project estimators in both Texas and Oklahoma.
Brian joins Ramtech at a pivotal time for us as we seek to grow both our traditional and slab-on-grade permanent modular construction business. In welcoming Brian, Matt Slataper noted, “Bryan’s diverse experience has prepared him to add immediate value in our Estimating Department in order to coordinate with our Sales and Design teams, and to be a liaison with different subcontractors, suppliers, and design partners to help us deliver the highest quality modular building solutions possible for our customers. We are thrilled to have Brian join the Ramtech team and we’re excited to see what the future holds as he develops into a key thought-leader within our organization.”
Brian attended school high school locally in Fort Worth, then completed a general studies degree in the Tarrant County College system. In addition to furthering his leadership and organizational skills to focus on product quality, labor efficiencies, and volume goals, he is also a credentialed CISCO Certified Network Administrator by way of the Cisco Networking Academy program.
Aerial view of the Ramtech Modular Building at PCA North in Prosper, Texas
On Monday Prestonwood Christian Academy North held a dedication and open house at their new modular building learning cottage, now known as “Pride Rock’. Ramtech recently completed the installation of the 9,856 square foot office and classroom facility which is located on the campus of Prestonwood Baptist Church in the Collin County community of Prosper, Texas.
L-R Dr. Michael Goddard, Greg Wright, Dr. Clarence Williams
As the country’s fastest growing private Christian school, the traditional modular building will add additional facility space to accommodate PCA North’s middle school students. The new facility features administrative office space, a conference room, seven classrooms and a band room, and boys’ and girls’ restrooms. The exterior of the building utilizes a parapet wall design finished with HardiePanel fiber cement vertical siding to blend in with the adjacent existing school and church structures. Ramtech’s scope of work included installation of the building modules, providing for the utility point of connections, the interior finish-out, and the installation of the metal steps, ramps, and decks.