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School populations are rapidly expanding around the nation, with aging school facilities being unable to accommodate the demand. Never in the history of the U.S. has there been such an urgent need for school facilities in an accelerated time frame. The health care industry is also growing at a remarkable pace. The aging population has caused hospitals and outpatient care clinics to build new buildings and facilities every day. In both the educational and healthcare arenas, space is a critical commodity separating lack-of-service for students and patients from service today and now. This is where commercial modular construction can be particularly advantageous.

Commercial modular construction is an accelerated form of construction that provides quality buildings in a reduced time-frame. The time advantage gives school districts the immediate space they need for additional students, while giving health care providers the immediate space they need for expanded medical applications.

Most people are familiar with the time advantages of modular construction—buildings can be delivered in as little as half the time as site built construction—but did you realize there are numerous other advantages to using modular construction?

Here are a few:
• Permanent and Temporary Solutions
• Minimized Site Disturbances
• Turn-key Solutions
• Application and Acquisition Flexibility
• Quality Assurance
• Improved Aesthetics

Permanent and Temporary Solutions
Many people think that modular buildings can only address short term facility needs. While it is true that modular construction is your best bet for temporary space, advances in technology, materials and transportation have allowed many modular manufacturers to develop and deliver permanent modular solutions. Multi-story steel framed buildings are being delivered by modular companies at an ever increasing rate.

Minimized Site Disturbances
Because modular buildings are built in the factory, the process results in less noise and interruption on the site. This is particularly beneficial for school and health care facility administrators due to heightened safety concerns and increased liability associated with on-going construction at the site. Additionally, with the momentum of green building initiatives in full-force, this environmental advantage cannot be understated. The United States Green Building Council’s LEED rating system awards additional points for reduced site disturbances. At your request, modular building providers can incorporate energy efficiency products and sustainable design features into your building.

Turn-key Solutions
One big advantage of a modular construction project is the single point of contact for facility administrators. From communication, design, construction, delivery, and installation, a modular building company can cover all the bases. The companies offer the engineering services you will need in an accelerated building project, are knowledgeable of all applicable building codes and permit processes, and can assure that your project will be delivered on time and on budget. Having one point of communication for all these services, from start to finish, leads to a more seamless process.

Flexibility
Modular buildings offer increased flexibility, not only in the application of the building, but in the acquisition itself. Modular buildings can be purchased or leased depending on the need, giving facility administrators the option of utilizing capital or operational budgets.

Also, modular buildings can be relocated. Some projects are actually designed around this feature with the knowledge that the unit will be used at one location and then moved to a more permanent location at a later date, increasing the efficiency and applicability of the building. Storage and administrative offices are common examples of flexible applications.

Quality Assurance
Because accelerated construction projects are built in a factory, you are ensured of quality. Most states require that the building manufacturer have an approved quality assurance program, and that it is monitored by an accredited third-party agency. These third-party agencies make inspections on both the modular builder’s plant and the building under construction. Where a third-party agency is not a local requirement, building department officials and/or certifying engineers typically assume the same inspection role. Within the factory, quality inspections will be conducted for production standards, methods and materials. In-house inspections are also conducted to ensure the building is constructed in accordance with both architectural and design plans.

Improved Aesthetic Choices
Finishes for today’s modular buildings are comparable to site-build construction projects. From wood, to multi-story steel and concrete non- combustible materials, you can get a structure completed with the same materials as site built buildings. The fact that many standard finishes are available is particularly helpful for project additions. You will have numerous options in matching finishes of your new building to structures already on the site. In fact, one of the most cited benefits by purchasers is that you cannot tell the new structure from the old.

Modular Buildings Providing Space Solutions Now
Each year, MBI hosts its Awards of Distinction contest, where member companies submit building entries that are judged in the areas of architectural excellence, technical innovation, efficiency and length of project. Below are a few examples of winners in both the educational and healthcare categories:

Intermountain Health Care Completed in 61 Days Riverton, UT

Intermountain Health Care was in need of a healthcare clinic that could be flexible in type of space use while immediately providing room for a variety of urgently needed healthcare services. The space was comprised of two modular buildings put together, so that the buildings could be separated and relocated for future use. The building provided room for Insta-care, four pediatric doctors, a curtained exam area, two laboratory areas, and a diagnostic imaging room. Extra engineering work was done to ensure the diagnostic imaging room functioned effectively within the space after proper set-up. At the end of the 18-month usage in the initial location, the two units are to be split and sent to rural areas of Utah where Intermountain Healthcare does not currently have clinics. The re-location of the modular buildings provides a cost-effective solution to meet the needs of Intermountain’s expanding patient base.

Chandler Freedom International Completed in 288 Days Gilbert, AZ

Like site built construction, this K-6, permanent educational facility features slab-on-grade foundation with a combination of materials including masonry block, block veneer, standing seam metal canopies, and decorative metal screens. With Arizona’s extreme summers, a great deal of planning was undertaken to increase the energy-efficiency of the building. The building was housed under one roof to control costs. Additionally, steel- 6” wall stud was utilized instead of a 5 1/2” stud for increased R-value (through the increased stud cavity). Exterior EFIS application uses a 1” polystyrene insulation board for an approximate net R-value of 25. Roof systems employ R30+ batt insulation and rigid foam insulation for increased R-value and sound control. The electrical designs are three-phase to minimize energy consumption. And the design incorporates energy efficient HVAC units that use scroll compressors. The complete energy-efficient package also includes the use of 1” annealed, SOLEX glazing tinted windows.

Tom Hardiman is the executive director of the Modular Building Institute based in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Modular Building Institute (MBI) is an international non-profit trade association representing nearly 850 companies in 14 countries engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of commercial modular buildings. For more information, visit www.modular.org