Modular construction has been around for over a century in the United States, however only recently has it come to the forefront since major corporations like Marriott and Google have jumped on the band wagon for their own projects yet even with players like this, modular only represents 5% of the market based on information from the Modular Building Institute. Modular construction has been touted as the most efficient way to build multi-family apartments and student housing however, the benefits of this construction has been glossed over without truly explaining and understanding the nuances of this system.In general, modular construction has proven to:

• Reduce construction schedules up to 40% over conventional construction

• Reduce hard construction costs by as much as 20% in certain geographic locations.

• Reduce construction administration costs

• Allow for earlier revenue generation However, what has prevented modular to be larger percentage of the multi-family and student housing construction market are the following:

• Not designing a project from the start as modular but looking at it as an after-thought.

• Not utilizing an architect who has modular experience

• Not wanting to work within the parameters of modular

• Not understanding what needs to be completed after the modular sections are delivered.

• Architects not understanding that modular does not take away from their scope of work and creativity. (They still get to design the exterior aesthetics, finishes, and MEP systems to meet the client’s requirements and budgets).For the longest time the client or end user assumed that utilizing modular construction meant that 100% of the project was built at the factory. On average about 60% of a project can be built at a modular factory. READ MORE