Modular construction is the cost effective, sustainable solution that modern schools and healthcare facilities have been looking for and is limited only by the architects’ imagination.

According to the 2006 survey issued by the Modular Building Institute (MBI) the estimated size of the commercial modular building industry in 2005 (gross revenue) was about 5 billion dollars – producing just under 90 million square feet of space. This represents approximately 2% of the commercial construction market in the US. More recently, for the second quarter of 2007, manufacturers reported an increase of 9% in floor space over the previous 12 months, according to the Commercial Modular Construction Report 2007 issued by MBI and Baird. And although the larger percentage of the modular industry output may be for the sale or lease of temporary or semi-permanent facilities, this more sophisticated, permanent modular construction design technology that has emerged and evolved over the past several years, will continue to challenge its conventional site-built counterparts in both permanence and performance – but in significantly less time.Modular Design Principles and Sustainability
The life cycle expectancy of modular construction is the same as conventional, and in a world where sustainability is gaining momentum each day, there are also several basic principles intrinsic to the modular construction process that make it more eco-friendly than conventional construction.First, significantly less on-site time, a result of a shortened construction cycle, (the outcome of the simultaneous activities of on- site development and off-site building construction), notably minimizes the overall impact on a site. This includes reduced site disturbance, reduced noise pollution in the community, lower amounts of construction contaminants, less waste, plus fewer material deliveries to the site and less workforce time means reduced vehicular traffic and related greenhouse gas emissions - not to mention better safety and security for the day to day business.

Second, the off-site construction in a controlled manufacturing plant environment helps minimize material waste because often materials that are left over from one project, may be used on another concurrently run project on the same property, or can be re- inventoried in the manufacturers’ warehouse for use at another time. Workforce travel between “project sites” is relegated to the manufacturer’s property so travel by vehicle to and from typical construction sites that are located long distances away, is eliminated. Manufacturing plants tend to have good waste management and recycling programs in place as a part of their everyday process.And finally, modular construction methods and materials allow a building to be more readily “deconstructed” and moved to another location should the need arise, so complete building reuse or recycling is an integral part of the design technology. This means a building does not have to remain empty at one location, while another new building is being constructed elsewhere.For schools and hospitals, modular construction can mean less disruption, faster completion, cleaner sites and less waste. Simply an alternative method of constructing a building, off site and under controlled conditions, all “green” features and integrated systems that can be designed into sustainable site built construction can be applied to modular construction - so the end results are identical. The documented benefits of daylighting, improved thermal and acoustical performances, energy efficiencies, better indoor air qualities, and other design elements that have been said to improve student attendance and learning, as well as comfort and well-being for patients and staff in healthcare facilities, are all available without compromise using the modular construction delivery method.

Building Design and Project Rollout
Modular building companies can be “one-stop-shops” for owners looking to find single source responsibility, and the fundamentals of “design-build principles” play a role in most projects – always with flexibility. For example, where the owner or school administrator has consultants already engaged to do an analysis of their entire site and/or assist with the design and RFP development, the modular builder can co-ordinate and work with that existing team. This can sometimes save time and money when compared with the modular builder bringing a whole new team on board and starting over again. Alternatively, when the owner/administrator does not have an architect or design professional already engaged, the modular builder will bring the design professionals to the table. No matter which way the assignment of design responsibilities flows, coordination of all team members is key for a successful project rollout.In most states, it is the modular manufacturer who must submit the entire set of construction drawings where state approvals are required, and that approval process and its degree of complexity varies from state to state, and is in place for the benefit of all stakeholders. Identical to conventional construction, each building is engineered to the building codes for its own particular site location. Modular construction requires that details are completed, approvals obtained and any changes or issues identified as early as possible, because once a building begins production, the process moves quickly and the building when inspected by the third party agency or state official, must be consistent with the state approved drawings that were issued at the start of the process.The delineation of responsibility for all site and civil work between owner, consultants, general contractor and/or the building company is determined at the pre-construction stage and the work takes place accordingly or adjusts as agreed to by the team.

So, overall we believe that investments in sustainable construction will pay off, though they may not be easily quantifiable and will certainly not be recouped quickly.  Of course it is hard to quantify the effects of doing the right thing for our environment and it is hard to put a dollar value on that.  Anchor Modular Buildings supports green/sustainable construction, however realistic expectations need to be set at the onset of the project.