Stantec illustrates the benefits of prefab multi-trade racking.

Contractors expect to spend more time on prefabrication, according to FMI study

Get ready for a surge in prefabrication activity by contractors. FMI, the consulting and investment banking firm, recently polled contractors about how much time they were spending, in craft labor hours, on prefabrication for construction projects. More than 250 contractors participated in the survey, and the average response to that question was 18%. More revealing, however, was the participants’ anticipation that craft hours dedicated to prefab would essentially double, to 34%, within the next five years.

Building Tech

In a world first, load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer

A Germany-based construction engineering company says it has constructed the world’s first load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer. Züblin built a new warehouse from a single 3D print for Strabag Baumaschinentechnik International in Stuttgart, Germany using a Putzmeister 3D printer.

Adaptive Reuse

Modular adaptive reuse of parking structure grants future flexibility

The shift away from excessive parking requirements aligns with a broader movement, encouraging development of more sustainable and affordable housing.

Healthcare Facilities

A modular construction solution to the mental healthcare crisis

Maria Ionescu, Senior Medical Planner, Stantec, shares a tested solution for the overburdened emergency department: Modular hub-and-spoke design.

Modular Building

Modular building is the growing trend of assembling structures from prefabricated, interchangeable components. After being constructed in a controlled environment away from the building site—such as a factory—the components are then transported to the final location and assembled on-site.

This growing collection of news, trends, case studies, white papers, and innovative projects bring you the latest in modular design and construction.

Containers on Grand: A new apartment complex in Phoenix

Modular Building | Mar 31, 2015

Phoenix apartment complex will be made from recycled shipping containers

The eight-unit complex, called Containers on Grand, was inspired by the need for affordable and sustainable housing near the city's core.

Modular Building | Williams Scotsman | Mar 30, 2015

Spring cleaning tips for modular space

Modular structure manufacturer Williams Scotsman shares seven things to do to prep modular units for the spring.

Multifamily Housing | Mar 18, 2015

Prefabricated skycubes proposed with 'elastic' living apartments inside

The interiors for each unit are designed using an elastic living concept, where different spaces are created by sliding on tracks.

Modular Building | Williams Scotsman | Mar 16, 2015

Modular Space Showcase: Helping BP take command in the Gulf of Mexico

Immediate emergency response to minimize and remedy environmental damage called for temporary, modular spaces.

A 57-floor Chinese skyscraper was completed in 19 days

Modular Building | Mar 10, 2015

Must see: 57-story modular skyscraper was completed in 19 days

After erecting the mega prefab tower in Changsha, China, modular builder BSB stated, “three floors in a day is China’s new normal.”

Modular Building | Williams Scotsman | Mar 9, 2015

Drilling Deeper: Eagle Ford Shale moving up despite oil prices going down

Like many other energy hotbends throughout the continent, demand for modular structures isn't decreasing with oil prices

Modular Building | Williams Scotsman | Mar 3, 2015

Modular construction brings affordable housing to many New Yorkers

After city officials waived certain zoning and density regulations, modular microunits smaller than 400 square feet are springing up in New York.

K-12 Schools | Feb 25, 2015

Polish architect designs modular ‘kids city’ kindergarten using shipping container frames

Forget the retrofit of a shipping container into a building for one moment. Designboom showcases the plans of Polish architect Adam Wiercinski to use just the recycled frames of containers to construct a “kids city.”

Modular Building | FXCollaborative | Feb 23, 2015

Edge construction: The future of modular

Can innovative project delivery methods, namely modular construction, bring down costs and offer a solution for housing in urban markets? FXFOWLE’s David Wallance discusses the possibilities for modular.