A recent survey of AEC firms and real estate owners and developers found a strong majority that had deployed off-site construction in the previous 12 months and planned to utilize it to a greater extent going forward.
The Off-Site Construction Council of the National Institute of Building Sciences in Washington, D.C. conducted its 2018 Off-Site Construction Industry Survey as a follow-up to a 2014 survey to gauge the industry’s interest in off-site construction, which it defines as the planning, design, fabrication, and assembly of building elements at a location other than their final point of assembly onsite.
Ryan Smith of Washington State University and Kambaja Tarr of the University of Utah conducted and compiled the latest survey for NIBS.
“With the ongoing shortage of skilled craft workers (which exceeded two million in 2017), prefabrication in a controlled, off-site environment may become a necessity for many U.S. contractors attempting to remain competitive with a lower-skilled workforce,” the survey states. But as with any new process or technology innovation, and despite growing demand, ”uncertainties accompany the utilization of off-site construction.”
The commercial, multifamily and healthcare sectors are where off-site construction has been finding its greatest demand. Image: NIBS
A total of 205 participants responded to the 2018 Off-Site Construction Industry survey, versus 312 respondents to the 2014 poll. The participating companies provide a variety of different services, including construction management/general contracting (24.75% in 2018; 46.7% in 2014), engineering (21.72% and 38.3%), trade contracting (2.53% and 27.3%), architecture (87.88% and 15%), and owners/developers (10.1% and 8.3%).
Nearly nine of 10 respondents to the 2018 survey (87.72%) had used off-site fabricated components to some degree over the previous 12 months, and more than eight in 10 (81.63%) expected to engage off-site construction more often or the same amount in the following 12 months. (Both percentages were down slightly from the 2014 survey.)
The primary benefit identified in both surveys is a reduced overall project schedule, specifically the duration of the construction phase.
For more than three fifths of respondents (63.22%) designers, architects and engineers were the primary decision makers about when off-site construction is implemented, followed by construction managers or general contractors (47.67%), clients (41.97%), and others, primarily subcontractors (21.24%).
Keeping projects on schedule is where companies that deploy off-site construction have been seeing the greatest benefit. Image: NIBS
Interestingly, however, respondents stated that the most significant barrier to off-site construction is the culture of design and construction in general. Comments indicated that late design changes, lack of collaboration and an adversarial climate for project delivery leads to difficulties in realizing the benefits of off-site construction.
The survey notes that the building component fabrication industry is still maturing and needs more time to integrate effectively with site-built work. In addition, contractors are still learning how to manage off-site products for assembly on-site.
Transportation is another significant barrier: specifically, how far away a factory is located from the construction site.
Respondents in both surveys qualitatively noted that some projects, particularly those with long spans, may not be suited for the use of pre-fabricated elements, and that each project has unique requirements that must be met through an appropriate technical solution.
Related Stories
Building Team | Jun 7, 2022
Announcing construction inclusion week 2022: October 17-21, 2022
Save the date for Construction Inclusion Week 2022: October 17-21, 2022.
University Buildings | Jun 7, 2022
Newfoundland university STEM building emulates natural elements, local traditions
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) recently opened a new building that will provide interdisciplinary learning and research space for Faculties of Science and Engineering.
Codes and Standards | Jun 2, 2022
Guide helps schools find funding for buildings from federal, state government
New Buildings Institute (NBI) recently released a guide to help schools identify funding programs for facilities improvements available from federal and state government programs.
Airports | Jun 2, 2022
SOM-designed International Arrival Facility at Seattle’s Sea–Tac airport features the world’s largest aerial walkway
The Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)-designed International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has opened, replacing a 50-year-old arrival facility.
Women in Design+Construction | Jun 2, 2022
Women in Architecture: How HMC Pioneers Gender Equality
A survey by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) shows that while women account for nearly half of graduates from architecture programs, they only make up about 15 percent of licensed architects.
Codes and Standards | Jun 2, 2022
New design guide for hybrid steel-mass timber frames released
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) has released the first-ever set of U.S. recommendations for hybrid steel frames with mass timber floors, according to a news release.
Mass Timber | Jun 2, 2022
Brooklyn is home to New York City’s first mass timber condo building
In the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope, the newly completed Timber House is New York City’s first mass timber condominium building and its largest mass timber project (by height and square footage).
Codes and Standards | Jun 1, 2022
HKS, U. of Texas Dallas partner on brain health study
HKS and The University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for BrainHealth are conducting a six-month study to improve the way the firm’s employees work, collaborate, and innovate, both individually and as an organization, according to a news release.
Building Team | Jun 1, 2022
Pennsylvania’s Longwood Gardens to get a $250 million transformation
Longwood Gardens, a botanical garden with about 1,100 acres in Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley, recently announced plans to transform its core area of conservatory gardens.
Mass Timber | May 31, 2022
Tall mass timber buildings number 139 worldwide
An audit of tall mass timber buildings turned up 139 such structures around the world either complete, under construction, or proposed.
