Why Offsite Construction Methods are Moving to the Mainstream
Date Posted: August 8, 2017
Posted In: Ideas,
From ConstructionDIVE: Until recently, the words “modular construction” likely evoked images of boxy, utilitarian overflow classrooms, and “prefabricated” connoted an inevitable sacrifice in style. However, today’s offsite construction industry is an entirely different proposition.
In the last few years, general contractors and owners have become more receptive to its use, and designers are learning that prefabrication provides flexibility without constraining creativity.
A big boost to the offsite construction industry was the announcement earlier this month from hotel giant Marriott International that it plans to pursue a program of modular construction for some of its brands — representing approximately 13% of its North American hotel deals this year. That translates to 50 hotels with prefabricated bathrooms or guest rooms.
To date, Marriott has opened one modular hotel in California, which was completed two months ahead of schedule, and has four additional modular projects in progress, including a Courtyard in Washington and an AC Hotel in Oklahoma.
The manufacturer for the Oklahoma property is Guerdon Modular Buildings, based in Boise, ID. Lad Dawson, company CEO and managing partner, said the Marriott announcement will help increase awareness of the benefits of modular construction, as it comes at a kind of tipping point for the industry.