Bill Gates reportedly said that a lot of his success was down to being at the 'right place at the right time'. Like Bill, others were in the same place, but the difference was that he acted while others waited. Today the use of Microsoft software is 'business as usual' for billions of people around the globe, but what has this got to do with modular and offsite construction?
Offsite is not new, examples can be found throughout history. From the Greeks and Romans with their 'classical' style to the Georgian kit of parts and pattern book. More recently we have had architectural exemplars such as the Habitat 67 flats in Montreal and the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo (1972). Apart from the Residential Sector, our industry has been slow to adopt offsite and a manufacturing process for delivering buildings, but changes are on the way. This change can be summarised as a 'Perfect Storm' or like Bill Gates being in 'the right place at the right time':
- The United Nations/ IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change) has highlighted that we need to address sustainability immediately otherwise the earth's temperature will rise above the 1.5 degrees with dire consequences for the planet
- Inflation is at its highest level for over 40 years
- Materials shortages, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, has left us with major availability and delivery issues
- The 'skills gap' has left us without the knowledge, capability and workforce to build
- Digital is in everyone's everyday lives, but the construction industry is still slow to adopt it.
Offsite gives us the opportunity to address and harness that 'perfect storm'. New net zero targets and whole life procurement requirements are also forcing us to think differently. As Mark Farmer said in his 2016 report, we are now in a situation where we need to 'Modernise or Die'.
Our clients are also pushing us towards change. In the public sector many new frameworks tenders are requesting offsite solutions and the Government's Construction Playbook asks for 'Faster, Greener, Better'. At the same time, private clients are looking for 'industry partners' to help them. They want also to want faster and more efficient delivery, coupled with solutions that allow them to address climate change and develop their businesses and brand.
The 'Platform Approach', which creates a focused digital 'operating system', could be one solution. It combines whole life data, standardised designs and components, within a digital kit of parts, allowing us to measure and improve our product over time to achieve even greater cost, time and quality benefits. This approach is being driven forward by initiatives such as the UK Government financed Construction Innovation Hub, which is working with industry partners, such as BAM Design who are lead designer, to create a Platform DfMA enabler project, for use by all UK Government departments.
Working across the construction industry and with four universities, the Hub has developed a digital prototype modular building that contains elements that can be used in many sectors including a residential studio, educational classroom or a hospital waiting room. Showcased at the Modular Matters event earlier this year, it provides guidance and processes for the industry, to give organisations the confidence to take their first step into modular. The platform also addresses the biggest challenge related to modular – creating enough volume of similar modules/parts for manufacturers to make a profit.
Construction has a long way to go but is learning fast and gaining knowledge from other industries. After several stop/start attempts, it looks like modular methods and offsite are finally gaining traction and on the way to becoming the 'new norm'. The industry is in the 'right place" and like Bill Gates, it is now taking action to realise the opportunity at the 'right time'.
For more information visit: www.bam.co.uk
Images:
01. Andrew Pryke, Managing Director, BAM Design
