As the stagnant economy continues to shrink budgets, many
government agencies have been looking for innovative ways to cut construction costs. This includes
one of the top spenders in the world: the U.S. military. The military's need
for fast and cost-effective building strategies has been prompted by a tight
deadline set by Congress. The most recent round of assessments by the Base
Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) involved a rigid limit on spending
and a narrow window of time. In order to meet these requirements, many
firms doing construction work for military use, opted for modular building solutions.
One of the most prominent examples of this growing modular building trend happened in Fort Belvoir, VA. A team of firms was tasked with constructing a four-story, one million square foot office building for the Army Legal Services Agency. The project was approved near the end of the BRAC budgeting cycle, shortening the projects delivery schedule to one year.
One of the most prominent examples of this growing modular building trend happened in Fort Belvoir, VA. A team of firms was tasked with constructing a four-story, one million square foot office building for the Army Legal Services Agency. The project was approved near the end of the BRAC budgeting cycle, shortening the projects delivery schedule to one year.
The team shared
anxiety over their ability to complete the project on such a short time table. In order to move fast, the firms dramatically reduced the amount of time
they normally spent on each step of the design process by focusing on modular construction techniques.
The team saved the most time by using modular construction techniques such as prefabricated components. One of the most important tools they used was SlenderWall; a system of lightweight prefabricated concrete frames. By using this component, the team was able to set up the basic skin of the building in nearly a month. Additionally, prefabricated materials were used for other crucial aspects of the building, such as the mechanical and electrical components.
Finally, the team used just-in-time supply delivery. While separate from modular components, this strategy is frequently combined with modular construction. The efficiency of having building materials delivered to the site at the right amount and time, plus the lack of onsite clutter, are especially helpful for installations designed for military use.
The team saved the most time by using modular construction techniques such as prefabricated components. One of the most important tools they used was SlenderWall; a system of lightweight prefabricated concrete frames. By using this component, the team was able to set up the basic skin of the building in nearly a month. Additionally, prefabricated materials were used for other crucial aspects of the building, such as the mechanical and electrical components.
Finally, the team used just-in-time supply delivery. While separate from modular components, this strategy is frequently combined with modular construction. The efficiency of having building materials delivered to the site at the right amount and time, plus the lack of onsite clutter, are especially helpful for installations designed for military use.
Modular construction is a growing trend for
military use. Not only can it be cost-effective but its fast-track scheduling
increases efficiency and provides quality buildings much faster than
alternative methods. This will ensure that the military and other industries have
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