Massachusetts town desires to improve with commercial developments

Bridgewater, Mass. hopes to cut residential property taxes, shorten lengthy commutes and reduce unemployment by attracting new businesses. The local town manager recently spoke about the lack of commercial development in the area. Michael Dutton (Bridgewater Town Manager) outlined the challenges that Bridgewater faces and described a few potential solutions.

The town has plenty of developed residential land but not many commercial zones remain available. Dutton explained that the town must find ways to incentivize development and help businesses use land more efficiently, according to WATD-FM. By adding more commercial businesses to the area, the town could then lessen the tax burden of the residential communities.

The town manager stated that they will “work with developers to come up with ways that could be beneficial for them [businesses] to relocate to Bridgewater and we’re constantly looking at ways we can do things better in order to promote commercial development.”

Modular construction could help Bridgewater transition more commercial businesses to the area in a more efficient manner. A property owner can set up a prefabricated strip mall or office building and start renting units to businesses in very little time. This strategy also benefits developers and their communities by allowing for earlier occupancy.

Prefabricated commercial buildings come in many shapes and sizes. They range from neighborhood convenience stores to large hotels. In addition to offices, many modular office buildings feature a kitchen, meeting area and waiting room. A prefabricated apartment complex can quickly add safe, affordable housing to any locale. Other options include modular banks, bus stations and medical centers.

Although workers build prefabricated structures in factories, buyers can easily request custom styles and features. For example, a customer in Bridgewater might ask for extra insulation, or siding that matches the color of nearby buildings. Modular construction accommodates specific needs and consistently helps developers save time and money.

Relocatable Buildings Offer an Alternative to Disaster Relief Tents

When Hurricane Katrina stormed through Louisiana in 2005, nobody could have predicted the extent of its devastation. Over the past decade, more than 1 million people have moved from the Gulf Coast to other parts of the country. Some analysts believe the storm will ultimately cost the U.S. economy more than $150 billion. However, these long-term issues pale in comparison to the day-to-day struggles faced by Katrina survivors in the first two years after the storm.

A Lack of Resources

In the immediate aftermath, disaster relief agencies funneled basic supplies such as food and water to survivors who hadn't fled the Gulf Coast. Tents sprang up by the tens of thousands, but they offered little in the way of room, comfort, or protection. These poor living conditions contributed to health problems, which were exacerbated by large mosquito populations in late August.

An Alternative Solution

Instead of using tents as temporary shelter solutions, disaster relief agencies can use prefabricated buildings to offer a more viable solution. Relocatable buildings are extremely durable and setup times are exceptionally short which results in a quick and dependable recovery. They can also be refurbished and reconfigured for future use.

The government has already made great use of prefabricated buildings in response to a natural disaster. Prefabricated courthouses, health clinics, and police stations provide the institutions people rely on every day, and help to prevent disaster zones from dissolving into chaos.

How to Rebuild Responsibly After Superstorm Sandy

Superstorm Sandy demolished many eastern coastal communities, some of which still haven't completely recovered. When rebuilding after a natural disaster, there should be a plan to withstand future storms. New coastal construction must be efficient and durable to protect residents from repeated loss and to instill confidence about returning to a community. Yet finding a way to rebuild quickly after a disaster is imperative in helping those without homes find some stability.

Modular construction is a prime way to address these issues. Created offsite and indoors, sheltered from weather, modules can be prebuilt and ready to assemble on location as soon as outdoor construction is possible. Factory production minimizes concerns about delays or damage due to rain or wind during rebuilding.

When a storm or other disaster has cleared, modular construction is able to offer significant benefits. Site and module preparations can occur simultaneously, resulting in considerably shortened completion schedules. A modular home is strong, proving its durability in advance by withstanding open winds during transportation to a local site. Prefabrication helps residents establish secure new homes with greater ease than with traditional construction.

In fact, entire communities can take advantage of prefabricated modules. Governments and businesses that choose modular buildings help important services return swiftly to their neighborhoods. Knowing that a fire or police station is active nearby, that mail service will continue through a rebuilt post office or that health care is available from a newly constructed clinic helps the community recover as a whole.

Need more information about modular construction? Click here.

Solving San Francisco's Housing Shortage with Modular Construction

When San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee recently announced plans to prioritize affordable housing construction, many eyes turned to Seattle, a city that has spent the years since 2006 concentrating on new development. Scrutiny quickly showed that the significant increase in residential options has had a positive effect on that city's lodging costs. In fact, between 2007 and 2011, as the issuance of new construction permits rose in number, Seattle's average rental rates actually dropped.

Can San Francisco Repeat the Feat?

With all eyes focused on San Francisco, the question is; can they duplicate Seattle’s results of increased housing options and decreased lodging costs? One construction method available to the city is modular construction. San Francisco can utilize modular construction to add new housing developments in a shortened time period.

Benefits of Modular Apartment Construction

San Francisco can appreciate the many advantages that modular construction can provide to its residents. These include benefits such as greater reduced construction waste, speed of construction, and building flexibility. The disruption to the construction site is minimal, which translates to fewer cleanups after the building is in place. With modular construction, underground gas tanks, site grading and utilities are prepared at the same time the buildings are constructed at the factory. Construction delays are minimized because the buildings are constructed indoors. Although these buildings are built quickly, there is no sacrifice in quality. These modular buildings are constructed by highly trained workers and meet or exceed building codes and standards. Modular construction can complete developments 40% faster than traditional construction. Because of the shortened construction timeline, residents are able to occupy the building sooner, which allows investors to earn their ROI faster.

A Cutting-Edge Answer to San Francisco's Housing Shortage

Conveniently located in San Francisco's South of Market region is a modular apartment complex that features 23 units and boasts 295 square feet of fully equipped sustainable living space. The off-site manufacturer of this breakthrough development not only shortened construction time but also in this case, minimized expenses while lowering the project's impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
Currently this apartment complex is being leased to college students because of the affordability of each unit. With the simple living environment, this complex satisfies basic housing needs that are energy efficient with its solar heating and solar heated hot water. Today, the attractive structure stands to illustrate one viable and economical solution to San Francisco's affordable housing shortage.

Contact us to find out how modular construction can be used for your project.

New Military Training Barracks in Texas

Construction is complete on new modular militarytraining barracks in Texas, and the U.S. Army is preparing to occupy the final phase of the Military Construction, Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing, and Advanced Individual Training (MILCON UEPH AIT) Barracks in San Antonio at Fort Sam Houston. The modular building is 116, 480 square feet, has four stories and 272 rooms made of 152 individual modules and cost $9.7 million. The completed project is part of a multiple order under the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The Army plans to fully occupy the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver permanent construction project by the end of March 2014.

The Army chose modular construction because they were challenged to build permanent facilities faster with better quality, lower costs, and more concern for green initiatives. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed a master plan in 2005 that changed its MILCON programs. The Corps was frustrated by the inability to get high-quality facilities quickly, so it designed a standardized building program and expanded its use of permanent modular military barracks, modular military training facilities, and prefabricated buildings. Like other government agencies, the Army often uses modular construction due to its convenience, speed, and dependability. Modular buildings can be completed much more quickly than traditional construction, while meeting or exceeding the same building codes. With modular construction the Army can custom-design each building to fit the unique needs of the individual military base.

One of the recent modular buildings that MICON completed is Advanced Individual Training (AIT) barracks. The AIT barracks house U.S. combat troops, so the building was designed to meet the rigid standards of the Army's Anti-Terrorism Force Protection. The building received LEED Silver Certification because it features energy star roofing materials and waterless urinals, it recycled 50 percent of the waste materials that would normally go to landfills, and used construction materials that had 20 percent recycled content. The heating and cooling systems use a chilled water-assist heat pump, and each individual unit serves one room allowing the system to operate more efficiently.

The finished modular building includes sleeping rooms, laundry rooms, a training area, and a computer learning center.

For more information on how you can benefit from modular construction, contact us.

Facebook Utilizing Modular Building Techniques

(Image credit: opencompute.org–Facebook’s

datacenter campus in Lulea, Sweden)

Using its rapid deployment data center (RDDC) model, Facebook will build its datacenter facilities based on modular construction methods that will provide two immediate benefits: standardization of design in terms of construction and architecture so new facilities will not have to be designed from scratch; and speed of deployment, according to zdnet.com. As MHProNews.com has learned, the walls will be panelized and fit into modules easily transportable to the site. Borrowing from Ikea’s flat-pack furniture idea for a leaner and faster build, Facebook will ship the chassis, and the pre-fabricated walls and ceiling will be attached on site, thereby avoiding having to ship empty space.

According to Facebook design engineer, Marco Magarelli, “The modules reduce the generation of on-site waste and the impacts associated with the delivery and staging of individual construction materials common to traditional construction techniques.” The pre-manufactured assemblies will allow for interchangeable components that can be deployed to wherever the next data facility is built. The first attempt of the RDDC model will be a second building at Facebook’s Lulea, Sweden campus.

Silver Mathew (2014 March 10) Facebook Utilizing Modular Building Techniques Retrieved on March 13 from mhmarketingsalesmanagement.com

To learn more about the benefits of modular construction for your business contact us.

Improve Your Community with Modular Construction

Munroe Regional Medical Center

Modular construction has been used all over the country to provide additional space to growing communities. The following are just a few community sectors that have utilized modular buildings to help improve their neighborhood.

Emergency Service Buildings

Modular construction has been used extensively in this area to build 911 centers, police stations, and expand Fire Departments. Modular buildings have also been used to build training facilities for both law enforcement, and the Fire Department.

Correctional Facilities

These modular buildings range from portable prison housing to a complete minimum to medium security prison including all supporting buildings such as; cafeterias and kitchens, interview rooms and infirmaries. Modular buildings can provide additional space to help reduce the effects of overcrowding such as increased violence, stress among inmates and staff and the spread of disease and illness.

Community Health Centers

Modular construction can offer medical facilities a faster completion time, a quality final product and the option of portability. Modular buildings are a great choice for medical clinics, healthcare centers, community hospitals and dental clinics because they can meet the technical and innovative needs of the industry.

Community Service Buildings

Modular construction can provide facilities for a variety of civic and cultural activities in a community. For example, modular office buildings can be used as a resource to assist the community when additional space is needed for facilities such as courthouses, career centers and community centers.

To learn how you could improve your community today, click here.

How Make Your Modular Building More Energy Efficient

Modular school taking advantage of the sun.

 

Modular buildings are considered efficient because of the speed in which they are constructed, reduced site disruption and minimal waste. Did you know there are more ways you can make your modular building more energy efficient? Below are 3 methods that can be used individually or in combination to increase the energy efficiency of your modular building.

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design techniques are applied most easily to new modular buildings. This design method takes into consideration the building’s architecture, the location of the building, the climate and the materials necessary to minimize energy use. Energy efficient modular buildings will have properly oriented windows (facing 30 degrees true south), implement heat and energy absorbing components (thermal mass), include roof overhangs and are thoroughly insulated.  Modular buildings designed with passive solar in mind greatly reduce heating and cooling costs.

Active Solar Energy

Modular buildings can use solar panels to either compliment a passive solar design, or as a full source of energy for your building. With solar panels, owners have the option to produce all the electricity needed and can go “off the grid” or continue to stay tied into the neighborhood electrical grid. By staying tied into the grid there is the possibility of selling some of your extra energy to the electric company. Solar Panels are an excellent way to increase energy efficiency in your modular building

Energy Star Appliances

ENERGY STAR products are independently certified to save energy, and water, without sacrificing features or functionality. These products are made for every room of your house. The Energy Star label applies to everything from dishwashers and refrigerators, to televisions and dryers. By choosing Energy Star appliances you can be sure you’re doing your part to protect the environment.

Adding these features to any modular building you will be able you increase the energy efficiency of your building.

Looking for more ways to make your modular building more energy efficient? Contact us by calling 877.677.2231 or clicking this link.