Looking to Open Your Own Practice?

Healthcare professionals that are considering opening their own private practice may consider a modular building before signing a lease for office space. Modular construction offers an efficient design that is tailored specifically to the client’s needs. The modular process entails collaborating with clients throughout each planning phase in order to incorporate a custom design that typically exceeds their expectations.

Healthcare professionals can choose to design a one or multi-story modular building. Modular construction can be tailored to accommodate a temporary or permanent situation or possibly both. For example, removable exterior skirting can be placed to create the appearance of a permanent stone foundation. However, should a healthcare professional need the modular building temporarily, it can easily be removed or relocated to another site when that time comes. Modular construction is quick and efficient for healthcare professionals who have patients waiting to be served in a given community.

Creating a custom designed modular building includes designing the interior space so that it is highly efficient and resourceful. For example, many modular buildings designed for medical use can incorporate unique layouts to accommodate triage rooms, physicians’ offices, isolation rooms with dedicated ventilation systems and many more features that one finds in permanently constructed buildings. Furthermore, these modular buildings can be constructed on a permanent basis as well.

The materials used can accommodate specific SEER ratings. For instance, some government funded health initiatives require recipients of funds to utilize certain environmentally-friendly equipment such heat pumps, air conditioners, and energy star appliances with a SEER rating of 13. This can easily be accommodated in the design of any modular building. With all of the above mentioned benefits, modular construction should be considered for healthcare professionals looking to expand or open their own practices.

Need Space? Consider Pre-leased Modular Buildings

Modular buildings are a sensible solution for a wide variety of construction needs, such as office space, residential homes, retail outlets, or classrooms. They can be expanded to meet an anticipated demand, portable to accommodate changing needs, and may be utilized on a temporary basis while developing a new structure or replacing an existing one.

Modular buildings have advantages that traditional construction methods cannot offer. Using similar materials and adhering to the same building codes as structures built on site, modular buildings can be quickly refurbished to meet any industry’s need. Coupled with site preparation occurring simultaneously, shorter construction times can be met, allowing earlier possession of the property. Nearly every industry can achieve the benefits of modular construction, including lodging, law offices, restaurants, doctor and dental clinics, as well as many other businesses. Pre-leased modular buildings may offer an even quicker alternative to new modular buildings.

Pre-leased modular buildings have been constructed previously, offering faster availability and portability. They may be used as temporary structures for increased short-term demand for space, or as timely, portable emergency shelters and work areas in the aftermath of a disaster. Pre-leased modularbuildings are also used for extended periods of time in new construction, replacing older buildings or as additions to existing structures. Pre-leased buildings use fewer resources than new construction, can be relocated from one site to another if needed, and in many instances are modified to accommodate the needs of the purchaser.  

Modularconstruction is adaptable to a wide variety of site variations and constrictions, while offering quality materials and workmanship. Pre-leased modular buildings make an excellent choice for schools and industries where increased space is needed or where the requirements for space frequently change. 

World Green Building Week 2012: Green Buildings for Great Communities' is the theme for World Green Building Week 2012 via the mother nature network

Today marks the start of World Green Building Week 2012. This year’s theme is ‘Green Buildings for Great Communities’, which was selected to help highlight the important role that green buildings play in creating and sustaining green cities.

“A great community is healthy, sustainable and resilient. The building industry is taking the lessons learned from delivering greener, healthier buildings and scaling those to districts, neighborhoods and entire communities.” Source: World Green Building Council

The World Green Building Council is hosting more than 20,000 organizations from 90 nations as they attend conferences, tours, educational events and gatherings in cities across the world. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is sponsoring a liveTwitter chat tonight from 7pm to 8pm Eastern on the topic of global green building. USGBC CEO Rick Fedrizzi and GCB Australia’s Chief Executive Romilly Madew will be chatting using hashtag #GreenBuildingWeek.

A quick look at the calendar of events includes activities in Turkey, New Zealand, Slovenia, Colombia, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The green building movement is truly global.

Find an event in your area: World Green Building Week 2012 Events.

Article via the mother nature network: http://www.mnn.com/money/sustainable-business-practices/blogs/world-green-building-week-2012

Fact Of The Day #48: Charter School Attendance Has Quadrupled Over 10 Years (INFOGRAPHIC) via The Huffington Post

US children attending charter schools – publicly funded alternative schools run under contract – have more than quadrupled in 10 years. Their numbers have gone from 340,000 in 1999-2000 to more than 1.6 million in 2009-2010. Contrary to some perceptions, a majority of charter schools are urban (54.8% are in cities) and multicultural (the Hispanic percentage of the charter school population is increasing, from 19.6% in 2000 to 26.1% in 2010, while white and African American proportions declined slightly).

Open up today’s infographic, though, for some data on test performance by charter school students that may surprise you. Then join our discussion below: what’s the best path to school excellence?

Article via the Huffington post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/15/charter-school-attendance_n_1886464.html

Modular Buildings are Beneficial for Remote Locations

Modular construction is an ideal method for building homes or businesses in remote locations. Because site preparation occurs at the same time the building is being built offsite, the amount of time needed to complete a home or business is substantially lessened. This is a huge benefit when disaster relief housing in outlying areas is needed. When an earthquake, tornado or forest fire destroys a remote community, modular homes can be quickly built and transported to the disaster location.

Isolated locations like oil fields or scientific research stations are ideal candidates for modular buildings. The quick turnaround time in constructing a modular building is an important feature of this construction method. When there is an oil or natural gas strike in an isolated area, there is a rapid influx of workers and equipment. 

Without housing for laborers and storage facilities for supplies, the development of the resource is delayed. Materials improperly stored outdoors can be damaged by the elements or by vandals. Workers with inadequate housing are unlikely to receive enough rest, which may lead to costly accidents.

For vacation or permanent homes in rural mountain or desert settings, modular buildings are a good choice. There is less disruption in site preparation because the staging area is smaller, keeping intact the natural scenery and landscapes of the areas. Modular methods also create less waste material. Since the home is built indoors, building materials are also kept indoors. This eliminates mold from developing on the raw materials.

A modular structure can be easily expanded, and can be readily moved or recycled to a different location when needed. With its flexibility and quick building time, modular construction is a viable alternative to traditional building methods. It is ideally suited for residential, storage and business uses in remote locations.

Modular Hotels Save Time without Sacrificing Design

Need a new hotel facility or an expansion to an existing hotel in a hurry and on a budget? A modular building might be the answer to your needs. Modular construction techniques allow buildings to be constructed in less time and often more cost effectively than standard onsite construction methods.

With modular construction, buildings are constructed in segments within the factory. These segments or modules can be built to the customer’s specifications and meet almost any design standards. Once the modules are complete, they are transported to the job site and assembled into the final building.

The efficiency of doing the bulk of the construction in a factory setting leads to cost savings, but that is just one of the advantages. The assembly of the modular segments at the job site takes less time than building using conventional methods. This reduces the disruptions caused by construction which can be a big factor in hotel expansions as customers still occupy the hotel at all hours.

A shorter construction period also means the hotel can be open for business and generate revenue fast, producing a better rate of return. This is important in areas with rapidly expanding business opportunities that must be taken advantage of quickly.

Building a modular hotel starts with the zoning and permitting process much like building a site built hotel. Specialized site preparation is necessary to produce the footings and foundation used for the modular structure along with electrical and plumbing services. After the modular segments arrive and are placed on the foundations the finishing work is completed. This includes connecting the segments, plumbing and electric and applying interior and exterior finishes such as flooring and landscaping. Add furniture and the hotel is ready for occupancy.

Modular buildings can have aluminum, brick or concrete exteriors. This means that hotels can be designed and constructed identical to traditionally built hotels and hotel chains can use modular construction to have an end product that looks the same as all of their other hotels.

The Energy Efficient Choice

Modular construction may very well be the greenest building option available. Modular buildings are more environmentally friendly, energy efficient and are less expensive to operate than more traditional building options when upgraded energy efficient features are used.

Modular buildings are constructed in a climate-controlled factory. This ensures that building quality standards are maintained, environmental impact is reduced and weather doesn’t delay project timelines.

Green modular construction can go far beyond the benefit of modular construction itself. There are many factors that go into modular homes and buildings that increase their environmental friendliness and energy efficiency.
 

Installing thick insulation in a modular home or building can greatly decrease heating and cooling costs. Floors, walls and roof insulation with a high R-value provides greater resistance to heat flow, energy savings and improved comfort.
 

The windows that a green modular building uses also greatly reduce the amount of energy needed to keep the building comfortable. Operable windows, skylights, clerestory windows and low E glass windows with solar bronze tint can be installed to captivate natural sunlight. Additionally, utilizing energy efficient windows keeps heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer, reducing heating and cooling costs.

There are several other features that can be added to modular homes/buildings to increase energy efficiency. Special lighting options such as T-8 fluorescent lights, sensors to detect when someone is in the room, automatic dimming controls, and many more, produce the same amount of light as traditional bulbs, but use much less power. Programmable thermostats can automatically regulate the temperature and energy usage of a building much more efficiently than standard thermostats.

These energy efficient benefits make green modular construction an excellent choice for anyone looking to make an impact in the global energy efficient/go green movement.