The Commercial Modular Building Blog

Fastenal’s client, Nikon, needed some enclosed spaces that could be used for isolating various light-sensitive components from the rest of the workspace in their facility. Several solutions were considered such as plastic carports lined with light-absorbing foam as with drywall and ceiling, but the modular enclosure solution presented by Allied Modular became the solution of choice due to the advantages of minimal engineering, ready availability, and system flexibility . Using Allied Modular’s modular building solution (and the accompanying cost-effectiveness and favorable lead time of such a solution), Fastenal was able to secure the sale and offer Nikon a solution to suit their needs.

Allied Modular’s solution that Fastenal was able to sell consisted of two modular enclosures that would utilize an existing wall, which maximized space and was cost-efficient. These enclosures would effectively isolate the necessary components in Nikon’s facility. There were many advantages to installing a modular system: the building was flexible and could easily be relocated or altered in the future. The system required minimal engineering, so costs could be cut, and more importantly, cost Nikon a minimal amount of downtime due to efficient and non-invasive construction.

Thanks to the excellent support and communication Allied Modular provided for Fastenal and the client, Fastenal was able to make a sale with Nikon, as well as build support for a potential 10+ additional buildings at other Nikon facilities worldwide, leading to another great relationship with a client and additional sales. Nikon in turn was provided with quality buildings to conduct business in.

Johnson Controls' new fountain enclosure.

Eventually, Johnson Controls decided on using Allied Modular’s modular enclosure system to be constructed around the drinking fountains. Allied Modular’s enclosure would encase the drinking fountain area and keep out contaminants that could be found in the manufacturing plant so that the workers would have clean water to drink on the job.

According to Johnson Controls, it was very easy to work with us throughout the course of the project. They have stated that we were very responsive to any questions or concerns they had. Because of that and of course Allied Modular’s efficient modular building method, we were able to turn out a large number of enclosures in a short amount of time.

Needless to say, Johnson Controls was very happy with the end product. They were more than satisfied with the overall costs the project amounted to, noting that the modular method was highly cost-effective. Also, they were very impressed with the clean, modern look of the modular enclosures; it was just the sort of style they had in mind. In addition, after the initial delivery, Johnson Controls decided to make some changes to the equipment and we were able to respond immediately, write up a new quote, and implement the necessary changes right away.

Finally, we asked Johnson Controls if they would recommend our company to others and they said they would do it “without hesitation.” They also mentioned that they’d be working with us in the future the next time they require a quality solution for their building needs. We couldn’t be happier with their answer.

Voith Siemens, or Voith Hydro, an international hydroelectric equipment manufacturing company, needed a very unique building. Voith had to have an inplant assembly enclosure where they could wire hydroelectric turbines in a contained environment and then load them up on flat beds to be shipped out. This would prove interesting, as these turbines were 30 feet in diameter and 6 feet tall. A special design was needed so that the turbines could be easily removed from the enclosure in one piece and then shipped out. These turbines were very large and it was apparent that a simple bay door wouldn’t do, so what sort of solution would work?

Voith had a solution in mind and so came to Allied Modular Building Systems with their concept and decided our product was a good fit. Voith chose modular technology because of the speed of the manufacturing and install process. They were impressed by the capabilities of modular technology and Allied Modular’s ability to manufacture a project away from the build site quickly without construction hassle, and then have the project installed fast so that the client is ready for business. And so Allied Modular worked with Voith through every step of the process to ensure that Voith’s vision was brought to completion.

So what was the solution? The modular building could be classified as a specialized assembly enclosure, utilizing Allied Modular’s Tall Wall. The enclosure was ultimately designed to feature an entire section of wall that was on tracks; this moving section of wall was attached to a movable section of ceiling so that an entire cross-section of the building could be moved to the side. In this way, an entire turbine could be carried out of the enclosure in one piece by crane and put on a flat bed for transport. Remarkable! This entire structure was built with an ingenious combination of universal modular panels and steel framing.

Was Voith Hydro happy with the result? They certainly were. In fact, they were blown away by the outcome; its functionality fit exactly what they were looking for. And they were able to install the enclosure quickly and efficiently with their own qualified installers with no construction mess necessary. In fact, Voith was so impressed with the product that they ended up ordering another modular building from Allied Modular: a modular lunchroom. Yet another satisfied customer!

Check out this video of the custom Voith enclosure below:

Modular technologies have been featuring more and more prominently in various tech and construction news outlets around the world. It seems that not only in the construction industry, but across many industries, modular design has been gaining more and more favor as an alternate construction and manufacturing methodology.

Across many of these industries, modular design has become more prominent for common reasons: for system flexibility and lower construction/implementation times in an increasingly fast-paced economic world, and for cost effectiveness in a painfully protracted recessionary economy.

For example, we’ve been talking about all of the schools and businesses increasingly relying on modular construction because of time and budget constraints. Then there’s the growing use of modular construction in disaster relief programs such as for schools, medical buildings, housing, and even bridges in places like Joplin. Tech companies are increasingly using modular systems for their data centers in order to cut costs, save time, and improve efficiency among other things. Then there are the ongoing explorations into smaller, modular nuclear reactors that can be promising (of course if they are found to be safe, which with the modular designs, seems to be the case). And for you futurists out there, we are even seeing the development of modular, self-assembling foam robots (yep, that’s right) which could provide all sorts of exciting possibilities.  

What we are seeing is a broad paradigm shift in not only construction technology, but other manufacturing and data technologies as well. We are seeing an entire shift in thought towards a new, flexible, efficient mode of production. It is all very fascinating, and we will all benefit from it!

If you take a glance at the latest news headlines having to do with modular construction, you’ll find stories that show how schools all around the world are adopting modular buildings for their unique blend of efficiency and affordability along with quality and sturdiness.

You may be aware that school districts everywhere are still feeling the after-effects (or the ongoing effects, depending on your opinion) of the global recession. Districts are cutting back on expenses to cope with ever-shrinking budgets. 

Many schools are turning to modular construction for their classroom-building needs and for good reason. Modular buildings cut costs with efficient and time-saving construction methods that also minimize site disruption (which is a must for an educational environment).

How is this possible? Modular buildings are manufactured in components inside factories, where resources are used more efficiently and construction time is shortened. Most of the construction occurs offsite, leaving the build site clean and quiet so that children can continue to learn effectively, even as the new buildings are being built.

On top of these many unique advantages to the method of modular construction, finished modular buildings are sturdy, well-insulated, high-quality structures that can accomodate the ideal learning environment, and are a huge improvement over the trailer units that price-minded schools have turned to in the past.

Allied Modular itself offers modular educational classrooms that can be configured to meet the needs of any educational program. What’s more, these modular buildings can easily be altered, expanded, or relocated to account for the ever-changing student body of a given school.

As documented here on our modular building blog, this trend is not going to slow down any time soon; in fact there are signs that it is growing tremendously. It is not much of a surprise, considering the revolutionary nature of modular construction and its methods!

Last week, we talked about the utility, convenience, and efficiency of using modular buildings for disaster relief projects. Well, looks like a field hospital in Joplin is getting an upgrade.

You’ll probably remember Joplin from the news a bit ago when that city was battered with a horrific outbreak of tornadoes. It was quite a disaster and many people were hurt and killed. Luckily, the city is on its way to rebuilding, as well as installing modular buildings in certain areas to help keep things moving.

The article mentions the fact that the hospital will have a more sturdy building, thanks to modular technology, to conduct operations; added benefits include stable floors, indoor plumbing, and a more comfortable atmosphere complete with windows (the field hospital was originally sheltered with a sort of tent-type structure).  Both the staff and the patients seem to be excited about the upgrade.

These area definitely positive developments and we are happy to see that institutions in Joplin are managing their recovery so well.

Disasters can hit fast and unexpectedly, leaving victims scrambling for resources and shelter in the aftermath. Reconstruction can take time. Temporary solutions can range from flimsy tents that only offer limited protection to dehumanizing and suffocating barracks-type accomodations for mass numbers such as within recreation centers or similar large buildings. 

Luckily, construction technology is always advancing, and today’s modular construction can be used to great advantage, such as providing for a population that finds themselves in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

The great thing about modular construction is that it can provide sturdy and well-insulated buildings for a higher level of comfort all in a short amount of time.  

Modular construction can be used for all sorts of applications to address disaster-related situations, such as a modular bridge to assist with flooding.

Using flexible and efficient modular technology, we can now address even adverse conditions with better construction methods. Rebuilding an office and getting a business back online, or sheltering people affected by a disaster, or even building a bridge can be made all the easier with modular construction. Parts can be manufactured and shipped to the build site and installed much more quickly than with traditional construction methods.

Better living through technology, certainly!

One of the enduring misconceptions that the public has about the modular construction industry is that modular buildings are equal to “trailers” or mobile buildings. Of course, modular buildings can be put on trailers or made into mobile buildings, but that’s besides the point. The point is that the public often sees the term “modular building” as designating only these trailers and mobile buildings.

We see this misconception come up in a story in which President Obama is surprised that public school teachers teach in trailers, or as the article states, “modular buildings.” Now, we are not here to discuss the politics of the situation, but we do want to clarify this “modular building” term that is being used so loosely.

Many people view trailer buildings in a harsh light, seeing as how the buildings are only meant to be temporary and provisional. These buildings tend to be thin-walled and built with lower quality materials to provide cost effectiveness. It is this negative view that can occasionally overshadow the public perception of “modular buildings”.

While it is true that trailer buildings like these were once referred to as modular buildings, and some modular companies do in fact make these trailer type buildings, they no longer represent as a whole the types of buildings that modular construction produces.

Modular construction technology has advanced well beyond the trailer and the old prefabricated houses (of course modular buildings are prefabricated, but the technology and the process are different now). Modular construction is now a rapidly growing industry filled with all sorts of different construction methods and approaches.

Many of these modern modular construction approaches are attempts to streamline and make more efficient the construction of buildings that are meant to be more durable and high quality than the old prefabricated and trailer buildings. Sitting inside these new modular buildings, it is hard to tell that they aren’t traditionally constructed buildings. The walls are thick and well insulated. The construction is solid and durable. But at the same time, the buildings are flexible and easily rearrangeable. With modular buildings, you have the advantage of a sturdiness characteristic of traditionally constructed buildings and at the same time you have the advantage of a flexible, cost effective building that you can easily modify or take with you.

So a modular building is no longer simply a trailer building. It is a building that is built from a type of construction that involves factory fabricated components that can be put together in an almost infinite variety of arrangements. This is the new definition of a modular building that we hope the public will adopt.

Here is another article about the many benefits of using modular construction for your building needs. This article is about the many benefits of modular housing.

It is important to note that modular housing is actually quite different from commercial modular construction in terms of methodology and technique, but there are also many similarities, and share many of the same benefits. It is useful to compare the two fields because they both represent a new emerging pattern of thought in construction.

Modular housing usually consists of prefabricated “modules” that are manufactured in a factory. Unlike our modular building systems however, these modules are usually a complete room or facility or simply a larger piece of the building that is joined to other modules. Our building system, in contrast, consist of prefabricated universal panels and frames that eventually form buildings according to plan.

Housing modules, though different in practice, provide the same benefits that modular commercial construction provides. Housing modules are built indoors away from pesky external conditions such as weather and wear and tear, and so an entire portion of the construction process is streamlined in a factory setting, cutting down on waste, saving time, and minizing chances of damage.  

Commercial modular building systems work a bit differently, in that they are comprised of universal panels that are installed to create flexible buildings, but they offer the same benefits: a reduction in construction time, increased efficiency, waste reduction, and protection from the elements. 

We can see that the  transformation of construction is happening dramatically across industries.