The Commercial Modular Building Blog

Have you ever wondered where the term “modular” comes from? Why are modular buildings called “modular” buildings?

Modularity is a broad term that applies to a certain system wherein a combination of universal parts is put together to make a whole. These individual parts are generally self-contained, isolated units that can be rearranged into various configurations to carry out a variety of functions.

Modularity as a concept can be seen in but not limited to: technology, art, music, biology, and of course, manufacturing and building.

In technology, certain aspects of computers and software can be seen to be modular. Computers contain chips, microprocessors, power supplies, and various other components that can be configured in a variety of casings to create different types of computer systems to carry out different roles. Operating systems like Windows support a huge variety of programs that can be integrated in the operating system but stand on their own as a functioning program, like Word or a computer game.

There are forms of art that can be rearranged to create new artistic expressions. Digital art especially can be manipulated by a variety of users and rearranged to create new statements.

In Jazz, musicians are considered modular entities that stand on their own as individuals, yet combine to form a unique sound. These musicians can combine in whatever arrangement they feel and create different sounds.

In biology, certain organisms, especially plant life, consist of various components that can be combined in a variety of configurations: a tree can consist of branches, twigs, and leaves that can be arranged in whatever configuration the tree happens to grow in.

In manufacturing, modern assault rifles and other weapons systems are usually modular in nature. These weapons can be broken down and reassembled with various riflings, receivers, and bodies to accommodate different ammunition types and combat roles.

In construction our own modular buildings consist of individual parts that can be put together and organized to suit a variety of applications. People often marvel at how many different types of products we sell: clean rooms, offices, media rooms, partitions, press boxes, machine enclosures, guard houses, restrooms and more. But really, all of these products are variations born out of a configuration of universal wall and rail systems, with different function-specific furnishings such as HVAC systems, faucets, and TVs. 

A modular system is generally a sign of maturation in the specific discipline it is used in. In manufacturing and technology, it is the result of the efforts on the part of a creator to build a product with more ease of use, versatility, and lower cost. A modular system has the benefits of being more affordable and flexible than its fixed-structure counterparts.

That is why we are so proud of our modular buildings!

I recently spent some time with one of our customers who were making a change to one of their facilities. I asked him how the people were handling the change. His response was like many I’ve heard in the past. He said, “I don’t understand why people don’t want to change. I can’t figure out if they are lazy or just scared of what will happen.”

My response was very simple: “People are reluctant to change is a result of their peer groups’ ability to change.” He looked at me with a blank stare. I went on to explain further.

When a company goes several years without changing, that is the expectation that every employee has. When a company is continually changing, then continual change becomes the norm. Their peer group around them all feels the same way when change has never happened at the company. In other companies such as Google®, Microsoft®, Apple® and thousands of others who change daily, weekly, monthly and annually, change is the expectation. Change is the way they do business. Continue reading…

We are often asked,  ‘What is the difference between Modular Plug-and-Play wiring and a standard modular wiring system?’

Most companies in our industry offer a wiring system that is modular in nature.  Varying from company to company they range from a customer doing all of the electrical work to a plug-and-play type application with very little labor. I’ll try to go in detail on each of these so you can better understand the differences.

There are two different areas that any office or building gets wired.  The posts or vertical channels and the branch circuits which tied back to the load center or sub-panel.  The first area I would like to talk about is the vertical posts.  Most companies are industry provide conduit and boxes just like you would see in most construction applications.  They do not include any wire to wiring any of the devices such as plugs, light switches and light fixtures. Continue reading…