Is Modular construction a one-step solution for faster and more sustainable buildings?

---

Print Email

---

The global construction industry is largely responsible for carbon emissions and waste generation. New eco-friendly modern building techniques such as modular construction evolve to reduce the industry's carbon footprint. Modular constructions can create more sustainable buildings by minimizing waste and using materials more efficiently. US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that approximately eighty-eight million tons of construction and demolition waste are added to landfills annually. Modular construction can reduce construction waste by up to 90% and is proven as one of the efficient offsite construction methods.

Modular construction costs are lower than traditional construction products, requiring fewer resources and less time to finish a construction project. The major advantage of modular buildings is that they are reusable and can be deconstructed without generating any demolition waste. Modular construction has witnessed significant growth in the past few years, accounts for 60-70% of offsite techniques used and reduces built time by 50-60%. Module selection is based on transportation dimensions, specific site logistics, installation & crane costs, and shipping distances to achieve optimal design efficiency. The modules' materials, such as eco-friendly materials, are also selected specifically for their performance characteristics. Key players in the modular construction space are either involved in attracting significant funding to improve their services or innovative technologies. For instance,

• Nexii, a Canadian modular building system manufacturer, announced around US$ 35 million in funding in a round preceded by Trinity Capital and Horizon Technology Finance Corporation in July 2022. Nexii will grow its manufacturing capacity to meet the rising demand for sustainable construction with this funding, and its valuation will reach more than US$ 1.5 billion. With the company's innovative modular construction techniques, Nexii's buildings have 31% less embodied carbon than that conventional construction materials.
• In July 2022, the government of Canada, through the Department of Natural Resources, announced around US$ 110,000 for the Mas Timber Modular System Project. EllisDon, a Canada-based construction services company, is leading the project. The company has designed and constructed a mass timber volumetric modular system prototype, which can be used in affordable housing, hotels, market housing sectors, and student housing. The government contribution to the project is through the Green Construction Wood Program.
• Autovol, a US-based modular construction company, has introduced a process called "automated volumetric modular construction" to build affordable multifamily housing. This process uses a robotic system to assemble six-sided modules with all fixtures and appliances for shipping onsite. In July 2020, the company opened a 400,000 square feet plant with 53 six-axis industrial robots that automate the production of ceilings, floors, and walls in the form of volumetric modules.

With the advent of the construction sector adapting to upcoming technologies, modular construction will be expected to record a significant growth rate in the coming years.

To know more and gain a deeper understanding of the global construction market, click here.