Modular Steel Construction For High-Rise Hotels: What You Need To Know??
First Things First: What Is Modular Construction?
Modular construction is a process in which a majority (or portion) of the building is fabricated off-site under factory controlled conditions. The building is manufactured in pieces called “modules” that each include completed structure, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, furniture, fixtures, & equipment, and exterior and interior finishes.
These modules are then transported to site where they are stacked (typically using cranes), sealed, and connected to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (by general contractor crews) to form the completed building structure. Modular structures must adhere to the same building codes that conventionally built structures do, in addition to others which I will cover later.
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Modular steel construction basically refer to the task of development of steel based construction products or modules that can be quickly integrated on the site. The modular construction facilitate aid in simplification of complex and sophisticated construction process in compact urban spaces. Moreover, the products also provide assistance in swift construction of core infrastructure skeleton across natural disaster affected areas and remote terrains.
Why Go Modular?
For those of you unfamiliar with modular construction, there are numerous advantages to employing this approach in a hotel development project. Below are the three main benefits, which apply to both steel and wood-framed modular units.We will dive deeper into each section further on in this blog.
- Reduced Construction Time: Modular units are delivered to the site pre-assembled and pre-finished, then stacked. Construction time can be reduced significantly, compared with conventionally built structures. This is especially important in dense urban areas, where traffic disruption and noise mitigation equate to significant costs.
- Higher Quality: By building and finishing modular units in a factory under controlled conditions, final product quality can be enhanced with a more precise fitting of components, and repetitive installation and finishing performed in a dry, climate-controlled environment.
- Less Cost and Waste: With reduced waste, reduced construction time, and completion of assembly and installation in a controlled environment, the possibilities for cost savings are compelling. Additionally, these cost savings often result in a “green” advantage for the project.
Why Go Modular Steel Construction?
Factors such as increase in popularity of modular construction products and swift rise in urbanization has contributed significantly in the growth of the market. Moreover, the significantly large scope of application of the steel in construction across different end-user vertical is also anticipated to propel the growth of the market during the forecast period. In addition to this, the versatile benefits of the modular steel construction in ease of integration, construction of complex infrastructure is also anticipated to steadily fuel the growth of the market during the coming years. Thus, the modular steel construction market is poised to provide numerous profitable market opportunities for the market players during the forecast period.
The Fine Print
Modular construction is not suited for every hotel type or hotel brand.
Modules generally works best for select-service hotels that have built their brand standards around smaller guestrooms, as module sizes are typically based on the dimensions of shipping containers and/or the limitations of highway transport. Module widths and room widths also need to be compatible. A module-and-a-half-wide room is not practical for this approach.
Time and Planning
Modular construction is frequently touted as a time-saver. Time is money in construction, in terms of equipment rental, manpower, and lost revenue. With this method, contractors can stack multiple modules per day, potentially reducing total construction duration by a significant amount.
The challenge with the various phases of this process—namely design, permitting, fabrication, inspection and coordination—is planning ahead. A lot of developers want to get in the ground quickly, but with modular, there’s a lot of upfront legwork and planning that needs to happen. Time savings is an easy advantage to latch onto with modular, but there’s going to be more planning required. If you don’t start planning earlier, you will likely finish later, even with the shortened construction time.
Cost
There’s a common perception that building modular offers cost savings versus a traditional construction approach. However, there are many nuances that the owner and/or cost estimator needs to understand in order to skillfully develop a reliable cost comparison.
The fact that modular units are pre-manufactured can require cash flows to be more front-loaded than conventionally constructed projects. This will depend on the payment structure agreed upon with the fabricator.
The modular structure itself also differs significantly from its traditionally built counterparts, in terms of material (most hotel structures are concrete), erection process, and building components. Even though many components may have the same material costs, they could have very different installation costs, based on the differing location.