New York City developer Forest City Ratner Companies “broke
ground” Tuesday morning on the tallest modular building in the world, a
32-story residential tower known as B2, part of the Atlantic Yards development
in Brooklyn, N.Y. Taking a new twist on groundbreaking, rather than use
shovels, project leaders unveiled a prototype modular chassis for B2 during the
ceremony.
As with most modular construction, the B2 tower will
consist of individual modules that are built in a controlled factory
environment and later transported to site and craned into place. In this case,
union workers will build 930 modules in a
factory, where they will finish the units to a nearly live-in-ready status. The
units will come together to form 363 apartments of various sizes.
“We wanted to maximize what was done in the factory to
minimize the amount of work needed onsite,” explained David Farnsworth,
Principal with Arup, the engineering firm involved in the extensive research
and development for the project.
The modules will come complete with paint, fixtures and
structural connections, and will blend in with the building’s façade,
Farnsworth said.
While that degree of offsite fabrication is not new to the
modular industry, the height of the building is. Until now, most modular
buildings have remained under six stories due to developers’ perceptions about
modular and a lack of investment in engineering for taller modular structures.
Bill Flemming, President and CEO of Skanska USA Building –
the general contractor for the project — spoke at the groundbreaking and noted
that the project represents a “milestone for the construction industry” because
of the substitution of modular in place of the traditional process in a
building this high.
Tom Hardiman, Executive Director for the Modular
Building Institute, the international trade association that has represented
the commercial modular industry for 30 years, agreed that this project is a
game changer that could help the industry to grow and venture into new
territory.
“Every major industry in the world has advanced in
automation, efficiency and productivity. The construction industry has largely
been the exception until now,” Hardiman said.
“We are very excited about the prospect of a 32-story
modular building,” said Hardiman. “This project proves what savvy investors,
developers and contractors already know – that modular construction is safer
and more resource efficient, and reduces the construction schedule without
sacrificing quality or durability. In short, it’s greener, faster and
smarter.”
“With more than 10 million square feet of multi-story
permanent modular construction projects delivered over the past several years
for various federal agencies, as well as the education, multifamily housing,
retail and commercial sectors, this tried and tested method is ready for prime
time,” Hardiman said.
About MBI
The Modular Building Institute is the international nonprofit trade association
that has served the modular construction industry for 30 years. Members are
suppliers, manufacturers and contractors involved in all aspects of modular
projects — from complex multistory solutions to temporary accommodations. As
the voice of commercial modular construction, MBI expands the use of offsite
construction through innovative construction practices, outreach, education to
the construction community and customers, and recognition of high-quality modular
designs and facilities. For more information on modular construction, visit http://www.modular.org.
