Modular building concepts—also known as off-site construction—have been utilized for decades. However, the use of pre-fabrication and modular building techniques is increasingly common now. According to a 2020 Dodge Data Analytics SmartMarket Report, modular building is growing fastest in the healthcare, hospitality, multi-family and higher education sectors. The Modular Building Institute reports that the market share of pre-fab and off-site construction has doubled in recent years and they predict it will double again over the next five years.
Building owners and property managers appreciate the advantages of modular construction including time savings, cost reductions, and lower waste generation (MBI claims that homes built with a modular process use about 17 percent less material overall.) Increased jobsite safety is also a benefit of modular construction. The quality controls present in manufacturing mean tighter tolerances in comparison to on-site construction. Clearly, building a wall on a flat surface—rather than in situ—has pluses.