The appetite is growing for offsite design, manufacturing and installation. Is the collaboration between Arcadis and Caledonian the future for off-site manufacturing? It certainly has benefits as this collaboration between consultants and off-site manufacturers recognises the importance of crossover intelligence between typical construction design and off site fabrication/manufacturing.
There is no doubt that this collaborative partnership will provide a product for the housing market and the education market. The challenge will be how this collaborative partnership will be procured by either the Public Sector clients or Private Sector clients/developers. Each of these clients will have different evaluation criteria - Public Sector will require OJEU compliant including all necessary credit and PQQ checks, together with justifying Value For Money outcomes; the Private Sector would be driving for programme and cost improvements over the typical delivery approaches.
None of these challenges will be unsurmountable but will require maintained volume/programme of works to achieve the efficiencies of savings through component design and manufacturer.
This is all positive small steps to improving construction outputs.
Arcadis and offsite construction specialist Caledonian have signed a collaborative partnership agreement. Focusing specifically on the residential sector, Arcadis will work with Caledonian to develop new modular designs and to build additional capacity in the commercial and technical delivery of new housing. As part of the new partnership Arcadis will bring residential insight and expertise, along with design and construction management support. This will allow Caledonian to focus on building its manufacturing and delivery capacity. It means that, together, both partners can offer a fully integrated housing solution, from initial design concept through manufacturing, construction and completion. To lead the growing focus on modular construction, Arcadis has also made a new senior level appointment to oversee the development of its modular strategy across the UK.
http://www.constructionmanagermagazine.com/news/arcadis-and-caledonian-collaborate-modular-homes/
