Using Modular Construction for Government Buildings

With more than 11 million employees in 2020, the United States federal government is expansive and complex. Add to that the millions of state and local government workers, as well as the countless workers in governments outside of the U.S., and you can start to see why most government decision-makers agree: when something can be simplified, it should be.
 
That thinking can also be applied to the construction of government buildings. To meet the near-constant need for new fire stations, emergency shelters, military facilities, city halls and more, government bodies pay high prices and suffer long wait times for traditionally constructed buildings, but they don’t have to.
 
Government modular buildings save time and money — the two resources government agencies are so often pressed to conserve. So, what are you waiting for? For government agencies of all sizes, it’s time to go modular.
 
To learn more about using modular construction methods for government buildings, contact Mobile Modular today.

Why Should Government Buildings Go Modular?

Across the board, government decision-makers are tired of sales pitches from vendors and contractors looking to capitalize on all the government funding that gets flung around. These pitches are opportunistic and full of style but lack substance. It’s clear that we’re pitching modular here — that’s all the style we’ve got.

Here’s the substance:

1. Government Modular Buildings are Cost-Effective

Modular construction reduces costs, leaving governments more money to spend on beneficial programs. A 2020 study found that modularization of the construction process reduces costs by 10% to 25%. Those cost reductions come from a variety of factors, including less on-site labor, standardized design and production procedures and less wasteful production of components.

2. Modular Construction is Faster

The same 2020 study found that modular construction gets the job done 40% faster than traditional construction on average. The ability to construct the bulk of the structure in a factory setting while preparing the site simultaneously provides a lot of the time savings. But other benefits, such as fewer weather delays because much of the work is done indoors, contribute, too.

3. Modular Government Facilities are Safe

The last thing any government body wants to deal with is the guilt, bad press and legal risk that comes when a construction worker is injured on a government worksite. With government modular buildings, that risk is lower — to the tune of around 80% fewer accidents on modular jobs.

4. Modular Buildings are High Quality

The modular construction process produces high-quality buildings. Highly skilled workers oversee the mostly automated factory-style construction process, which leaves little room for the human error that can lead to structural and safety problems. On top of that, because most of the components are produced indoors, they are not vulnerable to moisture. In traditional construction, moisture from rain and outdoor air can get trapped in components and lead to mold, deterioration and more.

5. Modular is Better for the Environment

Anyone who has worked in government for long knows how much scrutiny agencies face when they are wasteful — especially from environment-minded advocacy groups. But these advocates have much less to complain about with modular government buildings. That’s because the modular construction process produces much less waste than traditional construction. The measurements are exact, and material theft is basically nonexistent because there are no materials and few tools on the worksite. On top of that, the reduced need for deliveries to the site can cut emissions associated with a project by as much as 90%.

Types of Government Modular Buildings

There’s plenty to gain for government bodies that embrace modular construction. That much is clear at this point, but what kinds of government buildings can be modular? We explore some common examples below.

Federal Government Modular Construction

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency and countless similar federal agencies can all benefit from modular construction methods. Disaster response housing and facilities, veterans’ hospitals, remote scientific worksites and even agency headquarters can all be constructed with modular methods.

State and Local Government Buildings

State and local government budgets are chronically limited, and that makes these venues perfect for lower-cost modular construction. Saving costs on police stations, fire stations, city hall, courthouses, health and medical facilities and any other government building leaves more financial room to help city and state residents.

Mobile Modular delivered a stunning modular fire station for the city of Gainesville, Florida. Check it out here.

Modular Corrections Facilities

Modular buildings join and stack pre-built units that can repeat themselves to make the structure nearly any size. That’s perfect for hotels, apartments and one type of government modular building many people don’t often think about: correctional facilities. Modular units can contain everything inmate housing requires, as well as administrative offices and other common jail and prison facilities.

Modular: Perfect for Military

Barracks, training facilities, ports, air bases, hospitals, housing, temporary and remote bases, arsenals, outposts and administrative facilities are just a few of the countless types of structures the military needs. And they can all be built with modular construction methods. The often temporary and remote nature of military structures is also a perfect fit for quick and efficient government modular buildings.

Government Modular Buildings in Parks and Recreation

With 423 national parks, 10,336 state parks and tens of thousands of municipal parks in the U.S. alone, there’s plenty of park land to go around. And each one of those parks needs facilities — think restrooms, museums, gift shops, administrative offices, storage facilities and the like. These structures need to be durable, low-cost and visually appealing — three qualities that are perfectly matched with what modular construction offers.

Mobile Modular Government Buildings: The Solution for Your Agency

Almost any government agency can benefit from government modular buildings. Reduced costs, increased speed, safe worksites, high-quality structures and environmental friendliness are concepts that any government decision-maker — and any constituent — can get behind.

Mobile Modular has overseen countless modular construction projects that meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency. Ready to discuss your project with a modular construction professional? Reach out to Mobile Modular by calling 866-395-7309 or contacting us online today