Office buildings going modular in a big way with Elliott

When a company creates or refurbishes its office space, one of the top priorities is keeping business going with minimal disruption to staff and operations, then getting resettled as quickly as possible, as modular building leader Elliott looks at here…

With this in mind, businesses are increasingly finding modular buildings to be an attractive alternative to traditional construction.

The modular construction process offers considerable time and cost savings, while these aesthetically impressive energy-efficient buildings can help maintain the images of even the most prestigious companies and those that are proactively looking to protect their brand.

Reducing and managing timelines

When constructing offices, reducing building time and time to occupancy is paramount. During refurbishment, disruption to staff needs to be kept to a minimum.

Companies changing to new premises need guarantees as to when they can move in to enable them to plan and limit any costly downtime.

When you need to save time and ensure that your project is delivered on time, the modular construction process presents significant advantages. With the modular process, buildings are designed and constructed as individual modules then assembled into the final structure.

The modules are assembled in an off-site factory, which all but eliminates weather-related delays and ensures safer working conditions. Plus, since the building process takes place off site, it can be completed in parallel to any on-site preparation. This can halve project timelines.

Optimising expenditure

Use of an assembly line construction process also allows modular builders to make cost savings in the purchase of raw materials by streamlining and finding efficiencies in the purchasing process.

Furthermore, since the majority of building operations take place in a factory environment, unbudgeted costs due to inclement weather conditions and theft are eliminated.

The modular process tightens up budgets and also ensures they are better respected. In addition, the fact that leftover materials can be kept and used for the next modular project (as opposed to traditional construction sites, on which excess materials are often wasted), builders can charge customers only for what is actually used – which greatly improves their environmental footprint too. 

Thinking green

Energy efficiency is an increasingly appreciated virtue of modular buildings as companies seek to set themselves apart from the competition and boost their image through social and environmental responsibility initiatives.

In the modular process, production of components takes place in a controlled indoor environment allowing buildings to meet the requirements of green building certifications.

As well as reducing waste, modular buildings benefit from the latest in green technology such as double-glazed windows, improved wall and roof insulation, PIR lighting, and thermostatically controlled heating.

Projecting the right image

Last but far from least, modular buildings can be stylish and stunning. When Jaguar Land Rover, one of the most prestigious names in car manufacturing, asked modular building leader Elliott to provide offices for their design and engineering facilities at Gaydon in Warwickshire, they had several criteria.

They urgently needed accommodation for 600 staff members, but as a luxury brand, they also wanted the premises to reflect their high-end market position. 

The three-storey building of 144 modules was installed in May 2016.  To accommodate an increase in staff numbers, a further 48 modules were added in 2018 to create a fourth floor.

The building was equipped with state-of-the-art fixtures in terms of kitchen facilities and air conditioning, along with extensive glazing for plenty of natural light.

The building’s elegant design included a high-quality suspended ceiling throughout, a full integrated panelling system (IPS) for vanity units and WCs, and attractive solid beech internal doorsets. 

Modular buildings bring together so many qualities that any company looking to upgrade their offices will find what they need in this modern, flexible and smart alternative to traditional construction.