A Look Back to the Future of Modular Construction

THE HISTORY OF MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

What is Modular Construction?

Modular construction is a system of building a structure that assembles sections or modules of that structure off-site in a manufacturing plant, and then transports and assembles the sections or modules on site. The modules are often compared to building blocks or legos that “click” together on site to form a cohesive and complete structure. Modular construction can be as simple as a single module mobile home or trailer to a complex multi-module and multi-story hospital, hotel, or apartment complex.

The First Applications of Modular Construction.

The first modular construction is often associated with the model home kits sold by retailers such as the Sears Roebeck Company. Sears Roebeck was, in fact, one of the earlier manufacturers of these preassembled homes. They were prevalent in the early 1900s as the United States expanded west, but it was actually a company called E.F. Hodgson that is recognized as the early inventor of these preassembled homes and advertised their sales through a catalogue of homes.

Demand for modular homes rose in the post World War II era as soldiers returned home. The housing boom that resulted when these returning soldiers started families in homes of their own led to a need for quick and affordable housing, and modular construction certainly fit that bill.

Although single family homes are the most widely known use of modular construction throughout the 1900s, modular construction was also being used in the commercial context as early as the 1960s. In Cleveland, Ohio, for example, a company called Forest City Enterprises, which began as a wholesaler of construction materials, moved into the real estate development business and built several office buildings using preassembled modular units that were constructed off-site and then hauled to the project site.

Modular Construction Regulations in the Modern Era.

Today, there are seemingly no limits to what can be done with modular construction. Although the biggest limitation remains size restrictions for shipping, modular construction has come a long way from the box-type prefabricated homes of the past. From high-rise hotels in downtown Manhattan, to curtain wall-fronted mixed use multi-story buildings, and luxury single family homes—the options for modular construction continue to grow every day.

Regulations for Modular Construction.

As modular construction continues to grow in popularity and complexity, states are continuing to add more and more regulation relating to the modular units, separate and apart from standard on-site building inspections. The following is a state-by-state guide to regulations relating specifically to modular construction.