Why MRI Buildings are Made for Modular Construction

As we’ve mentioned in the past, just about half of SMM’s business focuses on medical facilities. We specialize in this niche, and have built a solid reputation as one of the best in the field. What’s more, within the healthcare sector, we’re developing specialization in MRI modular units. 

FAMILIARITY WITH SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

MRI units carry hyper-specific building requirements, and thanks to our experience with medical-grade modular construction, SMM is well versed. With steel framing throughout, MRI units (Type 2 noncombustible buildings) are outfitted with RF roof shielding, cryrogen vents to keep the equipment cool, and other specs, sited via crane on a permanent foundation at an at-grade finish. These buildings are typically quite small, ranging from 500 to 700 square-feet — making them the perfect candidate for modular construction.

INSPIRA ONCOLOGY CENTER CASE STUDY

One of our first MRI units was commissioned by Inspira Health Network in New Jersey for a brand new Inspira Oncology Center. Though it was initially intended to be a stick-built construction project, we won over the architecture firm with the evidence that modular would be a better fit, and in the end designed a building comprised of about eight different modular sections — one of which was an independent MRI unit. The project was completed in just 331 days, and ultimately won a prestigious design award by the Modular Building Institute: best in its class for Permanent Modular Healthcare under 10,000 square-feet.

WIDE-RANGING PARTNERSHIPS

Because MRI units call for such specific equipment, we maintain partner relationships with a wide range of suppliers to serve our clients. We do all of the spec legwork in advance so that our clients’ buildings are move-in ready faster than stick-built construction. Together with these partners, we’re able to get our clients’ units operational faster, so that they can serve more patients sooner.

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Growing Gains

Well into our 10th year as leaders in the modular construction industry, we’re excited that the velocity of the number of projects continues to grow. To keep up with demand and bring new energy and skills to our team, we’ve added some new faces. 

DYLAN HUGHES

With nearly five years of experience in the industry, Dylan joins us as our new Design Manager. Starting at Icon Construction, a direct manufacturer, he gained extensive knowledge of modular construction. From there, he quickly rose to Director of Engineering and later Director of Project Management & Design at Apex Modular Group. We’re impressed by his vast experience in many facets of the industry and know he’ll be a great fit to oversee in-house design as well as coordinate with third-party engineers and contractors on design packages, structural foundations approvals, fire protection and sealed full-drawing packages for a variety of projects at SMM.   

COLBY HAYNES

Colby joined us last fall as our newest Project Manager and has completed a handful of projects in that short time. Diverting from his background in sales, he started in the modular construction industry as a Project Coordinator. Because he learns so quickly, he was promoted to Project Manager not long after and began managing projects ranging from 7,000-20,000 square feet. Colby’s knack for details and keeping people and budgets on track help SMM’s projects run smoothly. From visiting construction sites and engaging with customers, to reviewing pertinent documents and scheduling key deadlines, Colby has a hand in every aspect of our success.  

HERE WE COME, 2020

To set SMM up for continual success within this booming industry, forming teams of knowledgeable, confident and eager people is key and these two individuals exceed all criteria. We’re proud to venture into the new year at full steam, equipped with a dream team.

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Modular medical facilities are our specialty

For nearly 40 years, SMM has built a solid reputation on delivering modular commercial buildings. But what may be less obvious is our focus on medical facilities. In fact, about half of our business deals with medical facilities. Why? Because medical facilities make for great modular buildings. For countless healthcare clients, we’ve successfully beat deadline expectations while providing seamless transitional spaces. In the modular construction market, healthcare facilities are not an area of expertise for most of our competitors. But for SMM, it’s our specialty.

Transitional facilities

Our primary medical-based modular expertise is in designing and building transitional facilities. In many cases, large medical groups may be renovating an existing hospital, and can’t simply pause care during construction. Our job is to bring in a temporary facility. We’re able to mimic everything our clients use in their day-to-day facility, so they can move into our building the very same day they shut down operations in the existing space. This way, they don’t lose a single day of workflow. Thanks to trusted partnerships with sub-vendors in the medical community, we will have already set up everything from operational spaces to furniture.

Variety of clients

While we’ve done our share of emergency rooms, we’ve served all kinds of healthcare-related clients, including but not limited to:

• Dental offices
• Exam room spaces
• Pharmacies
• Lab facilities
• Surgical facilities
• Wound care facilities

Multi-tiered use

For some medical facilities, even after a temporary structure is no longer needed, our clients will opt to extend their lease on a modular unit to repurpose it for a new need. Because our structures are built to last, they can absolutely withstand this transitional, multi-tiered use. For example, we did a project for the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada that called for a transitional emergency room department, complete with surgical space. After one year, that ER building was transitioned into a much needed lab space. We changed the walls, reconfigured the HVAC per code, and successfully delivered the building ready for its second year on the Nellis base serving a completely different need.

Expedited timeline

True to all modular construction, one of the biggest benefits of a modular medical facility over stick-built is convenience. When clients work with SMM, they’re getting everything they need for a specific type of facility, but within approximately 30 percent less time than typical stick-built construction. From floors to ceiling, finishes can be specified in the same way a client would typically spec out a hospital setting — but the delivery is faster.

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The sky’s the limit: multi-story modular units

Last summer, the world’s tallest modular building was completed in Singapore. Named Clement Canopy, the project features double towers each standing 459 feet tall, housing a total of 505 luxury residential apartments. For the modular construction world, Clement Canopy is quite a feat. It’s a reminder that when multi-story modular buildings are nearly as feasible as if they were stick-built. And for multi-story modular construction in the United States, SMM is a confident choice.

Experts in the field 

While we don’t focus on residential construction, we’re always excited to take on multi-story projects for our commercial clients. In fact, when it comes to multi-story commercial construction, there are only a handful of contractors in the field — and SMM is among the most experienced. We’ve completed numerous multi-story commercial projects, and we’re well aware of the importance of starting with a solid foundation — literally.

Solid foundation

Especially when building up (as opposed to out), advanced planning and engineering are paramount for a building’s foundation. It needs to be able to stand up to multiple stories’ worth of construction weight. Depending on the height of the planned building, the foundation will need corresponding reinforcement, in the form of concrete and rebar. Just how much of each depends on the proposed height, but one rule is consistent no matter how tall the proposed building: the foundation’s need to be engineered properly to handle the designed building weight.

Building materials

Depending on the height of the proposed building, building materials may vary. For instance, though some modular buildings are made of recycled materials similar to wood fabrication, anything taller than three stories will require a combination of wood and steel or all steel. What’s important to understand is that if there’s a desire down the line to add onto an existing modular building (whether one additional story, or more), completing this task is not as simple as stacking newer units in place atop older ones. Remember the importance of a solid foundation. This is why we try to have conversations early on about whether or not a building will be added onto down the line.

Experienced crane operators

A final factor that’s incredibly important to mention in terms of SMM’s experience with multi-story modular units is the role that construction cranes play in the assembly of our buildings. Because modular buildings are assembled off-site and then put into place, multi-story buildings take shape much differently than stick-built buildings built entirely on site. Essentially, with modular buildings, you’re craning nearly completed units into space, which is why we partner with only the most experienced crane operators in the United States. In our decade of business, there have been no accidents — which, in crane-operated construction, happens more often than it should. SMM is proud of our safety record, and continues to hold safety as priority number one — no matter how tall (or short) the proposed building.

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Modular solutions for population growth

With the global population having surpassed 7.7 billion, one thing is becoming clear: the world isn’t getting any smaller. As a result, land is more valuable than ever — both in densely populated cities, and rural communities with miles of potential. On both ends of the spectrum as well as on a hyper-local level, modular construction plays an important role: it can give people all over the country (and world) alternative spaces to live, work, and play.

Hyper-urban: building up

Typically, we think of overpopulated cities as not having much room to grow. But that’s ignoring one important growth area: vertical. Multi-story modular buildings are a practical alternative to serve a lot of people on a small footprint. And like any modular project, customization is a key factor. We can “stack” units, one on top of the other, to create more space. Here at SMM, we’ve done a lot of two- and three-story buildings, but really, we can go up to 10- or 12-stories — and even higher than that. Building up just requires that we start with a solid foundation than can hold its share of weight. From there, construction boils down to basic materials like concrete and rebar, and smart engineering.

Urban: dormitory-style

Educational institutions are just one example of an industry that’s significantly affected by population growth. Especially in the past few months, we’ve met with quite a few clients seeking dormitory facilities for expanding student populations around the country. Many of these future modular buildings will be four-story units, serving 400 students. In these cases, going modular is saving these educational institutions a lot of time: they’ll be able to open their new buildings 30 percent faster than typical stick-built construction. We typically estimate 9 to 10 months from initial design to completion, so for buildings contracted this month, Summer 2020 is a realistic goal.

Rural: room to grow

On the flip-side, if you look at rural areas of population bursts — such as border-sharing where the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are actively trying to establish housing and office structures — modular construction is a smart solution. If you’re based in an area that can’t necessarily get standard construction materials in a reasonable amount of time, modular is a great way to go. Because it’s prefabricated construction that’s completed in weather-safe plants, it’s shipped ready to assemble, irregardless of local weather. Plus, not having to source contractors or materials in a rural area means cutting down on construction time, as well as cost, since local manufacturers tend to charge higher markups based on supply and demand. We bring a prefab structure to the site ready to assemble, and build it in a matter of a few days or weeks rather than months.

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Inclement weather? No problem.

If you’re from the Midwest or anywhere else in the country that’s burdened with a long winter, you may have heard this one before: “There’s really only two seasons: winter and construction.” True enough, in parts of the country where extreme cold, snow, and rain can last for months, general construction comes to a halt, resuming only when the weather warms up. That’s where modular construction offers yet another advantage to stick-built: because modular units are built in a controlled warehouse environment, construction can continue year-round, regardless of inclement weather.

Weather-controlled building environment

Not having to pause construction for outside elements means that modular construction is seldom if ever delayed for any reason. Plus, there’s no room for materials to be damaged by weather, which is sometimes the case when exposed for lengths of time at a construction site. After assembly at a weather-controlled plant, modular building pieces and parts are sealed weather-tight prior to transport. Throughout the construction process, the interior of a given modular construction building isn’t exposed at any time prior to transport — not until we physically cut off the wrapping to assemble the building directly on site. 

This advantage goes hand-in-hand with remote locations, where weather often plays a factor. In some remote locations, you may be unable to get crews on a site for weeks on end. But with modular construction, you can bring buildings in prefabricated, and get them set up in just a few days or weeks depending on the size of the facility.

Shortened ship time

Once a finished building is ready to ship, it’s geographically closer than you think — which means truck or shipping delays are drastically reduced, if not virtually eliminated. This is because we have construction warehouse contracts strategically placed all over the country. We work with multiple manufacturing plants so that our clients nationwide never have to wait too long for a building to ship. From Southern California to Pennsylvania, the Midwest to the Southeast, we have nine suppliers (and counting) ready to ship direct. It’s cost-effective for all parties involved, and keeps timelines moving at steady a clip.

Finished to fit

All of our modular units are finished about 95% of the way before shipping, so that only the mate lines (where modular sections are brought together) need finishing. The finishing process includes floors, walls, roofs and ceilings, and even fixtures come standard in our units, so that everything is ready to go upon arrival, minus utility hookups. Because you’re not forced to wait on those very last punch-list items, once again, modular construction saves time — and saves the day.

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Project of the Month: Carrigg Commercial Builders

At SMM, some of the jobs we’re most proud of aren’t won traditionally. In the case of our partnership with New Hampshire–based Carrigg Commercial Builders, we were assigned the job after a prior modular contractor was dismissed. Even though we were approaching the job from a triage position, we were able to observe, assess, and act in a timely fashion that reassured the client, and put them on the road to a successful completion. Here’s what that journey looked like.

Our client’s charge was to provide a swing space awarded to a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) in Bedford, Massachusetts. Up to the point until we were tapped for the job, our client had been working with a competitor — but didn’t feel that they were receiving the requested information required for a particular modular unit. As our Cincinnati-based sales representative Danita Gibson recalls, the client complimented SMM’s prompt, reliable responsiveness, and our ability to deliver more than what the client had asked for in their initial request.

For this job especially, SMM’s success is rooted in the fact that we listened to the client’s needs, and were able to provide a comprehensive proposal that set us aside from our competition. We were able to build trust while showing strong experience, with the project being managed with in-house site superintendents and project managers. Despite coming into this particular project late, SMM was able to build a strong relationship with Carrigg for future project opportunities. 

What’s more, this project put us in a position to help the VA, an organization close to our hearts. “SMM is always proud to assist with VA requirements and needs,” Danita says. “This is just one way that we can say, ‘Thank you for your service.’” In the end, SMM was able to provide the necessary accommodations for the VA personnel while the existing building was being renovated and improved, and enhance the overall VA experience for the future.

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How Modular Construction Can Save Classroom Overcrowding

The back-to-school hustle means different things to different people. Here at SMM, it’s often an opportunity to help overcrowded schools provide all of their students with safe, comfortable classrooms, built to order. 

Understanding overflow

To understand this unique scenario, it’s important to know that year-round school programs typically estimate their impending population at the start of the calendar year, in January or February. Based on enrollment growth trends, new facilities orders are placed in advance to be completed by August or September. When outside factors result in an overabundance of new students, the first week of school is the first opportunity to gauge estimated enrollment against real-time capacity. And unfortunately, to make sure that site-built classrooms aren’t over capacity, “miscounted” students often wind up in a temporary classroom in a gymnasium or multi-purpose building.

Relief in 30 days

The quickest and easiest solution that SMM provides are ready-to-go classroom buildings, which can be operational in 30 days. We keep several in our fleet for this exact purpose, so that we can provide portable classrooms within an incredibly short time frame. There are three types of classrooms in our fleet: single-classroom buildings (built to serve 20-22 students), double-classroom buildings (built to serve 40-45 students), and multi-classroom buildings (multiple configurations, serving 20-22 per unit). Each is constructed with the same standards of hardiness to weather the four seasons and provide year-round comfort.

Solutions for years to come

While no parent wants to see their child relegated to a temporary classroom, the silver lining is that modular classrooms can be kept on site and used for numerous purposes well beyond the temporary relief period. Most schools we’ve served typically wind up keeping their units for at least 1–2 years. And because of their built-to-last construction, when a given unit’s time at a particular school has come to an end, it rejoins our fleet, ready to provide relief to a new school in need.

For more about modular construction and schools, read here.

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Modular Construction’s Role in Natural Disaster Relief

In the South, hurricane season is underway, and September is often the peak of the season. But despite the increased worry about the weather, there’s good news. If and when disaster strikes, sustainable modular construction can offer timely solutions to those who have been displaced. FEMA has even reported that modular homes are stronger and fare better in natural disasters than site-built counterparts, which means they’re more likely to stand up for years to come.

SMM’s partnership with USACE

In concert with FEMA recommendations, more than half of new, post-disaster construction over the past two to three years has come at the order of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) — in particular, out of the Mobile, Alabama, office in the heart of hurricane country. From debris removal to cleaning up utilities channels and issuing dollars toward new construction, the USACE handles the lion’s share of post-disaster relief, and SMM is proud to have partnered as a subcontractor on numerous occasions.

Ready to help

Imagine if a hurricane hits today. You’d see the first 30 to 60 days devoted strictly to debris removal, with construction coming after the fact. But even within a day of a disaster striking, a government agency can push through a contract for new (modular) construction based on a GSA schedule, so that companies like SMM can get to work and stand at the ready.

Time is of the essence

Because relief construction is time-driven in that every day counts, these types of jobs are typically assigned to multiple contractors at a time, to maximize efforts as soon as possible. At SMM, we’re proud to work as part of a larger team to make a difference. While we’re seldom involved in residential construction, we’re focused on commercial building relief, so that people can get back to work — and start to get on with their lives.

For more about modular construction and natural disasters, read here and here.

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Winning Fans with Modular Press Boxes

For many folks, September means one thing: football season. What does that have to do with modular buildings? Everything — if you’re forced to camp out in a press box on an 85-degree day. Especially for campuses with active sports teams, replacing an out-of-date wooden press box with a modular one can instantly give you a home-team advantage.

Climate-controlled

From football to baseball, for many traditional high school and college stadiums, press boxes are a second thought. They’re mostly unairconditioned, which means anyone who’s spending a decent amount of time in them is sweating through the dog days of summer and beyond. Modular press boxes come standard with full HVAC systems — no retroactive fittings necessary.

Rapid construction

Especially on a student campus, timing is a huge factor in terms of planning a new building — even a small one — since there’s limited time when construction isn’t prohibitive to school-year foot traffic. Modular buildings are built off-site and delivered for assembly, leaving a minimal construction footprint. The total amount of time for on-site construction often tops out at just two weeks.

Built to last

Unlike traditional wood-frame press boxes that have a 10- to 20-year lifespan, modular press boxes are assembled offsite with steel frames, making them strong enough to last for generations.

To check out one of our custom press boxes, click here.

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