Leading offsite advocacy body Buildoffsite has teamed up with the Construction Innovation Hub to help deliver its mission to transform the way buildings and infrastructure are designed, manufactured, integrated and connected within the built environment.
Buildoffsite will work closely with the Hub to drive the uptake of manufacturing technologies and digital ways of working throughout the sector. Buildoffsite joins Constructing Excellence and the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) as one of the Hub’s formal delivery partners.
Construction Innovation Hub programme director, Keith Waller, said: “Government has already declared a preference to move towards offsite for critical buildings like schools and hospitals and a central part of our mission as the Construction Innovation Hub is to help government turn this ambition into a reality. This will deliver positive outcomes not just for government and the sector, but importantly, for wider society as well.
“But as we’ve said before, we cannot do this any of this alone. We really need all the key players with us on this journey. Having established itself as the authoritative voice of the offsite sector, Buildoffsite is undoubtedly one of the most critical players in construction today and we’re delighted to have them onboard.”
Buildoffsite business manager, Joe Dyde, added: “Buildoffsite is delighted to have been invited to partner with the Construction Innovation Hub and to be in a position to formally support the Hub’s programme to transform the way that UK construction projects are designed, delivered and perform in use to the benefit of the UK as a whole.
“It is only once in a generation that such a substantial opportunity to make a really big difference to the way the industry works comes along. By pooling Buildoffsite resources, and the knowledge and success of our diverse membership, with those of the other delivery partners we will be best placed to ensure that the ambitions for the Hub are delivered and the confidence and commitment of government and the industry at large are followed through.”
The news comes as the world’s tallest modular hotel is under construction in New York City, aided by digital technology. The AC Marriott New York on 6th Avenue (pictured above), which is being built by construction firm Skystone, will have 168 rooms over 26 storeys.
The hotel rooms, complete with finishes and furniture, are being manufactured in Poland and will be shipped to New York for craning into position around a concrete core.
Announcing its involvement in the project this week, Autodesk said Skystone is using AutoCAD and Revit for design-to-assemble for preconstruction, and BIM 360 for construction management. Autodesk said this keeps all project data in one place and helps teams coordinate design and execution.
Skystone, which is both main contractor on the project and Marriott’s approved modular manufacturer, started production on the rooms in late 2017. It manages seven separate processes procured from different specialist companies, including the fabrication of the modules’ steel cages, their interior fit-out, and exterior facades.
Image: The AC Marriott New York on 6th Avenue (Skystone/Autodesk)
