The construction industry has been long been regarded as one that is averse to change but this is soon about to transform. New trends are bringing radical shifts in the construction paradigm.
Construction companies will likely operate in a very different way in the near future.
1. Prefabricated Buildings
One trend is the increasing use of prefabricated materials even for high-rise buildings. Using modular building techniques, Chinese construction companies are setting new records in high-rise building construction. Prefabricated components are becoming popular since they are inexpensive and cut down building costs considerably. Previously, prefabricated construction was limited to single story buildings but with recent rapid advancements in technology, it will soon become the standard method of producing skyscrapers.
Prefabricated homes, colloquially known as prefab, are also seeing an increase in demand and are predicted to grow in popularity over the next decade. A Philippine-based construction startup, Revolution Precrafted was valued at $1 billion after it successfully sold cutting-edge prefab homes.
2. 3D Printing
With 3D printing, it’s now possible to produce complex molded components with greater speed and efficiency. Cutting edge construction technology is shifting the construction landscape rapidly. These novel techniques will soon become mainstream. Early adopters will gain the most.
A 3D-printed canal house is in the making in Amsterdam. This is a three year R&D project that will pave the way for 3D-printed infrastructure.
With an area spanning 2,985 sq meter, SPECAVIA built a 3D-printed residential structure in Yaroslavl. This was the world’s first-ever 3D printed building. The project was completed in October 2017.
Robotic technology will soon make inroads into construction. Semi automated mason machines are capable of laying over 3,000 bricks per day. This will greatly speed up construction, reduce costs and bring value to clients and investors.
3. BIM
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is streamlining building design process. Several factors can now be modified and their effects simulated by sophisticated modeling tools on computer to determine their effect on building construction. This means that expensive and time consuming errors can now be detected and eradicated before construction begins.
Due to the efficiency and value of BIM, governments are introducing legislation to promote its use.
4. Increased Consolidation
In this modern era of cutthroat competitions, it is now imperative to utilize economies of scale. To facilitate this, there will be increased consolidations in the construction industry.
5. Green Buildings
Green construction is more than just a marketing gimmick. It is receiving increased backing from governments and will soon become ‘conventional’.
Environmentally conscious investors and consumers expect construction firms to use natural materials to create a positive impact on the climate and environment and save precious resources.
Cross-laminated timber is a variety of high strength plywood that is created by gluing different types of wood so that a composite layer is formed. Experimental specimens rival the strength of steel. This newfound strength means that timber will soon make a comeback after falling out of favor in the previous century. Wood is also perfect for climate control since it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air.
Have a building or demolition project? Contact us at Battle Axe Construction today to speak with an expert!