What is Offsite Construction?
Offsite construction involves the planning, design, manufacture, delivery and installation of building components away from the construction site in a controlled factory environment. In recent years, it has become widely recognised as a modern method of construction, helping to address key industry challenges such as labour shortages, programme constraints and the impact of adverse weather.
Now increasingly adopted across the sector, offsite construction encompasses a range of approaches including modular, hybrid, panelised and pod systems. When combined with Building Information Modelling (BIM), offsite methods offer significant potential to improve efficiency, quality and predictability across construction projects.
Benefits of Offsite Construction
- Lower environmental impact
- Safer working conditions
- Shorter construction programmes
- Reduced disruption to local businesses and residents
- Improved quality control
- Greater economic value
Read more about the advantages of offsite construction and precast concrete here.
Offsite Insights Blog
This blog series aims to curate educational and interesting content from industry experts and academics on various subjects pertaining to the offsite industry.
IMPRESS H2020: Performance Innovation in Precast Concrete Sandwich Panels (Part 2)
Author: Prof. Roger West, School of Engineering, Trinity College, September 2022
In part two of the ‘Performance Innovation in Precast Concrete’ blog, Professor Roger West explores the composite structural action of the new, novel low carbon sandwich panels which were developed as part of the H2020 project. Read all about Professor West’s findings here.
IMPRESS H2020: Performance Innovation in Precast Concrete Sandwich Panels (Part 1)
Author: Dr. Oliver Kinnane, UCD School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy, June, 2022
Two years ago, a range of experts embarked on a journey to create a lightweight precast concrete sandwich panel that would ‘offer a low embodied carbon solution for the thermal performance enhancement of existing buildings.’ The research resulted in high performance sandwich panels which could inform future generations of design. Prof. Roger West and Dr. Oliver Kinnane outline their findings for Techrete here.
Facades with Distinction – The High Watermark of Architecture
Author: Opinion Piece by Guest Author, Paul Iddon ARB RIBA, April 2022
Guest author and Vice Chair of Manchester Society of Architects Paul Iddon, discusses the nobility and durability of concrete and draws parallels between some of the world’s most iconic buildings, from Rome’s Vitruvian Triad to concrete’s modern precast application on the facades of the iconic 2 St. Peter’s Square and V&A, Dundee. Read more here.
The Future for Concrete in a Zero Emissions World
Author: Opinion Piece by Dr. Richard O’Hegarty BE MSc PhD, UCD Research Fellow & Techrete R&D Manager, March 2022
What is the future for concrete in a zero emissions world? In the first of our Offsite Insights blog series, UCD Research Fellow and Techrete R&D Manager, Dr. Richard O’Hegarty explores why concrete became so popular in the first place and the emerging solutions with the potential to shape the future of the material so fundamental to our everyday lives. Read more here.