Why Australian Developers Should Embrace Prefabrication

After years of mainstream success across Europe, Japan and the US, it’s time Australia began utilising prefabrication to its full potential.

Warren McGregor, CEO of PrefabAUS, Australia’s peak industry body for off-site construction, cites the following reasons for Australian developers to invest in prefab.

With prefabrication set to revolutionise Australia’s construction industry, it’s time to learn how your company can benefit from this rapidly growing business.

1. Quality
Prefab offers a quality and consistency of work that traditional methods cannot easily match. The quality control processes, controlled manufacturing environment and the technology involved result in consistent, quality design to individually suit each project.

2. Affordability
Prefab reduces the overall costs involved in construction by heavily decreasing construction time when compared to traditional methods.

Prefab design allows for general site work to commence at the same time as the manufacturing process, with up to 85 per cent of the project being completed off-site. This process of parallel site work and module fabrication can shave months off a project's delivery date.

This decreased construction period also means fewer tradespeople required for lengthy periods, and minimised disruptions to businesses that require their site to work. For example, the 34 manufactured apartments in the Melbourne One9 building were erected in just five days (See article

Inside One9: The Six Star, Prefab Apartments In Moonee Ponds).

Prefab construction also greatly reduces the risks associated with schedules, subcontractors, weather, delivery, and inspection, which often add to building costs. Rather, modular construction is flexible and can be easily customised to meet the specifications of almost any design or architectural style.

3. Limited waste
Because the vast majority of construction occurs off-site, the amount of waste and clean up for prefab buildings is significantly reduced.

4. Less disruption to the community
While a new building may excite its owners and developers, the surrounding community is not always equally thrilled while construction is underway.

The minimal construction period required means any negative impact to the community is reduced. That means less noise, less mess, fewer road closures and power outages, along with any other disruptions normally caused by construction.

The Urban Developer is proud to partner with PrefabAUS for an upcoming lecture series on prefabrication, touring Australia this month.

Find out how your business can benefit from the prefab industry, and help shape the future of Australian construction.

US prefab and property expert Amy Marks (pictured) will be joined by a panel of industry figures at this event to discuss how Australian businesses can profit from prefab, while identifying the critical drivers for change. Marks is the President and Owner of US company XSite Modular which optimises the use of prefab spaces in large, complex, technology-embedded buildings.

Tickets are now on sale. Secure your place at the following events.

Sydney - Breakfast lecture
 Monday 13 April
 7:00-9:00am
 Rydges World Square,
 389 Pitt Street, Sydney 
www.trybooking.com/130018

Brisbane - Breakfast lecture
 Tuesday 14 April
 7:00-9:00am
 Hotel Grand Chancellor,
 23 Leichhardt Street, Brisbane 
www.trybooking.com/130020

Melbourne - Evening lecture presented in
conjunction with AIPM
 Tuesday 14 April 
5:15-7:30pm 
State Library Victoria, Theatrette
 Entry 3, 179 La Trobe Street, Melbourne
 www.trybooking.com/126550

Adelaide - Lunch lecture
 Thursday 16th April
 12:00-2:00pm 
Rydges South Park, 
1 South Terrace, Adelaide
 www.trybooking.com/130022

Visit the PrefabAUS website for further details.