Facility construction is a growing and evolving industry. Whether it’s virtual design, smart cities, modular construction, or improving green building materials – there’s always something new and innovative happening.
These advancements lead to continued growth in how facilities are designed, built, and managed. As someone involved in facilities construction management, it’s important that you understand what trends are shaping the industry in the coming years.
5 Technology Trends That Deal with Construction and Design of a Facility
Now let’s talk specifically about construction and facilities management and what trends are changing the way we design and build.
1. The Growth of Virtual Construction
Virtual design and construction (VDC) tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) are regularly used in facility construction management and commercial building today. utilizes a collaborative collection of data, information, and trade modeling ahead of the physical construction process to enable accuracy and efficiency in the field.
The outcome is better coordination, cost and time savings, enhanced scheduling, and improved maintenance planning. Expect the use of virtual construction technology to accelerate in the coming years.
2. Smart Building Technology
Smart buildings are evolving into entirely smart cities. The use of “Internet of Things” (IOT) technology is growing and allows facility managers to monitor everything within their building. This includes energy usage, equipment performance, preventative maintenance, all the way down to employee efficiency.
Smart building tech enables more efficient operations, predictive maintenance, and enhanced occupant experiences. For facility construction managers, understanding the smart building options and what facility managers are looking for is important.
3. Pre-Fab and Modular Construction is Dominating
Modular construction, where major building components are fabricated off-site and then assembled at the job site, is becoming the preferred approach for many industrial building applications.
Prefabrication improves quality due to fabrication in a controlled environment. It also reduces waste and dramatically speeds up construction timelines. With persistent skilled labor shortages, expect modular methods to increasingly dominate the future of facility construction.
4. A Primary Focus on Green Building
At one time, green buildings were an option – today, it’s a necessity. There are so many benefits to designing an industrial facility using solar panels, smart lighting, and water reclamation systems to save money and minimize your impact on the environment.
In fact, there are so many rebates and tax incentives for businesses that achieve certain “green building” standards like Green Globes and LEED rating and certification. At Bryan Construction, we’re responsible for the first net-zero energy hospital in Colorado so we understand how to design and build with sustainability in mind.
It’s also important to consider the negative impact building can have on the environment. That’s why we choose materials carefully and protect HVAC ductwork and equipment to ensure indoor air quality is maintained.
5. Continued Growth of 3D Printing Technology
It might still be in the early stages of development but 3D printing is changing the construction of facilities and revolutionizing the way we build. Also called additive manufacturing, 3D printing allows builders to print on demand directly from digital plans. Forward-thinking facility construction firms are already starting to experiment with and adopt 3D printing.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The future of facility construction is being shaped by powerful technological forces. Virtual design, smart buildings, modular construction, green building, and 3D printing are just a few of the major trends transforming the industry.
To stay competitive, facility construction management professionals must proactively embrace these innovations. Firms that adopt new technologies and techniques will be well-positioned for success in the dynamic years ahead.
