ENGINEERS + BIG PICTURE THINKING

Karlie Collis – College of Structural Engineers (Chair), Engineers Australia.

As engineers, we are charged with ensuring our work will have a positive impact on the world around us. This forces us to look at the big picture. Good engineers come up with a design to suit a brief. Great engineers will consider the big picture, analyse the constraints, explore  the opportunities.

In many quarters it remains the Australian dream to have a “castle” to call home. But what if that castle is intended for a remote area? What if building that castle is cost prohibitive? The use of modular construction in the residential sector is become increasingly popular, and rightly so.

“In many quarters it remains the Australian dream to have a “castle” to call home. But what if that castle is intended for a remote area? What if building that castle is cost prohibitive? The use of modular construction in the residential sector is become increasingly popular, and rightly so.” Karlie Collis – Structural College Board Chair

The use of complete modular (the entire structural system) is quite straight forward when dealing with low level residential housing. In looking at the big picture, modular is perhaps a much better suited choice for the project. Modular permits the use of a skilled labour force in different geographical locations.

It allows for a light touch on environmentally sensitive sites. It can allow for a higher quality of finishes in your castle as the quality control is so much easier to manage in a factory situation. For developers, the use of modular can have a dramatic impact on program. Modules can obviously be installed at a rapid pace, reducing on-site costs, but they can also be under construction prior to authority approvals being in place.

The case for modular in residential builds looks set to continue gaining credibility; and consulting with an engineer to explore the use of modular off-site construction for residential project could pay dividends. ■