Time to market, flexibility, & budget have and will continue to be the largest factors driving construction projects. Given today’s booming life sciences and industrial sectors (see Amazon plans to open 1,000 delivery hubs across the US) developers are looking for wins in these areas given the current economic climate. Speeding up construction could close a significant lease or savings on construction might make a project “work” on paper for financing. For developers looking closely at these factors, there is a certain type of construction that can shrink the budget while speeding up the process: pre-engineered buildings. 

Pre-engineered buildings have morphed from previously being considered just metal buildings, into current times where attractive finishes, which are green and energy-efficient, cost less to build. Advances in technology have allowed for more flexibility with these structures and developers and builders are finding pre-engineered buildings appropriate for a variety of uses beyond your typical warehouse facility including, athletic facilities, offices, and medical or lab buildings.

As mentioned, pre-engineered buildings have been shown to save time and money but let’s look at all the distinct advantages of using these structures.

• Designed for Use: These buildings are designed according to their use and laid out for maximum efficiency in the Owner’s work process. Whether the structure will be a shipping outpost, manufacturing facility, or office working with a design/builder will ensure the building is a tool that can help control operating costs and attract and retain employees. Pre-engineered buildings also offer flexibility if future expansion will be needed.

• Time saved on construction: The design-build method often used to construct these pre-engineered buildings streamlines the process and provides a single-source of responsibility and greater control on the project. Typically using this method will save around 20% on the timeline from conception to delivery on a project.

• Savings on Construction: There are several areas a pre-engineered building can cut down on construction costs. First, for pre-engineered buildings, the design/ builder will determine the quantity of steel needed to suit the design which results in no waste of pricey steel and on average a 20% savings on steel costs for a project. Secondly, labor costs can also be reduced with a shorter timeline through efficiency in design of the structural elements. Lastly, all of the building’s structural components are engineered, procured, and tested in advance by the Pre-Engineered Metal Building (PEMB) manufacturer to reduce sourcing and quality costs reducing the overall project timeline.

• Lower Operating Cost & Energy Efficiency: Up to 90% of a building’s total cost is incurred after construction. Decisions made during the building design phase to select options that offer long life spans and require little maintenance can have a significant impact on future budgets. Pre-engineered buildings offer warranties not seen in other types of construction and also can be outfitted with a wide range of options to maximize energy efficiency. 

Perhaps you’ve overlooked the pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) option in the past however with the flexibility of design now available and the time and costs savings a pre-engineered building could be the key to making your next project work. Senate Construction has spent the past 30 years working on design/build pre-engineered projects across the state. Their expertise and partnership with the highest quality manufacturer, Butler Buildings, positions them as the leader in the pre-engineered building sector in MA. To find out if a pre-engineered building might be right for your next project, contact Rob Rose at rrose@senateconstruction.com or 978.425.9802.