Alternative Work Styles

Offsite prefabrication of building modules can potentially transform the construction process in the United States, according to two engineers who have implemented the technique on multiple project sites. The experience of Ed Szwarc and Dean Poillucci of Skanska USA Building, Inc., indicates that assembly of such units at offsite construction facilities (OSCFs) radically compresses schedules and improves safety while also providing cost savings.

Blindly trying to incorporate all the cutting-edge technologies and processes in the delivery of a new facility can lead to more waste than value. It’s important that building owners understand which Lean design principles, innovative technologies, and sustainability strategies meet their needs and add value to their specific project in a way that maximizes lifecycle performance, says Andreas Phelps, integrated projects executive at Balfour Beatty Construction.

Johnson & Johnson’s FLEXplace™ initiative—successfully deployed in 10 locations, with 20 more currently planned—has helped the company increase space utilization by 16 percent and accommodate 67 percent more people in the same square footage. The program is part of a global workspace initiative to enhance the employee experience and increase overall productivity, which at the same time increases asset utilization. FLEXplace is making workplaces more dynamic, with activity-based neighborhoods and strategically located mobility centers.