Portable offices, a constant keystone in the building of the West
The year is 331 BC, the Persian Empire’s hegemony of the Arabian peninsula and Central Asia is about to come to an end. Alexander the Great contemplates the next day’s battle strategy inside the confines of his portable military tent that has been transported all the way from Egypt for this very occasion. The battle of Gaugamela will decide the destiny of the Greek and Persian empires.
Flash forward to Yorktown, Texas, summer 2018. During August, the average temperature hovers around 95° Fahrenheit. James Rath is a project manager tasked with constructing the brand new building complex that will become Yorktown High School.
The comparison between the great battle of Gaugamela and the building of a modern high school seems drastic… but they actually have a lot in common. The comparison can resonate with modern construction companies. They have erected sky-scrapers, schools, businesses, and homes in extreme weather conditions and under stringent deadlines in an industry with one of the highest injury and fatality rates. And like Alexander, James Rath’s building of Yorktown High faces daunting challenges.
A plague of inefficiency clogs many construction sites manifesting as a “25 to 50 percent waste in coordinating labor and in managing, moving, and installing materials” (Modular Building Institute). Further studies show that somewhere between 50% and 68% percent of [construction] workers’ time is wasted (CCIM). In addition, construction holds the dubious honor of having the lowest productivity gains of any industry in America, astonishingly, [productivity] has plunged by half since the late 1960s (The Economist).
These challenges lead most construction companies to seek portable offices while coordinating their builds. Installing an on-site office and perching it with a birds-eye view of the construction site can go a long way.
In the case of Yorktown High School, they contacted Aries and quickly had a 12×48 construction office installed on-site.
Today, as in Alexander’s time, on-site offices set the foundation for successful execution of projects.
On-site & modular offices as construction offices
Construction companies represent a dominant segment in the use of mobile offices. Construction sites, by nature, are temporary, yet often require a large on-site work space for engineers, contractors, clients, workers, surveyors, and overseers.
Modern portable office providers transform their offices to meet client needs. The builder of Yorktown High School needed assurance of climate control during the simmering Texas summer. Other construction companies lean towards compartmentalized space or noise control, depending on their particular needs.
Deadlines and on-demand portable construction offices
All construction companies have one thing in common: deadlines.
When they call for a portable construction office, they need things to be on time, with follow-through, and availability.
“We try to take away all surprises,” says Richard Stephens, a veteran in the portable office industry. The block-levels can be in place and a construction office can be tied down in as little as 24 hours. Extra time might be needed because we need a clear and level site, some places are tough to get to. If you are downtown, you might need a special permit,” says Richard.
In addition, customization might add 2-4 weeks for delivery time. It can also depend on how quickly the client accesses an electrician and plumber to outfit their new office.
Overall, though, a 12’ x 48’ or 12’ x 60 ́ mobile office can be properly processed, scheduled, and put in place in an average of 4-6 business days. That’s quite attractive to companies who need their construction offices in time to meet stringent deadlines.
Leasing for portable, on-site construction offices
Construction companies typically use portable offices at the site while they build a permanent building.
“We set it all up, and when they are done with the job we come pick it up, get it out of the way and move on to another site,” says Richard Stephens.
In this way, workers building the SOCO apartment complex in Austin, Texas benefited from a mobile office while building apartment complexes.
However, for this model of business to be convenient, the financial element must synchronize with the physical element. Construction companies may use temporary offices from just a few months to several years, and companies want flexibility with their payments that will match the flexibility of their modular offices. For this reason, the modular office industry increasingly offers leasing contracts. This allows construction companies to align their physical and budgetary timeline for their projects.
Portable buildings as a solution to inefficiency
On-site offices can provide a space for organizing, planning, meeting, and delegating. Although the causes for construction industry inefficiency are varied, portable offices offer a launching point for solving these issues. With affordable and dependable service, modular office providers hope to provide the builders of the West a space to plan their battles.
About Aries:
If you’re in need of a high-quality used modular building for your construction site, Aries Buildings is a leading choice. Known for delivering full turnkey solutions, Aries offers a wide array of modular buildings tailored for various industries, including construction site offices, portable classrooms, workforce housing, and custom modular buildings. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional customer service and robust financing options to ensure that every client has access to affordable, quality modular solutions.
For more information on how Aries Buildings can support your modular building needs with quality, reliability, and speed, call 1-888-598-6689 to speak with a sales associate today!
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