Factory Construction

Posted on February 15, 2012 by mspace

The majority of modular construction takes place off-site in a climate-controlled environment. As modules are being constructed in the factory, site work and foundations are being completed at the job site. Because construction phases occur simultaneously, projects are completed much faster than traditional construction.

Once the design phase is complete, manufacturing begins at the factory. Modules are engineered to connect with adjacent modules, as well as those above and below for multi-story applications.

The first step is fabricating the building’s frame. The frame can be wood, steel or concrete, depending on the project. The floor is constructed, insulated and decked on the frame where floor coverings (floor tile, carpet, hardwood) are then added.

While the floor is being constructed, individuals in the mill department have already begun measuring, cutting and finishing the walls. Unique to modular construction is the ability to simultaneously construct components. Typically walls, ceilings and roofs are prebuilt, finished and stored well before they are needed. Pre-cutting structures increases efficiency and allows for quick assembly.

Walls are cut at the jig tables with window and door openings, staying true to the design layout. Walls are covered and dry wall is added to one side. When finished, the walls are lifted upright and set on the floor. The roof system is then framed and lifted into place.

The next step is to run all electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems and sheet the building with siding. Doors, windows and HVAC units are then installed.

In the final stages, the interior and exterior is completed. This includes adding any cabinetry, lighting fixtures and cleaning the unit. When all systems are working properly, the building receives its final inspection and is wrapped and sealed for transportation to the job site.

Every stage of factory production is carefully monitored. Independent building inspectors supervise the construction process from start to finish ensuring that all building codes are adhered to during each phase of assembly.

Click here to watch a video about the modular building process.

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Floor, Roof and Wind Loads

Posted on February 10, 2012 by mspace

Modular buildings are all constructed with different floor, roof and wind loads. Floor load is determined by the building’s use and occupancy, while roof load and wind load are determined by the location of the building.

Floor load, the amount of weight per square foot a building can withstand, plays an important factor in the design of a facility that needs to accommodate a large group of people or house heavy equipment. Weight rooms, hallways and public reception areas are all examples of areas that require higher floor loads. It is possible for a building to have more than one floor load; one area of the building may have heavier traffic areas than others.
 
Roof load is the measurement of how much snow and ice a building can hold on top of its exterior. Buildings located in regions that have heavy or frequent snowfalls are designed with higher roof loads to ensure the facility can withstand accumulation of heavy winter perception.

Wind load is the total force exerted by the wind on a structure or part of a structure. Buildings requiring a high wind load are typically located in regions that experience severe storms (including tornados and hurricanes). Buildings with high wind loads are fortified by specialized building materials including double-pane and shatter-proof glass windows.

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Louisa County Students Return to Class

Posted on February 1, 2012 by mspace

Parents, students, teachers and school board members gathered in excitement at Tuesday’s open house event to tour Louisa County’s new modular high school. Opening today, the 127,000 square foot complex will serve as a temporary school for at least the
next three years.

The modular school allows students to return to class five days a week following a
magnitude-5.8 earthquake that destroyed its campus in August. Set on their old
school’s parking lot, the new complex consists of 22 buildings including 90
classrooms and space for a library, cosmetology lab, cafeteria, weight room,
offices and restrooms.

Referred to as a “modular village” by Superintendent Deborah Pettit, teachers and
students alike are excited about their new home.

According to a Fredericksburg News article, “It’s a lot nicer than I thought it was going to be,” said 11th-grader Ariel Baber. “It’s not like a trailer; it’s made like a school.”

M Space is proud to provide a complete modular high school to Louisa County School
District and aid in their recovery efforts.

To read more about this project, click the links below:

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Modular Facilities Provide Permanent and Temporary Space Solutions for Community Colleges

Posted on January 27, 2012 by mspace

Community colleges are currently experiencing growth at an unprecedented rate. Facing a troubled economy and a competitive job market, Americans are enrolling in community college programs to become more marketable to employers.  This influx of applicants is not limited to the young and inexperienced; many older workers are turning to community colleges to diversify their skills and even learn new trades. (view full article:)

According to a recent article published in the Chronicle of Higher Education, David Baime, SVP for government relations and research at the American Association of Community Colleges sites that community colleges have seen dramatic enrollment increases. In the last three years, 1.4 million Americans turned to community colleges to accomplish their education goals or acquire new skills to either retain a current or acquire a new job. (To read the full article, click here.) To accommodate increased student enrollment, community colleges must expand their campuses.

Modular buildings by M Space offer a perfect solution for the expansion needs of community colleges. Our buildings can be permanent or temporary and we offer flexible financing options. We provide turnkey building solutions and our capabilities range from single-story classroom additions to a full campus complete with multi-level buildings.  

M Space specializes in providing:

  • Classrooms
  • Administrative Offices
  • Multi-Purpose Rooms
  • Cafeterias
  • Science & Computer Labs
  • Communications & Multi-Media Labs
  • Dormitories
  • Gymnasiums

We recently provided a 16,000 square foot library complex to Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland. The building includes: nine private offices, two storage closets, a classroom, a restroom, a break room/kitchenette and a reception area.  Though the building is temporary, its exterior was designed to match existing buildings, preserving the cohesive look and feel of the campus. (Images of building below.)

Let M Space help your community college expand quickly and efficiently. For additional information on modular buildings for the education market, please click here.

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M Space Announces Relocation of Corporate Headquarters

Posted on January 20, 2012 by mspace

M Space is pleased to announce the relocation of its corporate office from New York, NY to Park City, UT. Effective immediately, the new corporate address is as follows:

629 Parkway Drive
Suite A
Park City, UT 84098

The move allows us to expand our presence in the West/Mountain region of the country and to stimulate jobs in the Park City area. M Space has hired several new members to its UT office and plans to fill additional positions in the near future.

The new and larger workspace accommodates members of our executive management, information services, human resources and accounting teams.

M Space, a full-service provider of permanent and temporary modular space solutions has offices located nationwide. Click here to find your nearest location or call 877.677.2231.

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The Modular Building Cycle

Posted on January 6, 2012 by mspace

Providing Creative Designs Using Integrated Construction Methods

M Space utilizes modular construction methods, resulting in an accelerated building process. We provide buildings up to 40 percent faster than traditionally constructed buildings and offer both permanent and temporary building solutions. Our buildings are constructed to meet the same building codes and requirements as traditionally constructed buildings. Because of this, the buildings we provide are as durable and have the same life expectancy

We work closely with customers to identify specific building requirements and create innovative building designs to meet their needs.  Once the design is finalized, the site work commences. The foundation and utilities are installed and initial site grading is completed. Meanwhile, modules are constructed at a selected modular building manufacturer. Upon completion, modules are shipped to the site and assembled.

Any customized items that cannot be completed in the factory are constructed and installed on site. Final interior and exterior finishes are applied and utility connections are made. To complete the project, final site grading, concrete work and landscaping are applied.

If this is a permanent building, the process stops here. If this is a temporary building, once off lease, it is dismantled, repurposed and relocated to the next customer. 

To learn more about the relocation process, read our article on disassembling modular buildings: http://blog.mspaceholdings.com/2011/09/disassembling-modular-buildings-%e2%80%93-relocations-returns/

For more information on the dismantle process, click here to view our demonstration video.

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Delivery is not a Challenge for M Space

Posted on December 27, 2011 by mspace

Modular buildings are completed in nearly half the time it takes for traditional construction, resulting in earlier occupancy and limited site disruption. As an added benefit, modular buildings can be permanent or temporary, and are designed with tremendous flexibility. Our buildings can be delivered and installed to virtually any location, even when faced with tough ground conditions and other site complications.

When Classical Academy Charter School needed a new campus, M Space took extreme measures to ensure buildings were ready for occupancy by the fall. The campus site was nestled in the mountains with only one narrow road leading up to it. With the help of a police escort, M Space blocked the road off and widened it, allowing delivery trucks to transport the modules, one at a time, to the top. Once on site, a translift placed the modules on the foundation and the process was repeated until all 27 modules were assembled on the mountainside. Click here to read more.

Following Hurricane Ike, the Cameron Parish School District in LA needed almost 70,000 sq. ft. of modular space to replace its damaged buildings. Delivery and assembly proved a challenge as the island community fell victim to tremendous flooding, poor ground conditions and damaged roads. The only way to reach the final location was by water transportation. M Space shipped 10 replacement buildings by way of ferry to successfully complete the project in 60 days. Click here to read more.

Sitka Community Hospital chose a modular solution for their outpatient clinic due to the significant time savings. However, shipping modules from Seattle, WA to Sitka, AK posed a unique challenge. M Space sent modules by way of barge from Seattle docks, taking less than a week to arrive. Modules were loaded and unloaded with cranes and once installed, M Space built the roof extensions, ramps, decks and steps onsite.

The Orcas Island Food Bank project in WA was one of our most intricate deliveries. M Space worked closely with the Washington State Ferries to coordinate delivery during high tide. A high tide was needed to load and unload the modular units so the ferry would sit higher up and the ramps would be less steep. Upon arrival, M Space coordinated a flagger to direct cars off the narrow road so units could be transported from the dock to the site, roughly 15 miles away. The final location was in a small area surrounded by a large building and woods. M Space rolled the units sideways, about 50 ft., onto the foundation to complete the project. 

         

M Space uses its resourcefulness, experience and financial strength to complete projects on time and within budget, despite any delivery challenges that may arise. To learn more about M Space visit our website, http://mspaceholdings.com/.

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Louisa County Modular High School Ready for Move-In

Posted on December 20, 2011 by mspace

M Space finished set-up late Sunday night, connecting clusters of over 100 modules to form Louisa County’s modular High School campus. The final product consists of 99 classrooms, a library, cafeteria space and a physical education room delivered and installed in only a month’s time.

Move-in begins to ensure teachers and students will return to a full-time class schedule by February 1st. Louisa County High School Principal Tom Smith said, “Everybody’s excited to get their own space, have their own classroom, and get us back to a high school over here.”

Click here to read the full article.

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M Space Welcomes New Team Members

Posted on December 19, 2011 by mspace

M Space is pleased to announce the addition of Mike Bollero, Jr. and Eric Lytle to its team. Mike and Eric have over 30 years of combined experience in their fields and incredible industry knowledge. The addition of these accomplished professionals adds to the capabilities and success of our company.

Mike joins M Space as the Southeast Territory Manager. He has extensive knowledge in the modular building industry including sales, management, project management, estimating and business development. Prior to joining M Space, Mike worked at Southern Modular Industries in TX. In his newest role, Mike is responsible for managing all aspects of a project, working closely with customers from the pre-design phase through completion.

Assuming the role of Controller, Eric joins M Space with over 15 years of financial analysis, accounting and business management experience. Previously, Eric served as the Controller for a mid-size industrial company in UT. He now supports our accounting team with oversight, training and development, including the review and documentation of all processes and internal controls. Additionally, Eric is responsible for establishing financial policies, procedures and systems, managing all aspects of payroll, benefits and information technology.

Click here to meet our management team.

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Swing Space: The Key to a Seamless Construction Project

Posted on December 13, 2011 by mspace

Swing space is the configuration of modular units to create a temporary physical location for organizations and/or employees displaced by construction projects.

The utilization of swing space provides a safe and pleasant environment during a large- scale construction project; occupants are not exposed to the noises and distractions that traditional construction methods can bring.

Swing space buildings are often installed adjacent to the existing facility, providing a temporary area to operate. Therefore, organizations are able to continue to function normally, preventing revenue loss for businesses and missed classes for schools.

Swing space allows organizations to expand and transition through the construction process seamlessly. Swing space is beneficial for any organization wanting to minimize the hassles that large scale construction brings: noisy and distracting construction sites, loss of revenue due to site closures, and missed school and business operation days.

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