Sheila Irene: “Collaborative work is essential to maintain quality and to ensure that what is planned can be implemented more efficiently”
Industrialized construction has enormous potential due to its countless benefits in terms of quality and efficiency. Thanks to its characteristics, it will undergo significant evolution in Spain as it will allow for reduced delivery times and ensure the highest quality so that all parties benefit. We have had the opportunity to speak with Sheila Irene Parreño, a technical architect at Porcelanosa Offsite, the business line of BUTECH for the design, production, and installation of industrialized modules such as bathrooms, kitchens, and facades. She describes the current state of modular construction and what all the advantages are compared to the traditional model. In addition, she notes that collaboration between companies will be a guarantee of quality and how this model promotes the inclusion of women in a sector where men have always been more prevalent.
Origin of modular construction
The modern form of modular construction emerged in the 20th century. The need to quickly build temporary housing and military structures spurred the development of prefabricated methods after the First and Second World War. The destruction left by these conflicts made modular construction a rapid alternative to provide housing solutions to all those who lost everything. As technology developed in the second half of the 20th century, industrialized construction benefited from advances in design and manufacturing, allowing for greater precision and efficiency in the production of modular components. Today, facades and bathrooms have shown the most evolution, while kitchens are the next challenge that industrialized construction will face in the coming years.
Paving a way towards the future
Industrialized construction is on its way to revolutionizing the building sector. By standardizing processes and using advanced technologies, it is possible to minimize errors. Moreover, this methodology promotes the optimization of resources and the reduction of waste, resulting in more economical and environmentally friendly projects. This transformation, just as it allows for the optimization of resources, improves the quality of buildings and opens up new possibilities for design and flexibility in project execution. Industrialized construction will be fundamental for the evolution of the sector, although it is already carving out a niche within the current paradigm. “Although this form of building is more advanced in other countries, in Spain there is a lot of potential to carry it out”. However, despite many seeing it as the future, this type of construction is gaining followers in the present. More and more companies are opting to industrialize bathrooms, kitchens, and facades, as it has numerous benefits for their production and allows for the improvement of workers' conditions since much of the work they do is carried out in a factory. “It is a trend that is growing exponentially in which developers, builders, and suppliers establish new ways of collaboration to gain efficiency and sustainability”, explains Sheila Irene. Modular construction is experiencing significant growth thanks to its ability to offer quick, economical, and sustainable solutions for the multiple needs that construction companies have today.
A constantly evolving sector
Construction is a dynamic field that experiences constant evolution driven by various factors and has managed to adapt to technological, social, and environmental changes to continue growing. In recent years, it has benefited from technological advances such as the implementation of robotics or 3D printing to transform construction methods, allowing for greater efficiency and precision in all the processes of a project. Moreover, innovation is at the forefront, developing new construction materials that are more resistant, lightweight, and sustainable to erect more durable buildings. Digitalization is also helping to bring a new perspective to an area always rooted in tradition. The use of tools like project management software is enabling more accurate planning, reducing established construction times, and fostering greater collaboration among teams. Likewise, one of the biggest changes the industry is facing is taking steps towards sustainability and social responsibility. Companies are increasingly addressing institutional demands, such as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, and the calls from people to move towards the construction of energy-efficient buildings that are environmentally friendly. On the other hand, the focus on inclusivity and diversity is also increasing, allowing for the creation of equitable and safe work environments for all those workers who are qualified to contribute their bit.
Sustainability and innovation as the spearhead
Implementing policies to preserve the environment in the construction sector is essential to mitigate the negative impact that its activity has on our planet. Every step taken towards sustainability contributes to the reduction of the carbon footprint and the preservation of our natural resources. Sustainable practices in construction lead to long-term savings in operational and maintenance costs. Integrating environmental sustainability into the construction industry is not only a responsibility that all companies should have towards themselves, but also an opportunity to drive innovation. Industrialized systems, such as the bathrooms built for the Mare de Deu de la Salut senior residence, where Núñez i Navarro has been responsible for designing the project and its construction, ensure greater control over both consumption and waste. Industrialized bathrooms are, from the outset, more sustainable thanks to precise planning of the work on the production line, less consumption of raw materials, a reduction in transport thus minimizing the carbon footprint, and more responsible management of construction waste with specific control of the waste generated during the production process. This demonstrates how sustainability must and does go hand in hand with innovation in the pursuit of efficiency.
A significant saving of time and costs
Minimizing delivery times represents a huge competitive advantage and ensures the efficiency and profitability of projects. The ability to meet established delivery deadlines not only improves customer satisfaction but also reduces costs associated with delays in waiting times. Furthermore, an agile and well-planned construction process allows for better use of available resources and minimizes the impact on the environment. Saving time in construction is not just a matter of operational efficiency, but also of business success and sustainable development. The multiple visits made to the construction site of the residence on Mare de Deu de la Salut street have allowed the implementation of the bathrooms to be carried out in the most efficient and rapid manner possible, without any added complications. The collaboration between Porcelanosa Offsite and Núñez i Navarro was fundamental from the beginning of the project to be able to shorten the implementation times as much as possible, assures Sheila.
Collaboration between companies, a guarantee of quality
The collective work and synergy with Porcelanosa Offsite at the residence on Mare de Deu de la Salut street has allowed us to avoid risks by achieving a top-quality result for all bathrooms, as with few typologies we were able to cover all the planned ones, minimizing the typical construction-derived errors. This collaboration was carried out "jointly from the beginning and throughout the entire development to carry out comprehensive management from the technical department of both companies to ensure that the implementation on site is a success", states Sheila. To meet these standards, before starting production to adapt to the needs in terms of finishes, interior layout, and technical requirements, a pilot was conducted. "Joint work is essential to maintain the demands of use and quality and to ensure that what is projected can be manufactured and installed on site more efficiently. For this, a full-size reproduction is made before starting production and, in the same way, visits to the construction site are carried out".
Inclusivity on the rise in industrialized construction
Just as this type of work has allowed for changes in sustainability and efficiency, it has also done so with the number of women present in the sector, thereby improving inclusivity in an area that has traditionally lacked female presence. According to the report 'Women in the Construction Sector 2023' by the Labor Foundation for Construction, it clarifies that women have reached 11.2% of labor representation in the sector after having added 7,500 workers last year, a figure that exceeds the historical maximum recorded in 2015.Every day, more women are working in positions of responsibility, such as architectsInclusivity in the construction sector is essential to create an accessible work environment with the goal of fostering equality and innovation in the industry.Construction has always been a very male-dominated job, but since the entire production process is carried out within a factory and with much more controlled development, it facilitates the incorporation of more women and contributes to achieving greater equality between genders", concluded Sheila. However, despite the fact that the presence of women in the construction sector increases as the years go by, the percentage compared to men remains quite low in comparison with other sectors. Their participation in the sector is crucial for the progress of the industry, as in this way, the talent and potential of all people can be maximized, regardless of gender.
A pioneering project
The senior living facility on Mare de Deu de la Salut street has been our pilot project where reducing timeframes was a priority. Collaborating with Porcelanosa Offsite has been a great success, as they are a partner that provides a lot of security, professionalism, and experience in the construction sector. With them, the construction of 100 Monobaths, all the bathrooms in the building, was carried out in various typologies, allowing us to meet the set deadlines and reduce waste on site. Moreover, the modular construction, thanks to the specialization of the workers in the factory, has ensured that all finishes meet the quality standards set for this project.
