Eighty-seven percent of the 205 contractors, engineers, architects and owners surveyed by the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Off-Site Construction Council indicate they utilized offsite fabricated components to some degree during the past 12 months, and 81 percent said they expect to use them more often or the same amount in the coming year. Respondents reported using prefabricated elements for commercial, industrial, health care, education, multifamily, hospitality, data center and single-family projects.
Per the survey results, increased integration and collaboration through the delivery process—resulting in higher quality, fewer changes and a shorter construction phase—overshadow the moderately to significantly higher levels of engagement required of offsite construction. Respondents identified late design changes and industry culture as the most significant barriers to widespread use of offsite construction.
