An emerging area of construction spotlighted Thursday with OSCO Construction Group announcing a $2-million investment in research while establishing a Centre for “Off-site Construction” at UNB Fredericton.
Off-site construction involves planning, designing and fabrication of building elements at the factory stage, allowing projects to become easier to assemble on site.
UNB’s Dean of Engineering Chris Diduch says the investment will help in a number of ways.
“It supports research personnel, graduate students who are part of the research personnel, and it will support research equipment and potentially enhance the space that is necessary to be able to operate such a centre,” said Diduch.
Diduch adds he sees the investment in off-site construction research as an indication of the strength of existing UNB research in the field, saying UNB has worked diligently to create world-class research in the department of civil engineering.
“It is very important when an industry leader such as OSCO recognizes and affirms the progress we have made and the potential of what we can accomplish with a further investment in research capacity.”
Concepts in off-site construction are already beginning to revolutionize the industry. Building elements are faster planned, developed and fabricated in a factory-controlled environment for rapid assembly in a “plug-and-play” fashion at the jobsite.
We are thrilled to announce a new Centre for Off-site Construction thanks to a $2 million investment from OSCO Construction Group https://t.co/QzwI8tvhR6 #itbeginshere pic.twitter.com/3zX1VMECYz
— UNB (@UNB) September 6, 2018
Off-site building elements can incorporate a wide range of materials made into many sizes and configurations, such as individual components, flat-packed panels and volumetric room-size modules.
The aim is to reduce waste, promote sustainability, and compress time schedules.
“The construction industry is experiencing rapid change and companies in New Brunswick have to change with it.” says OSCO Construction Group President Hans Klohn, who says at the same time there’s a need to further develop a construction industry in New Brunswick that is organic to New Brunswick.
Klohn says the province can take steps to become a manufacturing hub of Design for Manufacture and Assembly components pointing to Thursday’s announcement as the next step.
The investment also creates an OSCO Chair in Off-site Construction which both parties hope will become a leading specialist in the field and build on the faculty of engineering’s current strengths in civil engineering and related pre-manufacturing technology.
The eventual chair will seek opportunities for partnership not only within the university but also with world-renowned construction experts.
Diduch says the centre will start within UNB’s existing faculty of engineering facilities.
