UK-based prefab specialist Bryden Wood is strengthening its US presence with the opening of a new headquarters in Boston in the coming weeks, it announced in a press release yesterday.
Bryden Wood board director Jaimie Johnston MBE, together with Phil Langley, board director and head of the creative technologies division, will lead the expansion.
Jaimie Johnston commented: “This move puts us at the centre of an industry that embraces change – with large, tech-led clients working in innovative ways and moving quickly.
“Being a US-registered company, with global teams, will enable us to take a leadership position for our US clients.”
Prefab vs Offsite Construction
While modular construction focuses on fully built structures manufactured offsite, prefab targets smaller, prebuilt components, such as pre-assembled wall panels.
But Bryden Wood’s brand of prefab differs from standard offsite construction in that it attempts to cut out the challenge of transport by making “the building site into a factory,” said Johnston.
“If you make things offsite, that obviously introduces the cost of the factory, downtime of the factory, the transport, the lifting and shifting,” said Johnston. “If you get the same levels of quality and productivity on site, that’s even better. Then I’ve got all the benefits of manufacturing without the cost of doing it remotely.”
The first major commercial project using Bryden Wood’s approach is The Forge. The project, scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter this year, is a two-building office in central London.
“We’re consistently being asked the same questions by our US clients and general contractors – can you develop a kit of parts approach, and drive it using configurators? How will this approach reduce the time and costs to deliver my assets?” continues Johnston.
“Clients are seeking the same benefits of continual improvement that have allowed other industries to flourish. By developing solutions that allow appropriate levels of repeatability, without sacrificing design quality, we are helping them transform their businesses.”
Equinix, Amazon Web Services, Boldt, Chandos, and DPR Construction are already working with Bryan Wood on industrialised construction projects, and the company hopes their new headquarters will allow more US clients to benefit from their “market-leading approach”.
Image: Bryden Wood board director Jaimie Johnston MBE (Credit: Bryden Wood)
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