Investing in the Local Community

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Whitley Manufacturing is Proud to Invest in the Local Community.

THE HARRISOn mixed-use project completes fort wayne’s harrison square development, the centerpiece of downtown revitalization plans.

the harrison fort wayne

The Harrison (pictured above) is the last phase of the Harrison Square development which includes Parkview Field (home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps) and is a vital component of the city’s downtown revitalization efforts.  The mixed-use development will offer Fort Wayne an upscale urban living option in a one-of-a-kind setting.

the harrison interior

The third and fourth floors of The Harrison (click here to download a brochure) feature forty-four luxury apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms with amazing views into Parkview Field or towards the Fort Wayne downtown skyline.  The first floor features retail and restaurant space with the second floor occupied by commercial offices.  The Harrison (scheduled for completion by February 2013) is the final component of the Harrison Square development which seeks to drive activity and economic growth back into the downtown area.

Despite the poor economy that hampered the initial phases of the project, a new public-private partnership including the owner of Whitley Manufacturing, have backed the project which celebrated a cake-cutting event on January 31st.

The New York Times profiled this unique approach to downtown revitalization in a feature article last year.

the harrison floorplanThe Anderson (a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment) featuring ballpark views over Parkview Field is shown at left.  The full floorplan package can also be downloaded here.

Media Coverage:

Project Partners:

 

 

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Wapato SD Science Wing Work Continues!

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Construction of the modular Science Wing at Wapato School District in Washington continues.  The gallery above shows the modular building process from construction of wall and roof sections through delivery of modular units to the project site.  The project is … Continue reading →

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New Science Wing for Wapato Schools

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modular science classroom

The first two modular components of the new High School Science Wing rolled into town this afternoon (Dec. 16th).   Four more are scheduled to arrive tomorrow and most of the rest are scheduled to arrive next week. There are 17 pieces in all that make up the building. They are being trucked over from the construction plant in Marysville, WA (Whitley-Evergreen). If the weather cooperates and they all arrive on schedule, a crane will be brought in the week of December 26th to lift them on to the foundation…Once the building is assembled on the foundation, crews will begin hooking up utilities and doing the interior and exterior finish work. The District hopes to take possession of the new Science Wing in early March.

Source:  Wapato School District

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Gratitude on Veteran’s Day.

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military modular buildings

“Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men.” – George Patton

Everyone at Whitley Manufacturing would like to express our gratitude to all service members and their families on Veteran’s Day.

As a manufacturer of modular buildings for the United States Armed Forces, our facilities provide support, safety, and comfort to service members across the nation and around the globe on a daily basis, however, on Veteran’s Day, we want to especially express our gratitude for the sacrifices of all service members and their families.

Please join us in thanking the men and women of our Armed Forces on this Veteran’s Day for embodying the moral courage mentioned by Patton above each day as they serve our country and its ideals.

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Modular Communications + IT Solutions

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Modular Communications Buildings + Modular Datacenters.

Accelerated Prefabricated Solutions to Help You Stay Connected.

modular data center modular telecommunications shelterModern modular construction refers to a delivery and construction methodology where self-contained units are manufactured off-site, delivered to the final destination, then combined to comprise the finished building.  A custom builder like Whitley Manufacturing can use this modular construction system to deliver a customized solution for even the most technically challenging applications.

As the IT sector has shifted towards approaches such as cloud computing, flexible, modular communications buildings which can be deployed on an accelerated timeline (not to mention offering the flexibility of future relocation) are becoming increasingly popular.

MODULAR DATACENTERS

modular data centerThe Data Center Knowledge Guide to Modular Data Centers defines modular data centers as an “…engineered solution for assembling a data center out of modular components in pre-fabricated solutions that enable scalability and a rapid delivery schedule.”  Modular construction can help to defray the amount of construction capital needed to expand data center capacity, while drastically improving the time to completion.  Factory construction allows modular units to be rigorously engineered to improve efficiency and reduce costs, and the off-site nature of modular construction allows the flexibility to scale capacity and upgrade equipment with minimal disruption to daily operations.  If your company is in need of a modular data center or communications solution, we would love to discuss how modular construction can benefit your company.  Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Other Modular Communications Solutions.

MODULAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SHELTERS.

modular telecommunications shelters

Whitley Manufacturing offers a variety of custom modular telecommunications and equipment shelters.  These facilities can be custom designed as three-dimensional modular units, can utilize retrofitted ISO containers, or can be contained in custom fabricated and sized ISO containers.  Telecommunications shelters can be custom outfitted with the client’s preferred equipment and racks and rapidly be deployed to the final site.  Shelters utilizing the ISO envelope can cost-effectively be exported and delivered to sites overseas.  We also manufacture a wide variety of modular steel enclosures and modular equipment shelters.  Sectors served include:

  • Commercial HVAC equipment
  • Communications and IT equipment
  • Commercial water and pumping equipment
  • Shielded vaults (healthcare applications such as MRI and radiotherapy)
  • Water Supply and Waste Storage
  • Explosion Resistant Buildings (offices, restrooms, etc.)
  • Cable Landing Stations

SCIF MODULAR BUILDINGS (SECURE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION FACILITY)

When security is of the essence, Whitley Manufacturing has the experience to deliver SCIF modular buildings for both government and private sector clients.  A definition of a SCIF building:  ”SCIF outlines stringent physical security requirements, such as the thickness of doors, the strength of concrete, and the use of alarms and acoustical controls to prevent any eavesdropping within facilities, including by electronic means.  A Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility meets official government requirements for a secure area where classified information is handled.  A SCIF can be a room, a building, or even mobile unit enclosed in special panels to prevent information from leaking.  Access is controlled.”

When security is a primary concern, choosing a manufacturer with experience successfully completing SCIF modular building projects is a must.  Contact us to learn more about how our modular buildings can deliver secured information solutions.

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Modular Buildings (Charter School) Dedication Gallery

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MODULAR SCHOOL BUILDINGS Modular Charter School Gallery Another permanent modular school building by Whitley Manufacturing has been completed!  These pictures are from the September 24th dedication at Old Redford Academy in Detroit, Michigan.  The case study for this modular charter … Continue reading →

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FMI Survey Shows Modular as “Growth Opportunity”

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Modular Building Benefits and Opportunities

From the Modular Building Institute:  ”FMI Corporation (one of the nation’s largest providers of management consulting, investment banking and reserach to the engineering and construction industry) recently released their fourth quarter 2010 Nonresidential Construction Index (NRCI) stating that modular construction is considered a growth opportunity for the industry.

The NRCI report indicates that in light of the long recession, more contractors are thinking lean and looking for ways to build for less.  FMI asked about one trend that could help make the construction business leaner and more efficient, the growth of prefabrication and modular construction.  Although the trend for greater use of off-site construction has been growing slowly for years, the recession and new technologies are set to increase the use of manufacturing processes and environments for construction.

Only 11% of the panelists surveyed expected growth for the next three years to be less than 1%, or less than expected GDP growth.  Thirty-seven percent expect growth to be between 1% and 5%, but 49% expect growth to exceed 5%.  Panelists expect this area to grow faster than the market in general due to the growing use of BIM, owners wanting projects faster and for lower cost, safety, quality and the shortage of skilled labor once markets return to more normal growth.

“This report confirms what we’ve believed for a long time, that modular construction is poised for take-off,” said Tom Hardiman, Executive Director of the Modular Building Institute.  ”Over the past five years there has been a growing interest in the commercial modular construction market from building owners and investors alike.  We expect to see continued growth for our commercial building providers as the modular construction industry continues to adopt innovative and efficient construction techniques.”

The NRCI is a quarterly report by FMI which is a sampling of construction industry executives voluntarily serving as panelists for surveys about industry trends.  The responses are based on their experience and opinions, and the analysis is based on FMI’s interpretation of the aggregate results.”

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Back from the Healthcare Facilities Symposium

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Modular Medical Buildings and Modular Healthcare Buildings

Healthcare Facilities symposium

Whitley Manufacturing has just returned from the Healthcare Facilities Symposium in Chicago, IL, one of the nation’s premier venues for showcasing innovative products, companies, and processes serving and supporting the healthcare industry with regards to facility design and construction.  Thank you to all the material vendors, contractors, architects, and facility managers for their interest in custom permanent modular medical facilities built with our sustainable modular construction system.

There is increasing awareness of the benefits of modular construction, particularly in the healthcare sector where the accelerated timeline to completion represents significant revenue and is important for patient retention.  Whitley Manufacturing’s modular healthcare buildings offerings span a broad range of facility types, including:

In addition to custom-designed permanent and relocatable modular buildings, Whitley Manufacturing also offers prefabricated components to be used in a hybrid approach that utilizes the efficiencies of off-site modularization / prefabrication in combination with conventional site construction to help reduce contractor and sub-contractor traffic within the building, accelerate timelines to completion, and control quality and costs.
We can custom design and manufacture prefabricated components outfitted with custom systems, finishes as selected by the client or project architect, that is prepared for ease of transit at the site and quick hook-up to the buildings structural, utility, and electrical systems.  Whitley Manufacturing designs with BIM, allowing architects to easily collaborate with our in-house design team, model the component within their larger facility plan, insure seamless integration of systems, and enable clash detection early in the design phase.
Common prefabricated components for the healthcare sector include:
  • Patient Restrooms (sometimes referred to as restroom “pods”, or “wet cores”)
  • Equipment Enclosures
  • Operating Suites
  • Headwalls
  • Patient Suites
The benefits of Whitley Manufacturing’s prefabricated components include:
  • Reduced timeline on the jobsite
  • Reduced congestion / traffic by trades at the jobsite
  • Efficient modular construction systems reduce costs
  • Off-site construction in a modern modular manufacturing facility insures a high standard of quality and rigorous inspections
  • Our custom design and fabrication capabilities and experience allow for broad design flexibility
To learn more about how permanent modular construction or prefabricated components can help accelerate the schedule, control costs, simplify jobsite logistics, and provide exceptional quality on your next healthcare project, please contact us.
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Modular Buildings FAQ

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MODULAR BUILDINGS FAQ

WHAT IS MODULAR CONSTRUCTION?
According to the Modular Building Institute (MBI), Permanent Modular Construction is:  ”A design and construction process performed in a manufacturing facility which produces building components or modules that are constructed to be transported to a permanent building site.”  As a custom builder, Whitley Manufacturing offers a variety of construction types for your modular buildings.
WHAT ARE THE TWO DIVISION OF MODULAR CONSTRUCTION?
Permanent Modular Construction:  Whitley Manufacturing offers permanent, custom-designed modular buildings.  Our modular building system is a modern, innovative, and sustainable methodology that uses off-site, lean manufacturing processes to prefabricate whole building solutions on an accelerated timeline.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODULAR AND PREFABRICATED BUILDINGS?
The terms modular buildings, prefabricated buildings, prefab buildings, and pre-engineered buildings all refer to structures or components that are constructed off-site in a factory setting.  Whitley Manufacturing offers modular buildings customized for a variety of applications as well as prefabricated components (such as modular restroom cores) to be used in conjunction with conventional construction in a hybrid approach.
WHAT IS THE SQUARE FOOT COST OF A MODULAR BUILDING?
As a custom builder, there are many variables involved in an accurate budget of a building including the use, construction type, specifications, mechanical systems, level of finishes selected, and site costs at the building’s final location.  Whitley Manufacturing is happy to provide guidance on costs of modular buildings, recommend one of our distributors local to your project site, and provide reference material or case studies of similar projects.
WHAT IS THE DELIVERY TIMELINE FOR MODULAR BUILDINGS?
Delivery schedules are a function of current manufacturing backlog, size and complexity of the facility to be constructed, availability of specialty materials, etc.  Our modular buildings are delivered on an accelerated timeline, making use of the latest in construction technology, modern manufacturing methodology, and off-site concurrent construction.  On average, modular construction reduces timelines by 25-30% versus conventional construction.
By building the balance of the facility off-site, facility construction happens concurrent to the site preparation and foundation construction at the site.  Weather delays are drastically reduced by building indoors in a modern factory setting.  A comparison of typical timelines is shown below:
Modular Buildings Timeline
HOW WILL MY MODULAR BUILDING BE INSTALLED?
Whitley Manufacturing partners with a network of skilled and professional distributors across the country who can provide transit, local code consultation, site preparation and improvements, foundations, set-up and installation, finishing, and even a variety of finance options, allowing the client to receive a worry-free turnkey project.  Contact us to find the distributor best suited to your project.
ARE MODULAR BUILDINGS HIGH QUALITY?
Yes!  Commercial modular buildings are not like manufactured homes.  Modular buildings are built to meet or exceed all applicable state and local commercial building codes.  Building plans are approved by your state building department or their third-party representative.  Modular buildings are constructed in a controlled factory setting, fostering high-quality work from a team of building specialists that work year-round on modular buildings.  Rigorous in-house quality control inspections occur at each phase of the process, and we are additionally inspected by a third-party inspection agency and engineering firm to re-confirm quality and code compliance.  The modular process itself is inherently sustainable, as well.
WHAT FLEXIBILITY DOES MODULAR CONSTRUCTION OFFER?
Whitley Manufacturing’s custom modular buildings are inherently a flexible and adaptable solution.  In permanent modular construction applications, buildings can be designed to be “scalable” to allow for rapid addition of future space (i.e. classroom wings, additional hospital suites, additional campus buildings, etc) as your facility needs change.  Modular buildings can be designed for de-construction and relocation (examples of relocatable modular school building and modular healthcare building), as well, meaning the individual modular units comprising the larger structure can be separated, transported to a new location, and re-assembled or reconfigured.  Facility owners are no longer trapped by the captive solution of a typical building, but instead have the flexibility to quickly adapt to changing circumstances.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS OF MODULAR CONSTRUCTION?
A simple device to describe the benefits of modular buildings from Whitley Manufacturing is to remember the (5) S’s:  Speed, Savings, Safety, Scalability, and Sustainability.
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