Modular hotels in the spotlight

The modular construction of hotels is getting more and more into the focus of developers and hotel brands. The biggest benefits are cost savings and shorter construction time.

I have been hearing the reports of the dramatic damage of recent hurricanes in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean. It adds another aspect to the discussion about modular construction of hotels (and other buildings). The fact that modular buildings are fabricated in a different location helps to speed up construction because it is not affected by damaged infrastructure and shortage of manpower and materials. On site, only the foundations have to be built; the rest of the building is transported to the site.

The separation of most of the construction and assembling work and the fabrication of the modules is the key of modular construction. In “normal” construction, everything is built and assembled on site. On the contrary, the modules are fabricated in a factory and are only put together on site. The modules can be produced in a specialized factory and can be shipped worldwide.

Modular construction is not feasible for all types of hotels and locations. The size and measures of the modules make it hard to impossible to build in city center locations where size and layout of the plot are given.

It also is only feasible for standardized hotel types. If the design, size and layout vary from room to room most of the cost advantage is lost. Assembling on site gets also more complicated. The size of the modules is given by the size of containers and the limitation of size for transportation by trucks.

A good example is the Moxy at Vienna’s airport. It was built within a year and opened last spring.

The Moxy Vienna

A standard room at the Moxy

The design process for modular hotels also is different to “normal” design. Changes are hardly possible or cause substantial additional costs. The design has to be completed at a very early stage. Therefore it is ideal for hard-branded hotel types.

Most of the quality control can be done at the factory before shipping. On site only the correct, damage-free installation has to be controlled. Mock-up rooms are installed and reviewed at the factory.

As said above the limitations of modular construction are sites where the pattern of the modules does not fit and individual design concepts, but it is ideal for free standing units and standardized brands. To use modular construction for rebuilding in regions hit by natural disasters is another aspect.

Herbert Mascha, founder and CEO, MRP hotels, Vienna

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