Volumetric Building Companies, a specialist in modular housing from Pennsylvania, has initiated a “global hub of excellence” in Ireland, despite the country’s apparent difficulties in leveraging the adaptability provided by such construction techniques amidst a severe housing crisis and a rise in international protection seekers.
Modular housing, synonymous with “rapid build” construction, is intended to produce units faster and cheaper than conventional construction modes. The Industry Development Authority (IDA) Ireland lauded Volumetric as an industrial pioneer on Friday, noting the company’s particular expertise in multi-storey modular edifices.
The official launch of Volumetric’s inaugural Irish venture in Monaghan represented a commitment to delivering top-quality, sustainably fabricated structures in a shorter time span for diverse market sectors. Peter Burke, newly-appointed Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, praised the American firm’s investment in off-site construction as crucially significant, both economically and environmentally.
However, compared to some of its EU peers, Ireland’s encounter with modular construction has been neither swift nor cost-effective. A recent report stated that Ireland is reducing its modular home order for Ukrainian refugees to 654 units to stay within a €237 million budget, bringing the average unit cost up to a staggering €363,000 – substantially above the typical prices seen in places like Germany. This sum includes site and utility expenses.
In addition, the government has struggled to install the needed quantity of modular units to mitigate the housing shortage, even when considering just short-term housing demands.
Thankfully, Volumetric’s business model isn’t solely dependent on the Irish market. The Monaghan base will host product designers, engineers, and architectural technicians tasked with producing the intricate designs and models needed for the group’s American and EU-based factories to execute modular projects throughout North America, Europe, Great Britain, and the Middle East.
Volumetric’s CEO, Vaughan Buckley, expressed that choosing Monaghan as their operational base was inspired by the wealth of applicable skills “initially gathered under the guidance and direction of Gerry McCaughey,” the founder of Century Homes. He further mentioned Ireland’s health, housing, and infrastructure requirements as significant prospects for partnership and synergy with the off-site construction segment. Indeed.