OFFSITEK

02/09/2024

To Robot or Not?

Construction has always been a job for people; workers who pour the concrete, walk the beams, dive the cranes, and put up the walls. People who hammer the nails, place the wires, and plumb the plumbing. Or not.

Manufactured housing is an example of people being more in the supervisory side of construction and machines, including robotics, do the actual building of the roofs and walls, interior and exterior. In some cases, this philosophy is carried all the way to the jobsite.

OFFSITEK, a Charlotte-based integrated construction company, is using robots, steel, and creative partnerships with local municipalities to give first-time homebuyers options that work within their budgets, are high quality, and are good for the environment. The company recently announced a partnership with the City of Hickory in the Charlotte, NC area to work together with JRN Development, LLC to invest in the development and construction of affordable housing on city-owned property. The homes, in the Ridgeview Subdivision, will be three bedrooms with two baths, garage, single and two-story floorplans, and priced between $145,000 and $175,000.

Utilizing advanced technology and sustainable components in their Charlotte, NC, factory, OFFSITEK will merge automation, robotic assembly, and cutting-edge software to deliver residential and commercial construction at reduced cost and lead times. One factor that sets the company apart is the use of steel in their construction approach.

Steel is a resilient material with reserve strength that results in significant advantages in natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, is mold and vermin resistant and is dimensionally stable, eliminates construction waste significantly, and is flame resistant.

Construction has always been a job for people; workers who pour the concrete, walk the beams, dive the cranes, and put up the walls. People who hammer the nails, place the wires, and plumb the plumbing. Or not. Manufactured housing is an example of people being more in the supervisory side of constr...

02/09/2024

Community Celebrates Success of Affordable Housing Built with Steel Framing Tech

Families in the city of Hickory, North Carolina, are celebrating the speedy completion of new affordable homes in their community. The homes were built quickly using pre-engineered floor, wall and roof systems fabricated from steel by Steel Framing Industry Association member OFFSITEK.

The Charlotte-based integrated construction company uses robots, steel and offsite manufacturing to construct affordable, high-quality homes that are better for the environment, the company says.

Steel Technology Accelerates Building Schedule
Through a public-private partnership with the city of Hickory, JRN Development constructed the affordable steel-framed homes, called Ridgefield Place, using OFFSITEK’s state-of-the-art building technology.

OFFSITEK’s pre-engineered and assembled light-gauge steel framing systems and component kits eliminate waste while maintaining structural quality. The company combines its systems with a proprietary panel system to create a design-led process that accelerates building schedules.

“We are very excited to provide brand new, affordable quality homes to the residents of Charlotte,” says Rick Admani Abulhaj, managing director at OFFSITEK. “With the assistance of local municipalities, we are bringing the latest in innovative construction technology and environmental efficiency to provide first-time buyers a home they will love and a neighborhood they will be proud to be part of.”

The Steel Framing Advantage
Cold-formed steel (CFS) leads the way as the preferred framing material for prefabricated structures for multiple reasons. CFS is:
1. A pre-engineered material that can be cut to exact lengths
2. Dimensionally stable and does not expand or contract with changes in moisture content
3. Lightweight compared to wood and concrete
4. Resilient and will not warp, split, crack or creep when exposed to the elements
5. Sustainable and 100% recyclable
6. Durable and has a high tensile strength
7. Non-combustible and is a safeguard against fire accidents

A ‘Commitment to Our Citizens,’ Mayor Says
“While we are proud that Hickory has been named one of the nation’s most affordable places to live, we know that housing is still a challenge for many working families in our community,” says Hank Guess, Hickory mayor. “With the completion of these affordable homes, the city’s affordable housing initiative continues to demonstrate Hickory’s commitment to our citizens’ ability to live in the community where they work and play.”

JRN is in talks with the city of Hickory to create additional high-quality, low-maintenance homes for low-to-moderate income families.

“We look forward to building on this project’s success to provide creative housing solutions in the future,” Guess says.

OFFSITEK and JRN Continue Partnership
OFFSITEK and JRN also have four other projects underway in Conover, Lincolnton, Mooresville and West Charlotte, all in North Carolina.

“Partnering with municipalities, local governments and their housing authority and community development partners allows us to fast-track the availability of affordable housing to own or rent,” says Rick Admani Abulhaj, CEO of JRN Development. “These critical partnerships and our high-tech construction process allow us to build quality, sustainable housing for working families.”

Light Steel Framing News & Information about Light Steel Framing Industry Projects and Community Celebrates Success of Affordable Housing Built with Steel Framing Tech.

02/09/2024

'Time truly is money' | Charlotte-Based Company Using Robots to Redesign Homebuilding

OFFSITEK uses robots, steel, and creative partnerships with local municipalities to give homebuyers more options to meet their wants and needs.

A new way to build homes has arrived to the Charlotte region. It uses high-tech tools to build a home in an expedited amount of time.

OFFSITEK, a Charlotte-based integrated construction company, is using robots, steel, and creative partnerships with local municipalities to give homebuyers options that work within their budgets, are high quality and are better for the environment.

“Yes, it’s going to be interesting to see robots do jobs no one’s seen done before,” CEO and co-founder of OFFSITEK Dwight Morgan said.

Morgan said they are using their technology to redesign homebuilding. He said the technology in home construction is faster, cheaper, and more sustainable.

“It does allow us to bring to market lower costs of labor, having no delays associated with weather by working inside a plant, and then operating at an extremely high-speed using equipment, then we shorten the lead time and time truly is money,” Morgan said.

Saving time and money is a big reason the City of Hickory recently announced a partnership to invest in the development and construction of affordable housing on city-owned property.

JRN Development is the developer and builder on the project while OFFSITEK is the framing and structural material manufacturer and supplier. JRN Development recently broke ground in the Ridgeview Subdivision neighborhood.

“Affordable housing is something that’s in desperate need right now, there’s not really many builders out there who are addressing that gap," JRN director of land acquisitions, development and municipalities Chris Younger said.

Younger believes their technology will help alleviate the increased demand for low-cost housing. He says they are currently speaking with other local municipalities.

“It will definitely be part of the solution,” Younger said.

OFFSITEK uses robots, steel, and creative partnerships with local municipalities to give homebuyers more options to meet their wants and needs.

02/09/2024

Company using robots to quick-build affordable container homes

A new partnership between Charlotte-based OFFSITEK and Universal Storage Container will quick-build tiny homes to address affordable housing locally and globally.

A new partnership between Charlotte-based OFFSITEK and Universal Storage Container will quick-build tiny homes to address affordable housing locally and globally.

02/09/2024

Expert Sources Say Steel Framing is the Ideal Anti-Mold Solution

Mold can be a huge problem in new and existing structures. It can cause structural damage, health problems and even death. Can anything be done to mitigate the appearance of mold in a structure?

Yes. A number of expert sources say that owners and builders should consider using cold-formed steel (CFS) framing for any new or renovation project to help prevent mold intrusion and keep occupants safe.

Steel Can Mitigate Mold Growth
Construction expert Fred Soward, founder of Allstate Interiors of NY, explains how cold-formed steel (CFS) framing can help mitigate mold growth in building projects.
“Homes constructed with steel framing are at a lower risk of mold growth than homes built with wood framing,” says Soward. “In addition, steel framing is more robust and durable than wood, making it ideal for areas that experience high winds or earthquakes.”

Building materials that remain wet for more than 48 hours, accompanied by moderate indoor temperatures, create ideal conditions for mold to proliferate. The materials can become moist through leaking pipes or roofs, rainwater seepage, flooding, uncontrolled high relative humidity and construction practices that don’t properly protect building materials from the elements.

While water intrusion may be easily identified on some interior surfaces, other building materials, such as wood framing hidden behind finish materials, may harbor undetected mold. Eventually, mold can eat away at building materials, affecting their look and smell. It can rot wood members and impact the structural integrity of wood-framed buildings.

The Cost of Mold
It is important to use anti-mold materials, like cold-formed steel (CFS), at the onset of a project. If a specialist is required to remediate mold after a building is constructed, it can be costly.

Most mold remediation specialists charge up to $28.33 per square foot, depending on the colony’s location and its severity, according to Jane Purnell at LawnStarter.
A mold colony that has taken over a 50-square-foot area will cost most homeowners $1,417, while a 400-square-foot infestation can cost up to $11,332.

Steel is Part of an Anti-Mold Solution
Ventilation is efficiently built into the design of structures framed with steel. Also,energy-efficiency is maintained or increased due to steel’s inorganic properties, according to Walls and Ceilings.

CFS framing can combat slow destruction caused by mold because steel is not organic matter. That makes it an unappealing surface for mold to establish itself and grow.
Moisture does not get into steel studs. Steel’s durability substantially eliminates the expansion and contraction of construction materials around windows and doors where leaks can occur.

“Since cold-formed steel is 100% compatible with standard building materials, steel is a perfect marriage for reducing the opportunity for mold to grow,” says Larry Williams, executive director of the Steel Framing Industry Association.
“In addition to being non-combustible and prescriptively designed to withstand extreme weather conditions such as high winds and earthquakes, cold-formed steel’s galvanized zinc coating can protect even a waterfront structure against corrosion for hundreds of years,” Williams says.

https://steelnetwork.com/expert-sources-say-steel-framing-is-the-ideal-anti-mold-solution/

02/09/2024

The Key to Offsite Construction is Automation

OFFSITEK is an offsite technology company offering an end-to-end solution for industrialized construction that integrates land development, advanced digital design, supply chain optimization and construction. Their factory-controlled environment produces pre-engineered panelized systems and components allowing them to deliver commercialized and robust residential construction at a reduced cost and lead time. OFFSITEK’s integrated technology utilizes automation, robotic assembly, and cutting-edge software to transform traditional, fragmented construction into advanced manufacturing.

Join Devon, Dwight and Dave as they discuss the history of robotics and automation and why these industries now have their sights set on construction, the forward-thinking business model behind OFFSITEK's factory processes, and why blending skilled labor with robots is the secret recipe for bringing productivity in construction to new highs.

Dwight Morgan and Dave Osher, CMO and CEO at OFFSITEK, join us for episode 253 of Art of Construction.

02/09/2024

How Cold-Formed Steel Framing Can Help Prevent Mold

Mold growth can be a serious concern for owners and tenants in older buildings — and for good reason. Mold is known to contribute to a variety of health-related issues. What’s discussed less frequently, however, is that mold growth isn’t limited to older buildings. New construction can harbor potentially harmful fungi, too.

To keep future building occupants safe, it’s important to consider the possibility of mold from the beginning of your project and choose a construction material that can help guard against it, such as cold-formed steel (CFS) framing.

Cause for Concern
Molds are types of fungi that release spores into the air to reproduce. When mold spores find the right conditions — dampness, oxygen, and an organic source to feed on — they grow. There are 1,000 species of mold in the United States, and mold can be found in every environment, both indoors and outside.

Mold spores in the air can be inhaled and, considering Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors, exposure to mold in enclosed spaces is a valid cause for concern.

Molds are known producers of allergens and irritants. Mold exposure can negatively affect the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and respiratory systems in people with mold allergies and may spur asthma attacks for those with asthma. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), if mold is identified on materials, appropriate remediation guidelines with proper containment should be used to minimize exposure to building occupants. Taking measures to limit mold in the first place can raise indoor environmental quality and improve building occupant health and wellbeing.

How Mold Infiltrates Buildings
Building materials that remain wet for more than 48 hours, accompanied by moderate indoor temperatures, create ideal conditions for mold to proliferate. Building materials can become moist through leaking pipes or roofs, rainwater seepage, flooding, uncontrolled high relative humidity, and construction practices that don’t properly protect building materials from the elements.

While water intrusion may be easily identified on some interior surfaces, other building materials, such as wood members and wood framing hidden behind finish materials, may harbor undetected mold. Eventually, mold can eat away at building materials, affecting their look and smell. It can rot wood members and impact the structural integrity of wood-framed buildings.

CFS framing can combat this slow destruction because steel is not organic matter. That makes it an unappealing surface for mold to establish itself and grow.
In addition, CFS won’t warp or sag. Other materials may “creep” over time, twisting, expanding, or contracting with moisture content. These changes can loosen the building frame or allow cracks to develop. When this happens, doors and windows may no longer close properly, which can allow moisture inside. Using CFS, which remains straight and true, can minimize this issue.

Why Mold is a Concern Even in New Buildings
Leaks and aging water-barrier measures are commonly associated with older buildings, but more modern changes in building codes and development practices have provided places for mold to grow, too. Energy efficiency measures, introduced to the construction market in the 1970s, demand building envelopes that are more tightly sealed. Because low ventilation rates don’t provide adequate air circulation and condensation control in these tightly sealed buildings, moisture v***r indoors can become concentrated and create breeding grounds for mold.

In addition, climatic events such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts are frequently associated with extreme temperatures, and these severe environmental changes can lead to mold and envelope degradation in newer buildings.

Even the progressive approach of green building design and construction does not guarantee that buildings are immune to mold. In 2015, it was discovered that the state-of-the-art Mark Twain Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, suffered from mold infestation, despite being the nation’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified museum in 2003. Geothermal system problems and a leaking roof brought mold remediation costs to $1 million.
In fact, some debate that certain sustainable practices such as the use of newer, unproven materials can create conditions that allow moisture infiltration to wreak havoc. And in regions of high heat and humidity, the movement to increase ventilation by bringing more outdoor air into a building directly correlates to moisture problems during humid summers.

Preventing all moisture intrusion is virtually impossible regardless of whether buildings are old or new, but CFS can help lessen buildings’ vulnerability to mold. Ventilation can be efficiently built into the design of CFS-framed buildings, and energy efficiency is maintained or increased due to its inorganic properties. In addition, moisture cannot seep into CFS members, offering additional protection against mold growth.

Left to thrive, mold can result in long-term issues that are expensive to repair, impact occupant wellbeing, and even lead to structural deterioration. Thanks to its high resistance to mold, CFS is an excellent choice to construct a durable, long-lasting building.

If have an upcoming multi-family or non-residential project, we offer complimentary project assistance to help you determine if CFS is the right choice for your building. Just reach out, and a BuildSteel expert will contact you directly.

Light Steel Framing News & Information about Light Steel Framing Industry News and How Cold-Formed Steel Framing Can Help Prevent Mold.

02/09/2024

Universal Storage Containers (USC) Partners with OFFSITEK to Address Homelessness and Affordable Housing

On any given night, roughly 582,500 people experience homelessness in the United States, with 40% of those in unsheltered locations such as the street, abandoned buildings, or in other places not suitable for human habitation, according to the 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Universal Storage Containers LLC (USC) and OFFSITEK LLC look to reduce that number by quickly manufacturing and delivering shelter and transitional housing for those in need to organizations and municipalities working to address homelessness and affordable housing challenges.

“After a nationwide search to locate a strategic partner in the U.S. to manufacture Universal Storage Container (USC)’s portfolio of mobile storage, tiny home, and instant-shelter products, USC announced today that it has selected OFFSITEK as the best-of-the-best to be the manufacturer of record. We are very proud and excited to begin making our products at their state-of-the-art automated robotic manufacturing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. This exciting, new relationship enables USC to position itself as the leader in providing affordable and transitional housing and shelters for the homeless, providing immediate solutions for families needing shelter during natural disasters, and providing solutions to municipalities who are challenged with these issues,” said Peter Nemiroff, Managing Partner & President of USC.

George Johnson, a Partner in USC, said, “It is anticipated that over the next five years the business generated as a result of this contract will range upwards in production for the Charlotte-based OFFSITEK of approximately 250 million dollars.”

Universal Storage Containers LLC was established in 2006 by Peter Nemiroff and George Johnson. USC is the worldwide leader in storage container and modular building. For the last 12 consecutive years (2011 to 2022), USC has been awarded the International Self Storage (ISS) “Best Self-Storage Container,” the industry’s highest recognition for excellence by ISS Magazine and World Expo. USC continues to innovate and use state-of-the-art technology to expand into the modular building and other industries and markets in the U.S. and internationally. In response to COVID-19, the worldwide homeless situation, and natural disaster challenges, USC invented a portable foldable Instant Home™ that provides a high-quality, low-cost home that can be assembled in less than 30-minutes that is an innovative solution to all these types of challenges.

OFFSITEK LLC was established by Rick Admani Abulhaj and Dwight Morgan, two technology pioneers who in 2019 had a vision to transform the construction industry into Industrialized Construction (IC). IC uses industrialized production methods—such as high-volume off-site construction, prefabrication, and off-site construction automation—to build buildings, leading to reduced lead times and affordability. OFFSITEK’s IC prefabrication ecosystem consists of a suite of enabling technologies including (i) digitalization, (ii) human-to-machine collaboration, (iii) robotic automation, (iv) advanced building science, and (v) the use of light-gauge-steel and advanced framing technology. This system results in creating and offering affordable housing solutions that are beautiful, high-quality, sustainable, stronger, more energy-efficient, and with a superior life-cycle durability.

“OFFSITEK is honored to be awarded this contract to apply our unique industrialized-construction (IC) solution to address the affordable housing and homelessness initiatives currently underway throughout the nation,” said Dwight Morgan, Chief Manufacturing Officer for OFFSITEK.

“We are excited by this contract for high-volume manufacturing-based construction. Due to the size and quantity of products to be manufactured under this contract, we anticipate an expansion of OFFSITEK within our home state of North Carolina. We expect to generate 150 new jobs, as well create as other supply chain related jobs in the region,” said Rick Admani Abulhaj, Managing Director for OFFSITEK.

About USC
Universal Storage Containers LLC is the worldwide leader in storage container solutions and provides portable moving and storage containers, modular buildings, refrigerated portable containers, and many other products to a number of industries for markets in the US and internationally. USC revolutionized the portable storage industry in 2006 when they pioneered the Z-Box® foldable storage container which was the first foldable storage container which provided dramatic cost savings and a competitive advantage to their customers. For more information, visit www.UniversalStorageContainers.com.

About OFFSITEK
OFFSITEK is an industrialized construction and manufacturing company, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. OFFSITEK leads the transformation of the construction industry with cutting-edge, advanced manufacturing, prefabrication process that delivers value to builders while streamlining all construction processes under-one-roof at a world-class automated facility. OFFSITEK offers improved quality, speed of construction, environmental performance, and design flexibility through an innovative kit-of-parts, design-led, prefabrication ecosystem, with advanced methods and reliance on light gauge steel framing materials that provide financially attractive alternatives to slower, resource-heavy traditional method of construction, such as onsite stick-built projects.

02/09/2024

Proposed Partnership Would Use OFFSITEK Steel Framing to Meet Local Housing Demand

Horry County, South Carolina, which includes the city of Myrtle Beach, is exploring a partnership to build steel-framed homes to meet the region’s need for more affordable housing. OFFSITEK, an integrated construction company and SFIA member, recently presented Horry County officials with a plan to build homes for under $200,000.
OFFSITEK, the Charlotte-based integrated construction company, uses robots, cold-formed steel (CFS) and offsite manufacturing to construct affordable, high-quality and eco-friendly homes, the company’s website says.

Steel: An Aid with Affordable Housing
OFFSITEK and JRN Development, a land acquisition and development company, presented their affordable housing solution at a recent Horry County legislative delegation meeting. The proposed business model would create a partnership that would include Horry County covering the land costs and extending water and sewer infrastructure to the housing development.

If county leaders agree to the arrangement, Horry County officials expect the homes to sell for between $180,000 to $200,000, local news outlet WDPE says.

Chris Younger, strategic partnership leader at JRN, says the materials used to construct the homes would include steel framing, noting that steel framing requires minimal maintenance, is more durable and has less impact on the environment compared to wood framing.

The partnership, if ratified, could help solve Horry County’s affordable housing needs as its population grows, notes WDPE.

The Steel Framing Advantage
Cold-formed steel (CFS) leads the way as the preferred framing material for prefabricated structures for multiple reasons. CFS is:
1. A pre-engineered material that can be cut to exact lengths
2. Dimensionally stable and does not expand or contract with changes in moisture content
3. Lightweight compared to wood and concrete
4. Resilient and will not warp, split, crack or creep when exposed to the elements
5. Sustainable and 100% recyclable
6. Durable and has a high tensile strength
7. Non-combustible and is a safeguard against fire accidents

City of Hickory ‘Excited’ By Steel Technology
OFFSITEK and JRN Development recently constructed homes in Hickory, North Carolina. Through a public-private partnership with the city of Hickory, affordable steel-framed homes were built using OFFSITEK’s state-of-the-art building technology.

OFFSITEK’s pre-engineered and assembled light-gauge steel framing systems and component kits eliminate waste while maintaining structural quality. The company combines its systems with a proprietary panel system to create a design-led process that accelerates building schedules.

“We are very excited to provide brand new, affordable quality homes to the residents of Charlotte,” says Rick Admani Abulhaj, managing director at OFFSITEK. “With the assistance of local municipalities, we are bringing the latest in innovative construction technology and environmental efficiency to provide first-time buyers a home they will love and a neighborhood they will be proud to be part of.”

The homes are being sold for $155,000 to $168,000 to eligible families earning up to 80% of the area median income, and will remain affordable for 15 years, even if the homeowner chooses to sell the home during that time.

“While we are proud that Hickory has been named one of the nation’s most affordable places to live, we know that housing is still a challenge for many working families in our community,” says Hank Guess, Hickory mayor. “With the completion of these affordable homes, the city’s affordable housing initiative continues to demonstrate Hickory’s commitment to our citizens’ ability to live in the community where they work and play.”

OFFSITEK and JRN Continue Partnership
OFFSITEK and JRN have four other projects underway in Conover, Lincolnton, Mooresville and West Charlotte, all in North Carolina.

“Partnering with municipalities, local governments and their housing authority and community development partners allows us to fast-track the availability of affordable housing to own or rent,” says Rick Admani Abulhaj, CEO of JRN Development. “These critical partnerships and our high-tech construction process allow us to build quality, sustainable housing for working families.”

https://buildsteel.org/prefabrication/offsitek-steel-framing-to-meet-local-housing-demands/

02/09/2024

OFFSITEK Partners with Charlotte-Area Municipalities to Deliver Affordable Housing Using Robots and Steel

OFFSITEK, a Charlotte-based integrated construction company, is using robots, steel and creative partnerships with local municipalities to give first-time homebuyers options that work within their budgets, are high quality and are better for the environment.

OFFSITEK's Charlotte facility uses high-tech robots to produce steel panels for housing that lower housing costs and improve quality.

The City of Hickory, North Carolina, recently announced a partnership to invest in the development and construction of affordable housing on city-owned property. OFFSITEK is scheduled to break ground shortly on the home sites, priced between $145,000 and $175,000, in the Ridgeview Subdivision neighborhood.

"The city understands the need for affordable housing in Hickory. While some of it will happen organically, it is also important for the city to make a concerted effort to expand on that," said City Manager Warren Wood. "By working with JRN Development and OFFSITEK, a partnership was created that will benefit low to moderate income households, while also allowing us to put some of the proceeds back into the Community Development Block Grant program to be used to assist others."

Utilizing advanced technology and sustainable components in their Charlotte, North Carolina factory, OFFSITEK merges automation, robotic assembly and cutting-edge software to deliver residential and commercial construction at reduced cost and lead times.

Steel is a resilient material with reserve strength that results in significant advantages in natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes and is mold and vermin resistant. Steel is dimensionally stable, eliminates construction waste significantly and is flame resistant.

"We are very excited to provide brand new, affordable quality homes to the residents of Charlotte," said Rick Admani Abulhaj, managing director of OFFSITEK. "With the assistance of local municipalities, we are bringing the latest in innovative construction technology and environmental efficiency to provide first-time buyers a home they will love and a neighborhood they will be proud to be part of. The benefits of manufacturing a project offsite include significant improvement in productivity, efficiency and the quality of the construction process."

"I bought a townhome in the Lincolnton development because I was very impressed with OFFSITEK's steel construction and I found JRN Development to be very honest and easy to work with," said Paul Harraka Sr. "The layout of the units is perfect. I can see by the plans that a lot of thought went into these townhomes. I bought this unit for a family member. I previously bought a townhome in one of their developments and I am extremely satisfied."

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/offsitek-partners-with-charlotte-area-municipalities-to-deliver-affordable-housing-using-robots-and-steel-301464962.html