Building and Construction Northeast - Winter 2011 - (Page 66)
profile c a p s y s c o r p. Think Outside the Box + Brooklyn, N.Y.-based modular building manufacturer Capsys Corp. utilizes the latest techniques and energy efficiencies to ensure quality construction. By Kathryn Jones Capsys Corp. www.capsyscorp.com. Headquarters: Brooklyn, N.Y. Employees: 75-100 Specialty: Modular building manufacturing “We pride ourselves on being up to date and knowledgeable about building codes and regulations, upcoming technology and innovations in energy efficiency.” > Bill McShane, general manager any, can > Few,aifluxurycompanies thansay they built hotel in less one year, but that’s exactly what Capsys Corp. of Brooklyn, N.Y., did in 2005. The 30-unit Harborfront Inn features oversized soaking and whirlpool baths, spacious showers with floor-to-ceiling porcelain tile and body jets, and balconies overlooking the Peconic Bay and Shelter Island. Modular construction enabled the 25,000-square-foot Harborfront Inn to be erected on short schedule, Capsys General Manager Bill McShane says. “We produced the [51] modules in about four months of production,” he recalls. “The construction process took eight months.” Each module is constructed at Capsys’ Brooklyn factory and designed to interconnect when welded together on site, essentially fitting together like pieces of an enormous jigsaw puzzle. Once that process is completed, contractors put on the exterior finishes and perform mechanical, electrical and plumbing connections that are fed between the modules. “We typically get involved during the schematic design process and become an integral member of the project team,” McShane notes. “One of the things that sets us apart – even from other manufacturers that do similar work to what we do – is our knowledge and ability to work with the general construction, architecture and engineering industries closely to understand the way the building will be built, while incorporating our efficient manufacturing process in with that.” Modular construction allows Capsys Corp. to complete large-scale projects in a short period of time, like a luxury hotel in less than a year. Smarter Way to Build Although standard field construction continues to be the most popular building method, the advantages to modular building are many, McShane points out. For instance, each of the modules is thicksided, fully enclosed and 90 percent completed before it is delivered to the job site. “Being able to construct these units within a factory environment offers a level of supervision and quality control that is unmatched in field construction,” he says. “Within the 300 feet of our production line, we are able to monitor and oversee everything from welding of the structural steel frame to the electrical wiring and routing of plumbing piping to finish of the dry wall and installation for cabinets, doors and hardware.” Constructing the modules in an enclosed factory environment prevents common field construction hindrances such as poor weather conditions, vandalism or theft. “As a consequence, a modular construction project can be completed much faster,” McShane remarks. “The fact that site work, such as putting a foundation in, can be done simultaneously as we’re producing the modules means the time spent completing the building is compressed greatly,” he adds. “As a side note, our attention to 66 b&c northeast WINTER 2011
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