After Tipperary firm Clancy Construction completed a 554-bed student accommodation project in Cork using off-site building methods, the company has announced it will accelerate its use of the approach as part of the ‘Built to Innovate’ programme.
‘Built to Innovate’ is a productivity improvement programme which is part of Enterprise Ireland’s approach on Housing for All.
The initiative aims to achieve faster, higher-quality construction of housing by providing funding support for productivity training, innovation and the introduction of digital, paperless systems.
Clancy Construction is the first firm to secure approval from Enterprise Ireland in the programme, and took the approach seriously in building out the 554-bed Bandon Road student accommodation complex.
Managing director John O’Shaughnessy said: “This project was halted for 12 weeks as a result of two Covid-19 lockdowns and also faced supply chain disruptions as well as social distancing requirements.
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“However, by making use of technological advances, lean construction, and off-site construction, the development has been completed on time and within budget. It shows the value of innovation and lean processes and I am confident that it can be replicated across the residential construction sector.”
Quick build apartments
The Bandon Road project is made up of 77 apartments in five blocks, with the frames manufactured and assembled off site. These were then delivered and erected on site. Bathroom pods were assembled in the same way.
The approach meant that an individual apartment block five to six storeys high was constructed and weatherproofed in an 18 week period, with the internal finishing cycle taking just 16 weeks.
The firm is a family business which was founded in Tipperary 75 years ago and has an extensive portfolio of projects, including building two 24-bed isolation wards in a 14-week period for the HSE during the Covid-19 crisis.
Enterprise Ireland industrial and life sciences manager Tom Kelly commented: “Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Built to Innovate’ initiative aims to improve construction productivity by increasing offsite production in factory-controlled environments and by improving site and factory processes.
“This project on Bandon Road proves the potential of offsite construction to accelerate the delivery of housing, within budget. Under ‘Built to Innovate’, we welcome Clancy Construction’s plans to further improve productivity with training and the introduction of advanced digital systems.”
EI has indicated it will support Clancy with funding for productivity training, innovation and the introduction of digital, paperless systems.
