Analyzing Obstacles and Exploring Opportunities to Improve Modular Industrialized Construction in Lebanon

Abstract

Over the past few decades, modular concrete construction emerged as a viable solution for meeting client requirements in getting an early return on investment, a high quality building, and an economically feasible construction. Precast concrete construction offers several green building benefits such as reducing construction wastes, minimizing site disturbances, and increasing flexibility. Although modular construction has been on the rise in Lebanon, many obstacles stand in the way of reaping more value for customers including technical, logistical, and organizational issues. This research aims at assessing the obstacles for efficient industrialized construction and exploring opportunities for improvement. The study reports results from industry-wide interviews covering all modular precast production companies, the major architects and design professionals, and class-A contracting companies. Findings of the study highlight that technical, logistical, and organizational/ cultural factors form the main obstacles, whereas cost, time, sustainability, and flexibility are the areas of opportunity for implementing efficient industrialized construction and increasing the uptake of precast concrete construction.