Advancing Prefabrication at Large Scale

Implementing prefabrication at both large and small scale is challenging, but tackling it adds significant value for our clients. The obstacles we overcame on a Singapore Data Center project are common across all projects:

• Project Scale – Large projects offer economies of scale, but implementation is just as difficult as in smaller projects.
• Rigid Design Constraints – Instead of seeing client requirements as a barrier, use them as an opportunity to prefabricate the most rigid elements. This also offers potential repeatability over multiple projects.
• Constrained Spaces – Prefabrication improves safety and quality in tight work areas—turn this into an advantage.
• Concept Designs – As design firms are trending to provide less detail, we can step in to refine designs and integrate prefab solutions. Design build projects are the best opportunity to deploy significant prefab.
• Authority Targets – While most authorities lack prefab targets, we can collaborate with clients to set mutually beneficial prefab percentage goals to challenge project teams to reduce on site resources and shorten schedules.
• Skills Gap – Labor shortages and low site productivity make prefabrication essential. It requires new skills, but stakeholders are invested in solving this challenge.
• Lack of Prefab Experience – Many see this as a hurdle, but pioneering prefab eliminates bad habits rather than requiring unlearning.

Leaders from Fortis shared these insights and learnings at the Advancing Prefabrication Conference in February, 2025, to help others understand that by addressing these challenges, we drive prefab adoption and maximize its benefits.

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