Transforming the Construction Landscape: AECOM's Joyce Ferng on the Future of Modular Construction

In a recent exploration of the evolving construction industry, Joyce Ferng, Head of MMC Design and Construction at AECOM, sheds light on the gradual embrace of prefabrication in specific industry sectors. With a rich background of over 25 years in international structural engineering, encompassing roles in Australia, Singapore, and the UK, Joyce's insights offer a valuable perspective on the transformative journey of the construction landscape.

Joyce's current role involves spearheading modular initiatives and educating clients across Australia and New Zealand on the advantages of modular construction. At AECOM, the focus is on providing clients with alternative design solutions, emphasizing modular and prefabrication where appropriate, without imposing it as a one-size-fits-all approach. The uniqueness of each project is acknowledged, and AECOM serves as a platform for clients to make informed decisions.

While various industries are gradually warming up to modular construction, the education sector appears to be leading the charge. Institutions seek not only to excel in educational delivery but also to showcase excellence in the built environment. The desire for sustainability and the expedited construction speed offered by off-site prefabrication align with their goals of minimizing disruptions to daily operations.

Similarly, the healthcare sector is increasingly turning to modular construction due to the urgency for quick construction, the high level of regularity, and the potential for off-site modularization.

However, Joyce notes that despite the long history of prefabrication, the modular construction and off-site manufacturing of building sections, panels, or pods remain outside the mainstream. She describes the modular industry as taking "2 steps forward, 3 steps back," attributing this to common misconceptions, such as the belief that prefabrication delivers a fully completed building on-site.

Challenges include transport and on-site assembly concerns, along with the complexity of managing off-site manufacturing relationships, often poorly defined. The failure to adapt traditional procurement methods to modular projects creates scope gaps, hindering the industry's full potential and resulting in negative perceptions. Joyce emphasizes the importance of early collaboration and embracing digital technology as key components for propelling the modular industry forward.

As she envisions the future of construction, she emphasizes the need to rethink design methodologies. With an aging workforce in the construction industry, Joyce advocates for upskilling and training the next generation to harness evolving technology and automation.

She notes a shift of some jobs into manufacturing, with Australia now rapidly manufacturing modular construction parts that were not produced locally just five years ago. As demand rises, competition grows, prices stabilize, and supply ranges regulate, reducing reliance on imported products.

Joyce's vision extends beyond the immediate construction phase. She advocates for designing buildings from the inside out, considering aspects from early design phases to future maintenance, sustainability, transportation of modular parts, and navigating complex contractual arrangements inherent in off-site manufacturing.

To fully realize the benefits of modular construction, Joyce emphasizes the need for upskilling across the industry—from project managers and architects to structural engineers and tradespeople. AECOM, under Joyce's leadership, stands at the forefront of this transformative journey, envisioning a construction landscape that's not just efficient but sustainable and resilient for generations to come.