Is building fast the same as building better?

Towards new construction solutions

28 hours and 45 minutes! That’s how long it took a Chinese company to put up a 10-floor apartment building in 2021. A world first, and a still unbeaten record, which revolutionized conventional construction techniques. To set this new record, the company used off-site manufacturing, with structures similar to large stackable containers. Three cranes, a few bolts, a water and electricity connection – in under two days the building was ready to welcome its new residents. In a country of over a billion people, it’s easy to see why it’s essential to “build fast”. But is it really necessary elsewhere? Isn’t this record as futile as it is pointless? Actually, No. Building fast, and if possible better, is no longer just an option. Because everywhere in the world, the need is urgent.

The housing shortage is spreading like wildfire, affecting emerging and industrialized countries alike. Some say it could be the next crisis of the millennium. In the United States, it is estimated that between 4 and 7 million homes are needed to catch up, according to data from the Pew Research Center. Cities such as New York have even launched projects to convert offices into apartments, to alleviate the lack of housing. The same can be said of Europe and Africa, where the demographic clock is ticking towards a population of 2.5 billion in 2050 according to the latest predictions (1). Africa also has to cope with rampant urbanization, which is putting enormous pressure on existing infrastructure. By 2050, over 1.3 billion Africans will be living in cities, twice as many as today. Countries like Nigeria and Egypt are facing a shortfall of over 10 million homes to meet the growing demand.

So, does building fast really mean building better? Yes! But above all, if building fast means meeting global challenges – while building better at the same time.

Building quickly to prepare for tomorrow

Among the challenges to be overcome by building faster AND better are the population explosion, rampant urbanization and the urgent need to eradicate insalubrious housing. So it is a veritable urban, demographic and environmental tidal wave that is accelerating the pace of change. No longer building as before, but inventing new solutions, for today and for the future. This is the challenge facing the construction sector as it explores new ways of reducing lead times.

Returning to the example of the Chinese building: to work “against the clock”, the builder Broad Group applied modular principles. In other words, the entire building was factory-built. Including the water and electricity circuits. It only remained to connect the system directly on site.

The modular approach is not just a passing trend. The off-site construction market for housing is booming, reaching US$22.87bn in 2024 and predicted to reach US$30.93bn by 2029 - a robust annual growth rate of 6.23% (2). The reasons are clear: shorter lead times, increased productivity, greater safety on the building site and optimized costs. While Europe is showing the fastest growth in this sector, North America is currently the largest market. Germany is a perfect example of this silent revolution, with 23% of its housing stock already built using off-site construction – a strong signal for the future of the sector.

Reversible building, modular building: what's the difference?

Timber and metal: working towards renewable buildings

Another time-saving variant is light construction using timber, which is a serious alternative when it comes to building fast. Widely used in Japan and in the United States, timber framing is both versatile and quick to install. Close on the heels of metal framing, both solutions are based on the same principle: off-site construction of a ready-to-install structure. Without drying time. Even better, with the increasing scarcity of raw materials, timber and metal are paving the way for the renewable building. Both maters are recyclable and energy-efficient, as no water is required to install them.

Integrated solutions for fast, sustainable construction

Along with timber and metal, modular construction also makes use of innovative solutions that combine technical performance and environmental responsibility. The aim is twofold: reducing the ecological footprint of buildings while speeding up construction times.

Several Saint-Gobain solutions illustrate this trend, such as the FireLITE® system from CertainTeed, which reduces the weight of fire panels by 13% with no loss of effectiveness, enabling teams to become more agile and productive. This quest for efficiency continues with solutions such as EnveoVent, a complete, off-site manufactured wall system that combines high thermal performance with a reduced carbon footprint.

360° solutions from Saint-Gobain

Efficiency is also sought in the improvement of construction processes. Plasterboard, for example, can be pre-cut in the factory, as can ceilings beveled on all four sides for a simplified fit. Partitions can also be made wider to limit jointing work and reduce the number of studs required. This is the case with Placo® Infinaé 98/62, the first eco-circular partition on the market, entirely recyclable and made from recycled materials. Its width allows professionals to install one partition instead of two. Gyproc® Belgium went one step further recently, with the launch of a robotized cutting machine, the only one of its kind on the Belgian market. This computer-controlled innovation automatically selects, cuts and sorts plasterboard panels, saving contractors up to 50% time on the building site.

The goal of each innovation is the same: to minimize waste, save time on the building site, and guarantee high-quality, sustainable construction.

The BIM Bang

Building fast means devising innovative products and services that meet sustainability challenges. It also requires well-oiled and precise organization, to avoid wasting time on the ground.

On this point, construction sites can be run more smoothly by taking advantage of Building Information Modeling. In other words “BIM”, or a digital mock-up. While this solution is not new, it proves every day just how much precious time can be saved by good orchestration between trades.

With BIM, everything is modeled, checked and analyzed beforehand. No unpleasant surprises on site, no last-minute adjustments: everything is planned ahead. The other strength of BIM is real-time sharing of information. All stakeholders have access to the full technical specifications, planning and work schedules. So of course this saves time, streamlines workflows, and helps us to build faster! In some countries, the digital mock-up goes hand in hand with “fast-track construction”. This technique features overlapping design and construction phases. The Gyproc® robotized cutting machine mentioned above provides another application. With a specially developed BIM plug-in, the system intelligently analyzes digital drawings to arrange for packages of made-to-measure plasterboard, which can then be transported to the construction site and distributed by room according to the precise order of work.

And the BIM movement is gathering pace with the arrival of artificial intelligence, which marks another decisive turning point. It acts as a real catalyst for the potential of BIM. The results are there: design times reduced by up to 30%, design conflicts reduced by 75% and project delays cut by 20%. This symbiosis between BIM and AI is more than just another technique. It’s a revolution that redraws the limits of what’s possible in modern construction.

AI redefines production lines

Fast, high-quality construction now relies on a constellation of digital innovations that are transforming Industry 4.0. Drones fly over construction sites to check on progress in just a few minutes, for example, far more efficient than a traditional inspection on foot. This technological revolution is not limited to surveillance, however. AI is penetrating the very heart of manufacturing processes, fundamentally redefining the production of construction components.

What if generative AI could help us build more sustainably?

Vestack offers a perfect illustration of this with its innovative off-site construction process. The company uses smart robots, distinctive for their autonomous decision-making. Rather than being pre-programmed, their actions are determined in real time through AI-generated algorithms. These machines are capable of analyzing each component to be assembled and instantly defining their own sequence of movements. The result is that operations such as high-speed nailing can be carried out with unrivalled accuracy and speed.

Digitized, ultra-modern or based on traditional techniques. In the end, fast construction is first and foremost a practical, efficient response to the changes taking place in the world: growing urbanization, exploding populations, the need for energy-efficient renovation. It also means learning how to build better, for greater comfort and even at lower cost, without compromising on product quality.