Cloud Apartments, a modular development partner that reduces the risk and cost of multifamily development has introduced CloudConnect, a quick-connect mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) system for modular construction and a key new feature of its productized approach to development. The proprietary assembly drastically reduces the field labor required to finish Cloud Apartments units by making all module-to-module MEP connections during module installation, without any specialized tools or labor, the company said. It’s a key component of Cloud’s programmatic solution for multifamily development, which leverages productized unit designs, standardized building components and a takt-time approach to field work to reduce construction costs by 30% over traditional methods.
“Conventional modular achieves time and cost savings in the factory, but 67% of construction costs occur in the field,” says Cloud Apartments Founder and CEO Curtis Wong. “Making modular consistently less expensive than traditional construction requires bringing manufacturing efficiencies to the jobsite. Cloud’s productized, takt-time-based approach achieves that.”
In conventional modular construction, most of the building is prefabricated offsite as volumetric modules, with MEP infrastructure installed within each module. After shipment and site assembly, licensed plumbers and electricians make connections. This conventional approach requires an MEP design that connects seamlessly across modules and accounts for movement during installation. Achieving this level of precision in both production and assembly is nearly impossible, and misalignments require costly field rework. Such additional site expenses offset factory savings, making it difficult for modular projects to achieve promised cost efficiency.
Cloud Apartments developed its programmatic, takt-time approach to multifamily development specifically to address these challenges. CloudConnect is the latest addition to the company’s lines of affordable, workforce, and market-rate products, which Cloud has refined over the last four years with inputs from leading modular architects AO. Cloud’s products and process reduce the risks and costs of multifamily development through accelerated design and permitting, efficient factory manufacturing, expedient installation with precision alignment and reduced field labor.
Cloud Apartments reduces overall project costs by 25% to 30%, with significant reductions in field work, the company said.
“With rising material costs, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions, developers are finding it increasingly difficult to make their projects profitable,” notes Cloud Apartments COO Apoorva Pasricha. “Conventional prefab often fails to materially reduce project costs, but Cloud’s productized approach achieves incremental savings and reduces risk at every step of the process. It closes the gap for developers, so their projects are able to secure financing.”
