On Location with Modular Construction
The Hawaii Film Studio is a film studio known for its work on TV shows and movies such as Hawaii Five-0 and Jurassic Park. Initially, the proposed 7,000 sf office project went over budget using conventional construction, leading the Hawaii Film Studio consider modular construction. Additionally, due to tight time constraints, the general contractor, G70, informed the client that in-factory construction was the only way to meet the project’s compressed timeline. The technical innovation of having the building constructed at the same time as the site was being developed was paramount to saving time and providing the facility before the start of filming the new season of Hawaii Five-0.
After looking into modular, the studio realized that WillScot’s modular solution provided them with the functional facility they needed while leaving enough room in their budget to cover costs for contamination control, construction waste removal, fluid leakage from trucks and equipment rentals. Additionally, choosing modular ensured there would be minimal onsite clean up as most waste materials and hazardous fluids would be handled at the factory some 2,500 miles away at the Blazer Industries facility in Oregon.
The designers worked with the factory to address all of the technical needs of the film studio’s specialized departments, including wardrobe, props, art, production, and graphics. The building was completed at the plant to save time and comply with noise requirements at the site. The building was also designed to allow future expansion, providing the ability to move buildings around and create new configurations as needs changed.
The building is located near the entrance to the historic Diamond Head State Monument. As such, the state required the office to blend with the surrounding landscape. The building was finished with earthy colors that matched the volcanic terrain.
Inside, the facility was customized with PTAC cool/heating systems to maintain humidity control and prevent damage to the film crew’s wardrobe, prop production and storage. It was also outfitted with custom electrical components and lighting to support the film crew’s computer and design needs.
In all, the project was completed in 275 days and in time for filming the new season of Hawaii Five-0!
This article originally appeared in the Modular Advantage Magazine -Â Second Quarter 2019Â released in May 2019.
More from Modular Advantage
From Model to Machine: Why Modular Scale Is Becoming a Software Problem, not a Material One
For modular manufacturers that have already secured demand and repeatable volume, the next major constraint may no longer be forming capacity itself. Increasingly, it is the continuity of the information feeding that capacity.
Who Will Define Modular Products for AI?
Artificial intelligence is making building configurators easier and less expensive to create. This makes urgent manufacturers’ need portable product definitions, stable identities, and shared interfaces regardless of how others’ software is produced.
From BIM to Robotic Production: A Digital Workflow for Customized Components in Volumetric Modular Construction
For volumetric modular manufacturers, the value of this workflow is not simply the use of robotics. Its real value is continuity.
Helping Build a Common Framework for Modular Construction in Canada
Canada’s modular construction sector continues to gain momentum, but scaling it successfully will depend on shared expectations across design, manufacturing, approvals, and project delivery. CSA Z251 helps provide that common foundation.
Edges, Exits & Equipment: A Modular Builder’s Guide to Rooftop Access
Rooftop access belongs in the factory design. Before the modules ship, the project team should identify each route’s users, confirm applicable requirements, coordinate with the roof system and structure, and assign responsibility.
When Timber Production and Modular Construction Share One System
As demand for multifamily and workforce housing continues to outpace what conventional construction timelines can deliver, models that reduce the number of handoffs between structural fabrication and modular assembly are likely to draw more attention.
Your AI Strategy Is an Enablement Strategy
Tools will change. Teaching employees only the steps in one platform creates a narrow capability. Involving them in problem definition, process mapping, data assessment, controls, and measurement gives the organization a way to improve its systems as technology evolves.
By-Right Permitting: The Missing Lever for Scaling Modular Multifamily
Modular has already proven it can outperform traditional building methods on speed and cost per unit. The next frontier is outside the factory in the front end of the process, where projects either clear a path to construction or get stuck in review.
Remote Inspections and The Future of Factory Oversight
Remote inspection is becoming a practical part of modular construction oversight. Its value is greatest when it is used selectively, governed by clear procedures, and supported by complete traceability.
Reimagining Dry-In: How a Temporary-to-Permanent Roofing Strategy Mitigates Risk Between Modular Installation and Final Roof Construction
As volumetric modular projects continue to increase in scale and complexity, the Temporary-to-Permanent FiberTite Roof System represents an example of how traditional trade scopes can be reimagined through Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) principles.