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MBI's South American Modular Building Council

The Modular Building Institute's South American Council serves as an advisory board on matters of importance to MBI members doing business in South America. In addition to helping grow MBI's South American membership, the Council was established to:

  1. Provide additional leadership opportunities within MBI for members in South America.
  2. Serve as an advisory board to MBI to ensure we are understanding our members’ needs.
  3. Serve as a forum for best practices and networking activities to be delivered more effectively by MBI.

As one of the driving forces behind MBI’s new South American Modular Builders & Construction Companies, I’m excited about its potential. Though the Council is still in its infancy, I expect it will provide MBI with valuable insights into the rapidly growing South American modular construction industry.

There’s tremendous opportunity in South America, and I’m hopeful that as it grows, the Council can help MBI’s members around the world learn about these opportunities and about the rich histories of the countries and regions that offer them.”

-Ralph Tavares, South American Council sponsor

The Modular Building Institute makes it easy to find highly qualified professional modular builders in South America that can partner with you on your construction project. MBI members, specifically the South America Modular Builders & Construction Companies, offer the services you need and will work alongside you from conception to post-construction to ensure your vision is executed just as you imagined. No matter the size, scale, or scope of your construction project, their experience and expertise will prove to be an invaluable asset. Search for contractors that serve your area here, and request estimates and other information you might need.

South American Council Directory

Featured Case Study

Hobe Relief Cabins

These modules, designed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide on-site respite to medical care workers, were created to be reusable, self-sanitizable, and safe.

Learn more about these award-winning 10-bed modules built by Tecno Fast S.A.

Why Work with Our Modular Builders in South America?

The Modular Building Institute is dedicated to putting you in touch with the best modular builders, manufacturers, and designers in South America to bring the level of experience and expertise your project needs. These builders, specifically the South America Modular Builders & Construction Companies, must demonstrate a consistent commitment to quality, integrity, and safety to become an MBI member, and they receive continuous training to ensure they are up to date with building codes in different countries and the latest industry developments. Additionally, all commercial modular construction professionals pledge to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity, promote safety and quality on every project, and treat suppliers, manufacturers, and vendors with the utmost professionalism when they become members.

MBI modular builders in South America are some of the industry’s best, and their knowledge and skills will aid your project in many ways. Here are just a few of the ways you can benefit from working with one of our members:

  • Sustainability: Modular buildings are already very eco-friendly because the buildings are often more energy efficient and less waste is produced. By working with one of our modular builders, your commercial construction project will be completed using processes that are better for the planet.
  • Faster construction: Our modular builders in South America have completed a wide variety of projects, and they’ll help you complete yours on a quicker timeline than you might expect. On average, modular construction is up to 50% faster than traditional construction methods.
  • Limitless design opportunities: Modular building provides virtually limitless design opportunities, so you can perfectly execute your vision without compromise.
  • Safety: According to the Dodge Smart Market Report on Modular Construction and Prefabrication, the construction industry has a reputation for its inherent hazards, including falling materials and working at dangerous heights. However, the report indicates that 89% of the respondents highlighted the safety advantages of modular construction. These benefits include reduced heavy lifting, decreased exposure to heights, and minimized risks associated with adverse weather conditions.

At the Modular Building Institute, we’re proud to say that our modular builders in South America, specifically the South America Modular Builders & Construction Companies, have been trusted by developers, contractors, engineers, architects, and property owners across the world. Explore our directory of members today.

International Modular Construction Articles

Supply and Demand: Solving Canada’s Housing Crisis One Relocatable Housing Unit at a Time

Not only do Moda Modular’s repurposed employee housing solutions cut the emissions related to construction down to nearly zero, but they also keep building materials that are often not biodegradable from slowly decaying in storage facilities.
It’s the classic environmental mantra of reduce, reuse, and recycle, scaled up and applied to building after building.

26 Stories in 5 Days – How BROAD Sustainable Building is Redefining the Speed of Modular

On January 7, 2024, BROAD Sustainable Building began assembling the new 26-story mixed-use Jindu Residential Tower. On January 11, just five days later, construction was completed.

For True Modular Building, Sustainability is Part of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

For Carel van Duuren, the 71-year-old CEO of True Modular Building, sustainability is more than just his legacy—he’s thinking about the future of society at large. How do you make things infinitely repeatable and simple? How can you make sure you’re contributing to the economy without adding extra waste or using increasingly precious resources? And how can you do this, and quickly?

Hage’s Badehotel — Case Study — Denmark

For this project, Forta PRO delivered 72 buildings, 144 modules, with 5,200 m2 of gross modular area. With final onsite completion in June 2023, it provides exceptional long-stay accommodation in a stunning and serene environment.

Unity Malmö – New Student Housing in Southern Sweden from Forta PRO

The city of Malmö in southern Sweden is set to welcome a new student housing project Unity Malmö, comprised of 5 building blocks, 450 micro-living apartments, where Forta PRO delivered 269 modules, total of 9,671.9 m2.

Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Solutions from DMDmodular

DMDmodular has recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing a relevant energy-efficient housing project, fully financed by EU funds, that tackles the industry’s most pressing challenges.

homeD: On a Mission to Improve Affordable Housing in Canada

homeD’s mission is to alleviate homelessness and in British Columbia and they’ve developed unique modular housing products to that end. The company also embraces a strong social justice ethic, providing solutions for marginalized communities who face housing challenges, and is aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Modular Hotel Room Prototype Shows Global Investors the Speed and Versatility of Modular Building

Forta PRO, a modular building manufacturer in Latvia, recently partnered with Marriott to create a modular hotel room based on their current design, Moxy. The two connected in Copenhagen in 2019, when Marriott expressed an interest in creating a mock-up to show investors the quality available through modular construction techniques. The stand-alone room is currently located in Frankfurt and is available for investors to visit.

PROMET: Providing Award-Winning Workforce Housing in Chile & Beyond

South America is a mining powerhouse, producing a substantial amount of the world’s silver, copper, tin, zinc, lithium, and nickel, and the mining industry requires a substantial amount of infrastructure to operate. That infrastructure includes workforce housing and office space that modular builders such as PROMET provide.

Turkish Manufacturer Has Long History of Responding to Disaster

On February 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southern and central Turkey, killing over 2,300 people and injuring 10,000 more. DORCE responded with the force of its huge production capacity, dedicating all their abilities to producing emergency houses for those displaced by the disaster with help from AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkish Republic).

Observations from My Travels to Ukraine

With over 2,300 damaged or destroyed schools, the potential for modular construction as part of the rebuilding effort is huge. In fact, mayors from several cities asked me about this exact issue when I visited in May. And, of course, the needs for medical clinics and housing are greater than ever.

Enthusiasm for Modular Construction Grows as Rebuilding Efforts Take Shape in Ukraine

Ralph Tavares is teaching an off-site construction course to help grow the industry.

European Company iQ Module Bets The Future on Shared Tech, Tools, and Partnerships

iQ Module—based out of Gdansk, Poland—has grown exponentially as a company, with offices in Germany and Denmark. The company has also embarked on an ongoing joint venture and partnership with Roger Krulak of FullStack Modular for projects in the U.S. and around the globe.

Brazilian Company Expands Modular’s Reach into Residential Market

That modular building hasn’t already gained more U.S. market share is a source of bewilderment to many. Though the technology has been around for more than 70 years, modular building in the U.S. has never gained as solid a foothold as it has in other societies. But it’s time may finally be here.

Stacking Up: How Vision Modular is Helping Take Modular Construction to New Heights

VMS’ latest modular project in London’s Canary Wharf, dubbed Marsh Wall, will sit among many of the city’s iconic, high-rise buildings.

Vertical Engineering: Inside the World’s Tallest Modular Building with MJH Structural Engineers’ Michael Hough

“101 George Street has moved modular into the realm of skyscrapers and is achieving recognition alongside some of the world’s most amazing new tall buildings,” says Michael Hough.

Designing for a Sustainable—and Modular—Future

A conversation with Stuart Cameron, Managing Director and MMC Lead at SCMS Associates/The HIve Group, about the current state of modular and offsite construction in the UK.

The Rapid Rise of Affordable Modular Housing in Canada

Canada’s Rapid Housing Initiative represents a huge success for the modular construction industry, and MBI members are building modular multifamily homes fast. Here are some examples.

Seeing the Potential for Modular Construction in Colombia

Founded in 1983, Constructora Bolivar specializes in the design, construction, project management, and sales of single family and multi-residential homes across the Colombian social strata. Now it’s laying the groundwork for the country’s modular construction industry.

Industrializing Modular Construction With Pop-Up Factories

Xavier Jaffray of France’s LECO describes his company’s use of pop-up factories to manufacture modular buildings where they’re needed.