The 356,000 square-foot facility will increase VBC’s modular operations in major northeastern cities to further address the housing crisis in high-density urban settings
PHILADELPHIA, P.A (August 1, 2022) – Volumetric Building Companies (VBC), a global leader in the construction sector with a focus on building the future through volumetric modular techniques, today announced the acquisition of a Berwick, PA manufacturing facility that will help expand operations in the northeast United States.
The facility, which has been closed since 2017, features over 356,000 square feet of space that will become home to the production of VBC’s modules that can be shipped to and assembled in major northeastern U.S. cities. The building is outfitted to produce both wood and steel materials for projects between three and 30 stories, allowing VBC to further increase capabilities into cities with building codes requiring certain materials.
“Currently there is a critical need to increase housing availability in high-density urban areas where we’re seeing soaring rental prices and complaints of poor quality due to stop-and-go construction and supply chain issues during the pandemic,” said Vaughan Buckley, CEO of Volumetric Building Companies. “Our process mitigates these risks because we can construct precise units in a controlled setting, producing high-quality buildings at a faster rate that allows people to more quickly move in.”
VBC focuses on multifamily modular construction and has completed more than two dozen projects throughout the U.S. and U.K., from a 237-unit apartment building in Philadelphia and a development of Chalet-style townhomes and apartments in Colorado to three hotels in London.
“Our goal is to help address the growing housing crisis through offering a solution that is both faster and more cost effective than conventional construction,” said Buckley. “Our new presence in Berwick puts us within half a day’s drive to many major cities struggling with housing availability, from New York City and Boston to Washington D.C. We’re looking forward to producing affordable housing options as well as increasing hospitality in these areas while also being able to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Modular construction requires the operation of less machinery, and the new factory’s closer proximity to delivery sites translates to less emissions during the delivery process. In addition to the positive environmental impact, the acquisition is expected to create over 200 new jobs, with hiring already underway.
“This building has more than a 50-year history of producing wood and steel components, so we are in good shape to begin projects within the next few months,” said Sam Tikriti, chief operating officer. “Our focus is now on to identifying and hiring employees for a variety of roles so we can safely and effectively produce modules. This is an exciting opportunity to grow our team and create good paying jobs with competitive benefits for both skilled workers and those requiring training.”
The acquisition of the facility officially closed on Tuesday, May 3.
For more information about Volumetric Building Companies or to apply, please visit www.vbc.co. Follow along with the latest news on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
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About Volumetric Building Companies:
Volumetric Building Companies is a vertically integrated global volumetric modular construction leader headquartered in Philadelphia, PA with locations across the United States and Europe. Utilizing their technology-enabled design and engineering model, precision-driven manufacturing capabilities, and project-proven modular construction expertise, the company’s focus is on building the future by providing high quality, sustainably produced buildings in less time across varied market sectors. To learn more, visit www.vbc.co.
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