Appleton, Wisconsin-based contractor Boldt has launched a new modular construction service through its offshoot, Bildt, which manufactures modular buildings and slide-in room and bathroom pods for sectors including healthcare, industrial, education, and commercial. Bildt sets itself apart by not only producing these modular products but also offering installation services, making it one of the few manufacturers to provide such a comprehensive offering.
Fabrication of the modular units takes place in Bildt’s off-site facility in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Once the units are ready, the company coordinates construction activities with the project’s general contractor or construction manager or deploys its own field execution teams. This streamlined process aims to reduce construction time and costs, making modular solutions an attractive option for facility owners and developers.
Bildt’s creation stems from increased demand for faster construction methods, driven by facility owners, general contractors, and architects who seek to reduce project timelines and costs. Ben Bruns, Bildt’s vice president of modular, explained that the company’s innovative, customizable modular products can cut construction times in half, allowing building owners to occupy their properties months sooner than traditional methods would allow. The company manufactures not only permanent modular units but also prefabricated components like headwalls, exterior wall panels, steel studs, and interior framing assemblies, all tailored to specific project requirements.
Modular construction has garnered growing attention over the past five years, despite challenges in widespread adoption. The collapse of modular unicorn Katerra and ongoing barriers in the industry have tempered the excitement, though companies like Webcor are still investing in the space. Boldt’s experience with modular construction, which dates back to the 1980s, has proven beneficial, particularly during the pandemic when hospitals required quick, efficient space additions.
Boldt’s modular business has grown substantially since the pandemic, benefiting from a strong understanding of customer and industry needs, as highlighted by Melanie Taylor, Bildt’s vice president of manufacturing. The company aims to leverage this expertise to meet the increasing demand for faster, cost-effective construction solutions through modular technology.
