2022.04.27 by Construction Innovation and Technology Application Centre
At the end of 2021, Chinachem Group announced applying concrete Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) technique to its residential collaboration with the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) on Tonkin Street, Cheung Sha Wan, making it the first MiC private residential project. Expecting to be completed in 2024, the 29-storey redevelopment project will also be the tallest MiC project with balconies in Hong Kong. MiC is an innovative construction method that allows modulars be assembled at factory and installed on site. The Construction Industry Council (CIC) sees this as a propelling force for the industry towards Construction Industry 2.0.
Cleaner, faster and safer construction
Among the numerous benefits of MiC, there can be significant reduction in carbon emissions, construction waste and noise. “We expect a 68% cut on construction waste, a 75% reduction in noise and a reduction in carbon emissions, thereby reducing the nuisance to the neighbouring communities,” said a Chinachem Group representative.
According to the main contractor Gammon Construction Limited, most of the processes were completed off-site in a factory environment, which is safer and more controlled than the traditional construction site. It enables more efficient quality control for the engineering and commissioning teams, resulting in higher-quality buildings. In fact, MiC allowed the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the design stage enabling a better coordination in the virtual environment to significantly reduce quality issues relating to construction inaccuracy.
In addition, the Tonkin Street project uses digitalised-MiC technology which reduces on-site manpower by about 70% – delivering better and more with less. “The project is fully digitalised from design through to construction stages, attaining a high level of accuracy and efficiency and saving a full year of design time,” said a representative from Ronald Lu & Partners, architect of the project.
CIC fully supports the industry to switch to MiC for mutual benefits
“MiC can significantly shorten the construction period while safeguarding construction safety. Buildings can be completed faster and sales can hence commence sooner, achieving a in-win situation for construction practitioners, developers and prospective buyers. As it completes, the Tonkin Street project is set to become a role model to the application of MiC in private residential projects, said Thomas HO, CIC Chairman.
Following the mid-term review of the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (the Fund) conducted late last year by the government and the CIC as the Fund’s implementation partner, enhancement measures will be launched to further support the industry to improve productivity and quality making use of innovative construction technologies.
As one of the technology adoption items, the Fund serves as an incentive to broader application of MiC among consultants and contractors. What’s more, the increase in concession of floor area to 10% for housing development projects adopting MiC might further stimulate the industry’s appetite for MiC.
We are looking forward to the positive change.