Institutional Construction

Rent Equipment for Your Next Institutional Construction Project

Boom Lift

Earthmoving Equipment

Forklift & Material Handling

Telehandler

Current State of the Institutional Construction Industry

Institutional construction refers to the construction of public buildings, such as hospitals, schools, and recreational centers. These structures are subject to stricter regulations than residential buildings. Also, they must be flexible enough to respond to the changing needs of their users and the emergence of new trends and technologies.

The Dodge Momentum Index showed that the institutional construction market grew by 8.2 percent month over month in February 2018. This Institutional sector has been gaining strength over the past few years because of an increase in the number of transportation terminals, healthcare facilities, schools, and recreational facilities constructed. According to ConstructConnect, institutional construction activities is expected to experience a growth rate of 4.3 percent in 2019, making it the third most promising sector in the construction industry.

An institutional construction project requires the expertise of architects, engineers, contractors, construction workers, carpenters, welders, electricians, plumbers, and other construction-related professionals. However, since institutional buildings can vary significantly in terms of function, structure, and design, many of these professionals need to have extensive experience and specialized knowledge in designing or constructing the particular type of structure.

Some of the latest trends impacting the institutional construction sector include the availability of new building materials, 3D printing, data-driven decision-making, and the concept-to-completion approach. While these advancements can help institutional builders increase productivity, reduce construction spending, and create higher-quality structures, they may pose new challenges, such as shortages of skilled workers, technology adaption, sustainability concerns, and compliance with new regulations.

Commonly Used Equipment in the Institutional Construction Industry

Institutional construction requires the same types of equipment as other forms of construction. However, depending on the function, components, and design of the structure, it may also involve the use of specialized equipment. The following is a list of equipment used in an institutional construction project.

• Excavator – An excavator is a machine that can perform an array of tasks on a construction site. It consists of a long arm with a large shovel, an undercarriage with wheels, and a rotating driver’s cabin. It is used for digging holes, trenches, and foundations, but it can also facilitate material handling, demolition, brush-cutting, and other tasks.
• Drum Roller – Also called a road roller, a drum roller is a large moving compactor that uses a circular wheel to crush and flatten objects. It has a variety of uses on a construction site, including creating flat surfaces for road paving, demolishing and flattening existing foundations, and compacting soil to build new foundations. A high-performance drum roller is an essential piece of equipment in the construction of institutional structures because such buildings require a strong foundation to support heavy loads. There are basically two types of drum rollers: single drum rollers and double drum rollers.
• Crane – A crane is a human-operated machine that uses a pulley and cable system to lift large and heavy objects vertically or horizontally on a construction site. It has a long mechanical arm and a lever for reducing the amount of force needed to accomplish moving and lifting tasks. Cranes are categorized as either fixed or mobile.
• Manlift – When constructing a multi-story institutional building, a manlift can be used to raise construction workers to elevated places that cannot be safely reached with a ladder. This equipment enables workers to perform tasks such as painting and installing signs and antennas on the outside of a building. Manlifts can have different platform sizes, weight capacities, and maximum heights.
• Pile Driver – A pile driver is used to drive piles or poles into the soil to strengthen the foundation of a building. It works by raising a weight and then releasing it to drive a pile into the ground. Pile drivers can come in many different forms, including diesel hammers, hydraulic hammers, vibratory pile drivers, and piling rigs. The need for a solid foundation in institutional construction makes it necessary for builders to have a powerful piledriver.
• Concrete Mixer – A concrete mixer homogenously mixes cement, sand, water, and other substances to form concrete or cement. This equipment comes in several sizes and forms to suit the needs of different construction projects, ranging from a small tip-up concrete mixer to a concrete transport truck that can mix concrete while moving. Institutional builders need to use a good concrete mixer that can produce a high-quality mix of reinforced concrete, which is a major structural material in an institutional building construction.

Benefits to the Institutional Construction Industry of Renting Construction Equipment

Since equipment requirements for institutional construction may vary considerably from one project to another, many builders find it financially sensible to rent instead of buying some of the equipment they need. For instance, it may not be worthwhile to purchase a manlift because many institutional buildings are low-rise. Renting enables builders to reduce their capital expenditures and invest their funds in other profitable opportunities.

Also, institutional buildings may have to undergo modifications to accommodate future technological changes. These modifications may require the most advanced construction equipment. Builders that buy their own equipment will be stuck with the same equipment, capabilities, and features for years. On the other hand, design-build firms that choose to rent will have access to the latest equipment and technologies, allowing them to remain competitive when construction equipment advances.

Among the other reasons why institutional builders should rent their construction equipment are the following:

• No depreciation cost
• Reduced maintenance and insurance costs
• Minimal transportation and storage issues
• Eligibility for tax deductions

Since they are meant to serve the public, an institutional building must be flawlessly constructed. They require higher-quality materials and workmanship than other types of construction. To ensure that your institutional construction project will meet the highest quality standards, you need to have the finest and most advanced construction equipment. Search our equipment to find the rentals you need for your next project.