Public sector construction projects are essential in a thriving society. These projects help build communities and increase equity, giving all citizens a path to pursue happiness as they see fit.
Unfortunately, these public sector projects often go over budget and miss their completion deadlines. Government agencies always intend to use tax dollars and other funding responsibly, but the realities of the current construction environment can undermine the best of intentions.
We’re experiencing a volatile market for materials, which can lead to budget overruns.
We’re experiencing supply chain issues, which can lengthen project timelines.
And we’re seeing a labor shortage, which can also lead to blown deadlines.
Thankfully, there’s a better way to approach public sector construction — a way that allows projects to move forward efficiently and without unexpected delays and cost overruns.
Meet expanded polystyrene, which has been around for decades but is growing in popularity as a building system for construction projects of all sorts — public sector included.
Continue reading to learn more about the specific benefits of expanded polystyrene, as well as the types of projects that expanded polystyrene is suitable for.
The Benefits of Choosing Expanded Polystyrene
There’s an alternative to traditional construction methods that allow governments to move forward with public sector projects at an accelerated pace. That alternative is expanded polystyrene panels.
We specialize in expanded polystyrene at Vero Building Systems. We manufacture the panels themselves, and then we provide construction firms with the equipment and training needed to quickly and affordably complete public sector projects that use expanded polystyrene panels.
When you opt for this alternative approach to public sector construction, you reap a series of benefits. Here’s a look at the three primary benefits of choosing expanded polystyrene for your next public sector project.
1. Speed to Completion
Public sector projects are conceived and initiated to bring value to communities and the citizens who live in them. The longer construction takes, the longer those communities and citizens have to wait to start realizing the benefits and related value. That’s just one of the many reasons why expanded polystyrene is an attractive alternative to traditional construction: project timelines move forward at an accelerated pace.
At Vero, we manufacture the expanded polystyrene panels, and then we deliver to job sites for assembly. We even lease the equipment needed to quickly assemble the components to create a strong, durable structure that serves as a community asset.
When you rely on traditional construction methods for public sector projects, you’re beholden to the labor and materials markets, which are highly volatile right now. You may find that your project is lacking the workers needed to stay on schedule, or that it’s difficult to find enough of the materials you need at an affordable price.
Our processes help you sidestep these common issues. The expanded polystyrene panels we use are manufactured in a controlled environment and then shipped to job sites for efficient assembly. As an added benefit, polystyrene panels can be used in tandem with more traditional building methods, too, if you’d like to use a hybrid approach to public sector construction.
No matter how you proceed with your project, incorporating expanded polystyrene makes everything go much faster and more predictably than when you choose traditional construction exclusively.
2. Affordability
Projects that use expanded polystyrene deliver up to 30% cost savings. That’s an incredible amount given how tight budgets are for public sector projects. Imagine how much more good can be done in a community if public sector projects can be completed at a much lower cost.
While expanded polystyrene building systems create savings, they also lead to the completion of strong and durable structures. There’s no sacrificing quality in exchange for affordability. Given that public sector buildings are meant to be community assets, the combination of quality and affordability means that government agencies are able to maximize the amount of good they are able to do on behalf of their constituents via public sector construction projects.
3. Energy Efficiency
There’s a growing emphasis on the energy-efficiency of public sector buildings, and expanded polystyrene can help your upcoming projects meet their efficiency targets. At Vero, our expanded polystyrene building systems use as much as 65% less energy than structures built using traditional systems.
In addition to energy-efficiency, expanded polystyrene is also an eco-friendly building system during construction. The panels are 100% recyclable and non-toxic. For those who live, work and otherwise spend time in structures completed with expanded polystyrene, the panels are self-extinguishing in case of fire and resistant to pests, humidity and mold.
What Can You Build With Expanded Polystyrene?
What kinds of community assets can be created through public sector projects? And what types of projects can be built using expanded polystyrene panels? Some of the most common public sector projects include:
- Schools: Schools for children of all ages are built using public funds. Schools constructed quickly and affordably are able to deliver more value to the communities where they are located.
- Hospitals and healthcare centers: Access to hospitals and other forms of healthcare is vital to thriving communities.
- Affordable housing: Subsidized housing for low-income citizens and families is also essential in communities of all sizes.
- Senior housing: Similarly, aging citizens need safe, affordable places to live where they have access to the unique services they need on a daily basis.
Government buildings: All governments — municipal, county, state and federal — require offices and meeting spaces. - Libraries: Thriving communities offer public libraries where citizens can check out materials and access information they need.
Recreation centers: Recreation centers exist to serve citizens of all ages. They also serve a key role in helping people connect and develop a greater sense of community.
All of the projects listed above can be completed using expanded polystyrene. Furthermore, expanded polystyrene is ideal for any project that is being constructed in a rural area. In many cases, it’s difficult to transport workers and materials to remote communities. Using expanded polystyrene and Vero’s construction processes, it’s easier than ever to quickly and affordably complete public sector buildings in difficult-to-reach areas.
Discover the Vero Building System (and its Impact on Public Sector Projects)
At Vero, we use the Vero Building System, which is a building system that uses modular expanded polystyrene panels that feature double-galvanized steel mesh. The Vero team manufactures these panels here in the United States, and then we transport them to job sites for efficient assembly. We also lease the equipment and provide the training needed for your teams to maximize their projects.
It’s time to say “goodbye” to cost overruns and blown project deadlines. When you choose Vero for the Vero Building System, you gain access to expanded polystyrene panels that:
- Help your projects move faster.
- Allow you to stay under budget.
- Create more energy-efficient structures.