Half of High School Graduates Needed for Trades To meet the demand for construction workers, about half of U.S. high school graduates would need to pursue the trades, according to a RAND report. With registered apprenticeships falling short and retirements outpacing new entrants, the labor gap is widening—but prefab offers a way forward: - Faster Training: Controlled shop environments make onboarding easier. - Tech Appeal: Prefab’s innovation attracts younger generations. = Scalable Skills: Standardized tasks build confidence for new workers. The labor shortage is a challenge, but it’s also a chance to modernize and transform the industry. 👉 https://bit.ly/3VIQ0hs #WorkforceDevelopment #ConstructionInnovation #Trades #Prefab #FutureOfConstruction
Building Swell
Construction
San Francisco, CA 1,107 followers
the modern execution system for prefab shops
About us
Building Swell is the prefab execution system for growing shop teams. We are transforming how prefab shops schedule work, empower teams, and increase capacity with modern technology for the next era of construction. We are a team of engineers, builders, and technology experts from construction and manufacturing. Building Swell is purpose-built for industrialized construction teams by a team that's been there.
- Website
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www.buildingswell.com
External link for Building Swell
- Industry
- Construction
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA
- Type
- Privately Held
- Specialties
- Prefab, Modular, Modern Methods of Construction, Lean Construction, Prefabrication, and Panlized
Locations
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Primary
San Francisco, CA 94114, US
Employees at Building Swell
Updates
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Empowered Team = Innovative Shop In prefab, the greatest innovations aren’t always in the tools we use but in the teams that drive them. 💡 Why Team Empowerment Matters Innovation is short-lived if you can’t continually improve—and there’s no path forward without skilled, motivated, and aligned teams. When shop teams are empowered, their insights uncover bottlenecks and drive lasting improvements. 🔧 Investing in Your People Empowerment starts with training, clear communication, and the right tools. For example: - Cross-training on tasks to improve flexibility and resilience. - Investing in tech that complements their work instead of complicating it. - Creating forums where team members can share ideas and innovate together. 🤝 A Culture of Collaboration In the most successful prefab shops, collaboration isn’t just encouraged—it’s the baseline. From problem-solving to optimizing processes, the best ideas often come from the shop floor. 🏆 Celebrate Wins Together Whether it’s meeting a tight schedule or solving a tricky build issue, celebrating team wins creates momentum for the next challenge. 👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/3ZTIbrB #TeamEmpowerment #Prefab #BuildingSwell #LeanManufacturing
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Prefab, meet nuclear Hyperscalers like Google and Amazon are betting big on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—modular, factory-built nuclear power units assembled on-site. It’s a natural fit. Data centers themselves built by heavily leveraging prefab construction: ✅ Modular Design: Repeatable components for fast deployment. ✅ Factory Precision: Built off-site to control quality and reduce risks. ✅ On-Site Efficiency: Plug-and-play systems keep timelines tight. Now, SMRs are unlocking new locations for data centers—far from traditional power generation. By bringing power generation closer, hyperscalers can build where they need to, not where power is available. Modular infrastructure + modular energy. Dive deeper: 🔗 https://nbcnews.to/41C5Az5 🔗 https://bit.ly/41U1Rx9
Amazon goes nuclear, plans to invest more than $500 million to develop small modular reactors
nbcnews.com
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🗼 Prefab and the Eiffel Tower🗼 Built in just 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days, the Eiffel Tower remains one of history's most impressive construction feats. But how did they move so quickly in 1887? 🔹 Prefab Made It Possible Over 18,000 iron parts were pre-made in workshops and labeled for assembly. Each piece was precision-engineered to fit like a giant puzzle. At the site, riveting teams put the pieces together like clockwork—minimizing delays and chaos. 🔹 Just-In-Time Thinking Parts were delivered as needed, keeping the site organized and workflows smooth. Sound familiar? It’s the same approach used in many prefab shops delivering data centers today. 🔹 Why It Matters The Eiffel Tower proves that prefabrication isn’t just about speed—it's about precision, efficiency, and vision. These principles are as relevant today as they were 135 years ago. The construction world has changed, but the goal is the same: build faster, smarter, and better. What other historic projects remind you of modern prefab innovations? Drop them below! 👇 #Prefabrication #EiffelTower #ConstructionHistory #BuildingSmarter #InnovationInConstruction
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🔑 Unlock Efficiency with Building Swell GPT: 3 Strategies for Prefab Shops Rush builds piling up? Half the team out sick? Whether you're dealing with material shortages or last-minute surprises, Building Swell GPT can help you brainstorm ways to stay on track—fast. If you're new to AI tools, here's how it works and how to get the most out of it for your shop. 📌 Frame Your Problem Clearly The more specific your question, the better the result. Include constraints, deadlines, or any other details that matter. Example: "We’ve run out of 2" conduit and our vendor won't have any more in until Wednesday. What can I do today, without the conduit, to stay on track?" 📌 Explore Trade-Offs When you’ve got multiple options, GPT can help you weigh the pros and cons, saving you time and guesswork. Example: "Should we add overtime or hire a temp worker? Show costs and impact on our current schedule." 📌 Ask for Step-by-Step Plans Big challenges are easier to tackle when broken into smaller tasks. GPT can create a detailed roadmap so you can act with confidence. Example: "How do we sequence welding, cutting, and assembly to maximize throughput?" 🎯 Ready to dive deeper? https://bit.ly/3D5N2Nw #PrefabEfficiency #SmartScheduling #BuildingSwellGPT
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🌐 Data centers aren’t just storage facilities—they’re powering our digital economy and creating opportunities for communities. Data centers have become economic engines that create thousands of jobs during construction and serve as critical infrastructure, enabling innovations in AI, cloud computing, and connectivity. As the global data center market skyrockets, prefab construction is pivotal to keep pace. 🌟 What’s your biggest challenge when taking on data center builds? #DataCenters #PrefabConstruction #TechInfrastructure #EconomicGrowth
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🏙️ Big News for Housing in NYC 🏙️ New York City is poised to legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) citywide—a move that could add 20,000 housing units across the city. For prefab construction, this is a massive opportunity to reshape urban housing with speed, affordability, and efficiency. Here’s why prefab is the perfect fit for ADUs: ✔️ Speed to Market: Prefab units are built off-site and installed quickly, reducing construction time. ✔️ Cost Efficiency: Scalable manufacturing keeps costs lower than traditional builds. ✔️ Smart Design: Compact, innovative designs maximize space in dense urban areas. With demand for affordable housing at an all-time high, prefab offers a solution that can transform how cities like NYC tackle their housing challenges. 🌟 Learn more and stay in the loop https://bit.ly/4gqiF2M #PrefabInnovation #ADUs #NYCHousing #AffordableHousing
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At an event in Raleigh last week, our CEO shared insights on prefab best practices for teams that never seem to build the same thing twice. Each project brings new puzzles to solve, but the drive for efficiency and precision remains constant. This sparked great conversations about tackling unpredictability while improving processes in prefab shops. Shoutout to the BuiltWorlds team for a wonderful event with so many talented minds shaping the future of construction. #PrefabInsights #IndustrializedConstruction
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It’s Tuesday, and you’ve got three rush builds to get out the door, each from different project foremen. Every build order is marked "ASAP," no one's paying overtime, and you're stuck trying to prioritize. Sound familiar? Leverage the Building Swell GPT to help you stay on track. Here are a few tips to make it work for you: 1️⃣ Ask Specific Questions Instead of asking, "How can I make my shop more efficient?", try: "I have three overlapping projects and limited capacity at my welding station. What’s the best way to sequence these tasks to stay on schedule?" The clearer your question, the more actionable the advice. 2️⃣ Provide Real Data Example: "Our welding station has 1 person and can process 2 medium build orders a day. We have another more junior welder who needs supervision, but we’re also struggling to cut a lot of steel before a rush of orders on Thursday." If you have real cycle time data, feed it into Building Swell GPT for even more tailored advice. 3️⃣ Iterate and Drill Down After your initial response, follow up with a more focused question like: "How can I sequence welding tasks so my junior welder works on less critical builds while the main welder handles rush jobs efficiently?" Ready to tackle scheduling chaos? Check out the Building GPT and our full guide here https://bit.ly/4eWciTD #PrefabEfficiency #ShopScheduling #BuildingSwellGPT
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We love seeing articles like this: https://bit.ly/49iYIIx What excites us most? The potential for innovation when we combine Gen Z's tech-savvy approach with decades of industry expertise. Success lies in mutual respect - understanding that while some tasks require traditional methods, others can benefit from fresh, digital-first solutions. . #Construction #Innovation #GenerationZ #Leadership #TechInConstruction #FutureOfWork Thoughts? How is your team bridging the gap? 🤝
What my generation brings to construction