Industrial Construction - The Backbone of America's Economy

 Construction is a robust source of well-paying jobs for Americans. In addition, it generates a durable product that consumers need and value highly, while providing savers with an outlet for their investments.

Although construction in general is a very broad term, industrial construction is a category of its own. It focuses on heavy applications and equipment that requires unique solutions.

Warehouses and Distribution Centers

Warehouses are a crucial component of modern supply chains. The e-commerce business boom accelerated the need for fast turnaround on order fulfillment, which has driven up demand for storage space. Warehouse buildings come in many varieties, with each type tailored to a specific industry and its operational requirements.

General warehouses suit durable, nonsensitive goods such as furniture, machinery, and car parts. They typically feature basic construction that’s designed to withstand varying environmental conditions and large open spaces that maximize storage capacity. Climate-controlled warehouses are better suited to sensitive goods like food and pharmaceuticals. And automated warehouses are optimized for speed and accuracy by leveraging robotics and AI.

Regardless of their differences, all warehouse construction projects must adhere to strict building codes and regulations that prioritize safety and sustainability. This includes incorporating specialized systems for racking configurations, material handling equipment, and advanced security measures to safeguard inventory. Warehouses are increasingly being constructed closer to urban areas, as well, to keep up with consumer demands for speedy last-mile delivery.

Manufacturing Buildings

While they often go hand-in-hand, there are key differences between commercial construction and industrial construction. While commercial construction creates spaces that businesses operate in like offices, stores, private schools and hospitals, industrial projects focus on creating factories and warehouses that manufacture products.

Unlike commercial buildings, which prioritize aesthetics in their design, industrial construction focuses on functionality and efficiency. Typical designs feature open spaces to accommodate large machinery, and layouts that streamline workflow and production processes.

Industrial projects also require special infrastructure that supports heavy equipment, including three-phase power supplies and high-capacity systems to handle ventilation and exhaust. In addition, industrial construction sites are often large and dangerous, so implementing strict safety protocols and a safe work culture is essential. This requires strong project management to manage complex processes and ensure compliance with industry standards. With powerful Gantt charts and unlimited file storage, ProjectManager helps construction teams track budgets and schedules while keeping all project documentation in one place.

Power Plants

Often fueled by fossil fuels like coal or natural gas, power plants provide the electricity used in homes, schools, hospitals and businesses. They also play a significant role in the energy industry and support economic stability around the world.

Construction for new power plants usually starts years in advance, as energy companies anticipate demand for power capacity and select a site. GCs for these projects must communicate closely with energy companies to ensure all pipes are clearly labeled and that inputs and outputs are correctly connected.

In addition, power plants have strict safety protocols for workers and require extensive testing and inspections during the building process to make sure they are safe to operate. Some states have specific agencies that manage these projects and certify that they meet their own standards and regulations.

Oil Refineries

Refineries process crude oil into a wide range of petroleum products including gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and lubricants. The large-scale plants can typically process several hundred thousand barrels of crude oil daily.

These plants require a great deal of financial resources to construct and operate, making them expensive projects. A variety of factors can contribute to the total cost, such as location, size and the complexity of the refinery’s design and technology used. Government regulations and environmental standards can also affect construction costs.

In addition to providing direct employment opportunities, oil refineries generate revenue that benefits local communities through taxes. This revenue supports a variety of services and amenities, such as public works and educational facilities. Like other types of industrial construction workers, refinery workers face a variety of occupational hazards. These include explosions, fires and chemical releases that can cause severe injuries. These workers must wear protective equipment to minimize the risks of these hazards.