Special feature — an interview with Dominic McAndrew, Director of Box on Box.
We have a special feature — an interview with Dominic McAndrew, Director of Box on Box. Dominic shares his perspectives on the state of the Irish construction industry, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities it faces. also have a special feature — an interview with Dominic McAndrew, Director of Box on Box. Dominic shares his perspectives on the state of the Irish construction industry, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities it faces.
Q: What products and services does your company offer and what role does it play within the Irish construction industry?
Dominic: Box on Box is Ireland’s first vertically integrated, one-stop-shop, for volumetric modular design and supply. We provide a complete professional services package, along with the supply agency of modules from our leading factory on the continent.
Q: What are the key trends in the market sectors in which the company operates and how is it responding?
Dominic: Widespread adoption of volumetric modular construction across the hotel, PBSA and residential sectors. We make it far easier and more convenient to utilise modular construction. Being architect-led, everything we do is quality-focused, and our fabrication partner can provide solutions that allow us to deliver buildings in excess of 15 storeys while generating significant cost and programme savings.
Q: What do you identify as the key strengths of the Irish construction industry?
Dominic: An abundance of small to medium-scale developers, all realising the potential of new technologies and ways of working as a means to help them unlock the possibilities of doing more, to a better standard, for less.
Q: What are the chief weaknesses of the Irish construction industry?
Dominic: A crippling fear of change!
Q: What do you regard as the main challenges facing the industry at present?
Dominic: Maintaining design quality within financial constraints. The compressing of margins post the events of 2020-2022 will continue to require clever solutions and out-of-the-box thinking.
Timescales around planning and fire certs are likely to continue to put projects under undue strain and affect the viability of a number of schemes.
Q: What are the solutions to these problems and what role will new technology play?
Dominic: Our modular system allows us to drive savings of around 30% while producing a building that is designed and built to a standard that meets or exceeds the prevailing standards of the moment. Our no-compromise modular approach guarantees buildings of quality, with a simple construction system that is designed to simplify FSC and BC(a)R scrutinisation.
Q: What do you see as the outlook for the Irish construction industry in 2024?
Dominic: The first half of the year is likely to be quiet with regard to the new build as clients look towards interest rate drops. Expect a pick up in Residential and Hotel developments thereafter, with commercial workplace schemes continuing to struggle with viability for the next 18 months+. Fit-out and deep retrofit will continue to be good performers throughout the year.
We appreciate Dominic’s openness in sharing his thoughts on both the industry and Box on Box. Stay tuned for more informative Q&A sessions and updates in the coming days.
