Hybrid Building Construction: Benefits for Residents

To professionals in the industry, hybrid building construction offers amazing benefits such as speed of construction, preliminary savings, and reduced onsite labor requirements and risk. A combination of concrete and steel delivers the best of both worlds.

The result is a quicker, safer, and more robust construction.

In terms of performance, speed, and economy, hybrid buildings simply make more sense. Not only is this unique type of structures far more efficient than building with steel or concrete but it’s also much better when it comes to quality, durability, and maintenance.

But is there something for residents too? Can homeowners and tenants count on benefits of their own? Our answer is yes.

Better Functionality & Improved Versatility

For construction designs that rely on bays and spans to ensure both structural integrity and flexibility, hybrid buildings are the right choice for at least two reasons. The use of metal in hybrid constructions increases the spanning capacity, while off-site building ensures better control.

When it comes to floor space design, conventionally framed structures cannot deliver the same level of flexibility, nor can concrete or wood. Hybrid metal, on the other hand, provides the end-user with greater customization options for floor plans, depths, and column locations.

sidents can enjoy unlimited flexibility when it comes to aesthetics as well. This type of construction is not restricted to a specific architectural style but boasts a wide range of textures, adornments, and building finishes. All hybrid buildings have the potential to be beautifully crafted.

Increased Efficiency, Reliability, & Durability

For similar reasons, hybrid metal buildings provide an ideal solution for architecturally and logistically complex projects. The main purpose of this construction technique is to unlock optimum efficiency by leveraging the best traits of individual materials such as concrete and metal.

But hybrid construction sometimes uses glass, wood, brick, and other materials to achieve a winning combination. For residents, this means increased reliability and durability. Wood and light-gauge steel can be used for tilt-up walls, ensuring both aesthetics and functionality.

Tilt-up concrete is also known for being very safe and easy to maintain. It offers sturdy fire resistance, ensures good acoustic insulation, remains impervious to rodent and insect infestation, and requires no additional maintenance other than periodic cleaning and repainting.

Reduced Maintenance & Operating Costs

Cost-efficiency is one of the greatest advantages of building with components made of different materials. Sometimes, though not always, reduced construction costs translate to lower housing price and rent. In either case, residents will enjoy reduced maintenance costs.

We’ve already mentioned how concrete requires little to no maintenance and defies the elements for decades. Many concrete buildings built in the 1940s are still fully functional today, with no noticeable signs of decay. Physical damages are mostly localized and easy to repair.

The ability to withstand severe weather conditions also means that hybrid buildings typically come with better insurance rates. But most importantly, concrete provides excellent insulation, amounting to significantly lower ongoing cooling and heating costs for all residents.

Sustainability & Environmental Impact

Most hybrid constructions are pre-made in controlled environments and shipped to the location, which reduces the amount of waste typically produced on constructionsites. For environmentally conscious residents, this is an important benefit.

As one of the most often used materials in hybrid buildings, steel contributes to the sustainability of these constructions as well. Not only can it be recycled at the end of its lifespan but it’s also made from recycled materials in the first place. Steel is the world’s most recycled product.

With or without steel, hybrid constructions are always made from a combination of energy-efficient materials, as this ensures lower operational costs.

Hybrid building construction allows the architect to mix different materials and take advantage of their best attributes. This inevitably leads to optimum functionality, better performance, economics, versatile aesthetics, safety, and overall resident satiSFaction. Focus is a firm believer in hybrid construction tactics. Reach out to us today to find out more about our practices!