Precision, Speed, Innovation: The Cairn Way with Innovation and Digital Construction
Cairn is using various technologies to show the next generation the appeal of working in construction while also standardising more efficient house designs.
Cairn is a leading Irish developer, with projects across the country.
Cairn’s ambitions extend to leading the development of Seven Mills, a new town in the Clonburris Development Zone. This area, when finished, will be home to 23,000 people.
This level of high-profile development is only possible with a mature and scalable end-to-end operating platform. Luckily, Cairn has led others in the industry in embracing elements of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and other innovative methods to manifest the operating platform needed.
Cairn is closing the gap between how the industry builds and how it needs to build to create a town the size of Maynooth – not over centuries, but within a decade.
Beyond this, Cairn is harnessing the power of cutting-edge digital technologies to address two primary problems in the construction sector: a shortfall of trained workers, and a housing design and development process that doesn’t use standardisation for greater efficiency.
Jamie Gallagher, Development & Engagement Manager at Cairn, explains how Cairn is supporting promotion of careers in construction sector to address the significant shortfall in apprentices.
We had identified through our supply chain that ... enhanced learning opportunities would be hugely beneficial. Additionally, apprenticeships are not promoted as a viable career pathway, meaning low uptake rates.
Development & Engagement Manager at Cairn
This translated to Cairn working with the Laois & Offaly Education and Training Board to create a Mobile Training Centre. Technologies such as a replica electrical switchboard and a VR-based welding experience connects young people with the idea of taking up a trade, showcasing the expertise required for these roles in a more engaging way.
In Cairn, we look at our houses through a number of lenses. The first lens we look through is components ... And so our Component Library is the first element of our Digital Design Toolkit. The next element is our Digital Homes Library, with a range of standardised house models ... the final element is our Technical Design Library, which contains standardised drawings and technical guidance on how Cairn house should be designed and built. The Digital Design Tool Kit brings these elements together and equips them with high-level intelligence. This allows users to automate parts of design to drive consistent quality and efficiency in design outputs
Digital Construction Manager at Cairn
What does all of this mean for Cairn?
It enables the developer to keep ahead of the curve as a source of innovation, allowing them to pursue continuous improvement in the race between Ireland’s construction capacity and its construction needs.
Want to see more MMC success stories? Read our Industry Showcases.
