Keeping Complex Projects on Track with Modular E-Houses
On fast-moving, expansive industrial projects, electrical infrastructure can become a critical-path item. For one client, ensuring reliable, high-quality electrical rooms while maintaining schedule discipline was a key priority on a recent series of projects. To meet that need, Interstates partnered with them to design, fabricate, and deliver four modular e-houses that supported both project execution and long-term facility performance.
Meeting Schedule Demands Through Modular Design
The modular e-houses were fabricated and integrated at Interstates’ manufacturing facility in Topeka, KS, and delivered as complete, tested units. According to Jesse De Boom, Design Manager at Interstates, the client’s goal was clear. “They were looking for top-quality modular e-houses delivered within a reasonable timeframe,” De Boom says. “They had experienced challenges with another vendor, and they needed a partner that could execute efficiently once the project requirements were defined.”
As the client’s facility scope expanded, the original plan to build electric rooms within the main structure changed. Modular construction allowed the project team to move forward without delaying overall construction activities. “By choosing modular, the client was able to continue with facility construction while we completed the e-houses in parallel,” De Boom explains. “That flexibility was a major advantage.”
Reducing On-Site Risk and Improving Efficiency
From a site perspective, the modular approach reduced congestion and safety concerns. Dan Morris, Project Manager at Interstates, noted that off-site fabrication helped the broader project maintain momentum. “Modular construction allowed the on-site team to focus on essential infrastructure while fabrication and integration took place in a controlled environment,” Morris says. “That supported better schedule management, reduced cost exposure, and lowered overall project risk.” Testing each e-house before shipment also minimized commissioning time once the units arrived on-site, helping the project progress more smoothly.
Beyond schedule benefits, the e-houses were designed with long-term operations in mind. “These e-houses are elevated, which makes future additions or changes easier and safer,” De Boom says. “It eliminates the need for trenching or boring under a building, which can be time-consuming and disruptive.” Morris added that the e-houses were built to local code requirements and environmental standards, with sufficient space to support future growth if needed.
Electrical Expertise That Adds Value
Interstates’ electrical expertise was a key differentiator throughout design and execution. Morris emphasized the value of a fully integrated approach. “Interstates provided a complete, turnkey service, starting early in design and continuing through fabrication and integration,” he says.
That expertise also helped resolve technical challenges as they arose. In one instance, the team identified that an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and battery rack were not a single integrated unit, as initially assumed. “We caught that early and developed a solution to ensure proper installation and connections,” De Boom says.
Collaboration Drives Project Success
Collaboration among Interstates, the client, and distributor partner Kirby Risk Electrical Supply further contributed to project success. Open communication enabled timely decisions and fostered trust. “We were able to have open, frank conversations about changes,” De Boom says. “That relationship has proven successful beyond this project, with the client bringing us additional opportunities.”
Reflecting on the projects, Stan Spaulding, Manufacturing Technical Sales Engineer, highlighted the importance of early involvement. “Modular e-houses are most effective when we are engaged early in budgeting and pre-design,” he says. “That allows us to optimize the solution and deliver the greatest value.”
For the client, the modular e-houses supported major milestones while reducing schedule pressure. Together, these projects demonstrate how modular solutions, combined with deep electrical expertise and strong collaboration, can help deliver complex facilities more confidently and efficiently.
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