WSP

Skip to content
WSP WSP
WSP WSP
  • Who We Are

    We are the sum of our collective passion, vision and expertise.

    Discover our people, purpose and stories that have helped shape the organization we are today and are inspiring the one we will become.

    Who We Are
    • What We Stand For
    • Our Story
    • Future Ready
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • U.S. Leadership
    Corporate Responsibility
    • Communities
    • Corporate Governance
    • Ethics and Integrity
    • Health and Safety
    • Inclusion and Diversity
    • Sustainability
    Featured Content
    We value - Square

    Can we help societies thrive in a world we do not…

    We believe that for societies to thrive, we must all hold ourselves accountable for tomorrow. That…

  • What We Do

    We shape the communities of tomorrow and help society thrive.

    With an intimate sense of local realities, we look at complex problems from different angles and deliver solutions that break paradigms.


    View All

    • Sectors
    • Services
    • Projects
    What We Do
    • Property and Buildings
    • Earth & Environment
    • Transportation
    • Water
    • Energy
    • Climate, Resilience & Sustainability
    • Federal Programs
    • Advisory
    Property and Buildings
    • Building Enclosures
    • Building Technology Systems
    • Built Ecology
    • Commercial
    • Commissioning
    • Healthcare
    • High-Rise
    • Hospitality
    • Lighting Design
    • MEP Engineering
    • Mission Critical Facilities
    • Residential
    • Science & Technology
    • Structural Engineering
    • Timber
    Earth & Environment
    • Acoustics, Vibration, Green House Gases and Air Quality
    • Archaelogy and Heritage Buildings
    • Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Management
    • Biodiversity and Nature Based Solutions
    • Contaminated Land and Soil Remediation
    • Environmental Due Diligence
    • Groundwater Plume Analytics®
    • Hydraulic and Hydrologic Analysis
    • Hydrogeology
    • Industrial and Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Natural Environment and Ecology
    • Oil and Gas
    • Waste Management and Landfill
    • Water
    Transportation
    • Alternative Delivery
    • Aviation
    • Highways and Bridges
    • Maritime
    • Mobility Operations
    • Program and Construction Management
    • Road Usage Charging
    • Transit and Rail
    • Tunnels
    Water
    • Asset Management
    • Biodiversity and Nature Based Solutions
    • Civil Works
    • Coastal Engineering
    • Drinking Water
    • Flood Control & Hydraulic Structures
    • Hydraulic & Hydrologic Analysis
    • Hydrogeology
    • Stormwater
    • Surface Water
    • Wastewater
    • Water & Wastewater Treatment
    • Water Conveyance Tunnels
    • Water Supply & Distribution
    Energy
    • Energy Services and Central Utility Plants
    • Energy Storage Facility Operations
    • Energy Surface Facilities
    • Hydropower and Dams
    • Power Generation and Delivery
    • Solar Energy
    • Storage and Disposal Wells
    • Underground Injection Control and Permitting
    • Underground Storage and Disposal
    • Wind Energy
    Climate, Resilience & Sustainability
    • Climate Resilient Infrastructure
    • Climate-Related Risks and Opportunities
    • Coastal Engineering
    • Logistics and Emergency Management
    • Resilience Planning and Strategy
    • Sustainability, Energy and Climate Change
    Federal Programs
    • Environment
    • Environmental Planning
    • Government
    • Logistics and Emergency Management
    • Operations and Maintenance
    • Overseas Integrated Development
    • Safety and Security Program
    • Science and Technology
    • Strategic Environmental Assessment
    • Urban and Community Planning
    Advisory
    • Alternative Delivery
    • Asset Management
    • Business Improvement
    • Economic and Market Analysis
    • Environmental Planning
    • Freight and Logistics
    • Planning Strategy and Grants
    • Policy and Research
    • Project Development and Finance
    • Technology and Innovation
    • Transportation Planning
    • Urban and Community Planning
    Featured Content
    thn-water-campaign2020a

    Surface Water: Into the Hydrosphere

    Water is perhaps our most essential resource — at once shaping and sustaining both the natural…

  • Insights

    Our global experts offer compelling insights that provide new perspectives.

    Read inspiring articles that challenge the status quo by reframing current issues, sparking fresh conversations and finding new solutions.

    View all
    Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
    Featured Content
    thn-covid-19-meritus-health-aerial

    Meritus Medical Creating Infectious Containment…

    Leach Wallace, a WSP Company, is part of a team acting swiftly to design and build one of the first…

  • Careers

    Help us shape the future

    Join a collaborative team of experts that thrives on complex challenges and unconventional thinking.

    See more
    Careers
    • Join Us
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why Choose WSP
    Featured Content
    thn-wsp-WSP-Ranked-7-ENR-500

    WSP Jumps to #7 in ENR’s 2020 Ranking of the Top…

    The firm ranked second for the "Top 100 Pure Designers."

  • Who We Are
    • What We Stand For
    • Our Story
    • Future Ready
    • Corporate Responsibility
      • Who We Are
      • Accountable for Tomorrow
        • Communities
        • Corporate Governance
        • Ethics and Integrity
        • Health and Safety
        • Inclusion and Diversity
        • Sustainability
    • U.S. Leadership
  • What We Do
    • Property and Buildings
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Building Enclosures
        • Building Technology Systems
        • Built Ecology
        • Commercial
        • Commissioning
        • Healthcare
        • High-Rise
        • Hospitality
        • Lighting Design
        • MEP Engineering
        • Mission Critical Facilities
        • Residential
        • Science & Technology
        • Structural Engineering
        • Timber
    • Earth & Environment
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Acoustics, Vibration, Green House Gases and Air Quality
        • Archaelogy and Heritage Buildings
        • Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Management
        • Biodiversity and Nature Based Solutions
        • Contaminated Land and Soil Remediation
        • Environmental Due Diligence
        • Groundwater Plume Analytics®
        • Hydraulic and Hydrologic Analysis
        • Hydrogeology
        • Industrial and Manufacturing
        • Mining
        • Natural Environment and Ecology
        • Oil and Gas
        • Waste Management and Landfill
        • Water
        • Water Risk Management
    • Transportation
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Alternative Delivery
        • Aviation
        • Highways and Bridges
        • Maritime
        • Mobility Operations
        • Program and Construction Management
        • Road Usage Charging
        • Transit and Rail
        • Tunnels
    • Water
      • What We Do
        • Asset Management
        • Biodiversity and Nature Based Solutions
        • Civil Works
        • Coastal Engineering
        • Drinking Water
        • Flood Control & Hydraulic Structures
        • Hydraulic & Hydrologic Analysis
        • Hydrogeology
        • Stormwater
        • Surface Water
        • Wastewater
        • Water & Wastewater Treatment
        • Water Conveyance Tunnels
        • Water Supply & Distribution
    • Energy
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Energy Services and Central Utility Plants
        • Energy Storage Facility Operations
        • Energy Surface Facilities
        • Hydropower and Dams
        • Power Generation and Delivery
        • Solar Energy
        • Storage and Disposal Wells
        • Underground Injection Control and Permitting
        • Underground Storage and Disposal
        • Wind Energy
    • Climate, Resilience & Sustainability
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Climate Resilient Infrastructure
        • Climate-Related Risks and Opportunities
        • Coastal Engineering
        • Logistics and Emergency Management
        • Resilience Planning and Strategy
        • Sustainability, Energy and Climate Change
    • Federal Programs
      • What We Do
        • Environment
        • Environmental Planning
        • Government
        • Logistics and Emergency Management
        • Operations and Maintenance
        • Overseas Integrated Development
        • Safety and Security Program
        • Science and Technology
        • Strategic Environmental Assessment
        • Urban and Community Planning
    • Advisory
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Alternative Delivery
        • Asset Management
        • Business Improvement
        • Economic and Market Analysis
        • Environmental Planning
        • Freight and Logistics
        • Planning Strategy and Grants
        • Policy and Research
        • Project Development and Finance
        • Technology and Innovation
        • Transportation Planning
        • Urban and Community Planning
  • Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Join Us
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why Choose WSP
Back

We are locally dedicated with international scale.

United States - English

International

  • Global
    English - Français

Americas

  • Brazil
    Português
  • Canada
    English - Français
  • Chile
    Español
  • Colombia
    Español
  • Mexico
    Español
  • Panama
    Español
  • Peru
    Español
  • United States
    English

Africa

  • South Africa
    English

Asia

  • China
    中文(简体) - English
  • Hong Kong
    English
  • India
    English
  • Malaysia
    English
  • Philippines
    English
  • Singapore
    English
  • South Korea
    한국어(대한민국) - English
  • Thailand
    English

Europe

  • Denmark
    Dansk
  • Finland
    Suomi
  • France
    Français
  • Germany
    Deutsch
  • Greenland
    English - Kalaallisut
  • Italy
    Italiano
  • Netherlands
    Nederlands
  • Norway
    Norsk
  • Poland
    Polski - English
  • Romania
    English
  • Spain
    Español
  • Sweden
    Svenska - English
  • Switzerland
    Deutsch - English
  • United Kingdom
    English

Middle East

  • Kuwait
    English
  • Oman
    English
  • Qatar
    English
  • Saudi Arabia
    English
  • United Arab Emirates
    English

Oceania

  • Australia
    English
  • New Zealand
    English
Worldwide Offices
    • Investors

      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Read more
      Investors
      • Corporate Governance
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
      • Stock Information
      • Shareholder Information
      • Presentations and Events
      Corporate Governance
      • Audit Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating Documents
      • Governance Documents
      • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
      • Mandates
      Reports & Filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information Circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR Filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock Information
      • Analyst Coverage
      Shareholder Information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • FAQ
      Featured Content
      Thn-Web-IR-2023-Q1-Results-new

      WSP's Q1 2023 Results

      We released our 2023 first quarter results on May 10, 2023 after market close.

    • Investors
      • Corporate Governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit Committee
          • Board of Directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating Documents
          • Governance Documents
          • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
          • Mandates
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information Circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR Filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock Information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst Coverage
      • Shareholder Information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and Events
    • Events
    • News
    • Contact us

      We are dedicated to our local communities and driven by global talent.

      Contact us to find out how our diversified offering, world-class expertise and geographical reach can assist you in achieving your vision.

      Contact Us

      Follow us

      Contact us
      • Request a Proposal
      • Send a Message
      • Find an Expert
      • Offices
      Featured Content
      bnr-future-ready-global

      Future Ready

      We know that our future world will be very different from today’s in many ways. Future Ready is our…

    • Investors

      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Read more
      Investors
      • Corporate Governance
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
      • Stock Information
      • Shareholder Information
      • Presentations and Events
      Corporate Governance
      • Audit Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating Documents
      • Governance Documents
      • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
      • Mandates
      Reports & Filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information Circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR Filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock Information
      • Analyst Coverage
      Shareholder Information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • FAQ
      Featured Content
      Thn-Web-IR-2023-Q1-Results-new

      WSP's Q1 2023 Results

      We released our 2023 first quarter results on May 10, 2023 after market close.

    • Investors
      • Corporate Governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit Committee
          • Board of Directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating Documents
          • Governance Documents
          • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
          • Mandates
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information Circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR Filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock Information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst Coverage
      • Shareholder Information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and Events
    • Events
    • News
    • Contact us
      • Request a Proposal
      • Send a Message
      • Find an Expert
      • Offices
  1. WSP
  2. Insights
  3. Five components of the modular future

Five Components of the Modular Future

Factory-built homes could make affordable, healthy city living possible for all, say Narada Golden and Chris Edmonds

Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Reading Time : 3 minutes

1. Modular housing addresses a range of urban problems

Modular construction sits at the intersection of so many prescient topics right now: from increasing urban density and development on brownfield sites, to the demand for healthy, sustainable and affordable housing, to the creation of safe and equitable green jobs. When the US Environmental Protection Agency asked WSP’s Built Ecology team to develop a strategy for affordable multifamily modular housing in the Bay Area, all of these came up in our research.

2. Families could become DIY developers

Modular could address the need for healthy and affordable housing in big cities, not just for the most needy but for everybody. It could allow families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to buy a home in New York City, for example, to become their own DIY developers. End-users could customize every aspect of their space by clicking through an online portal, and their new factory-built home could be added to a ten or 20-storey building. Modular could even displace the role of the architect or developer altogether.

3. It takes a developer who’s willing to embrace risk

Creative solutions are instrumental to navigating risks. Some people look at modular as a way to build higher-quality projects, some as an urban density strategy, and others to realize significant potential cost savings. But the promise of modular comes with some very real risks. Most developers are not set up to pursue this option because it requires “outside the box” financing and contracts and they are not able to navigate those risks. Developers with an appetite for imaginative solutions along with higher risk and reward are better suited for modular.

4. A collaborative design can be a more sustainable one

Modular requires an integrative design process. To succeed, project teams must collaborate from early on, and this becomes an opportunity to also integrate sustainability, health and resilience strategies into the project. Modular has other sustainability benefits. Because materials are bought at scale and a large part of the project is constructed in one place, waste can be drastically reduced. Tighter construction tolerances and more control over material sourcing can also lead to significant improvements in energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

5. It could mean a fairer deal for the workforce

Although factory-built projects will be disruptive for the construction workforce, modular has the potential to benefit employees and improve social equity. It offers better health and safety during construction and opens up the industry to non-traditional employees — in one factory in Phoenix, Arizona, women make up 40% of the workforce, compared to 9% in the wider industry.

Narada Golden is vice president and leads WSP’s Built Ecology team in New York City. Chris Edmonds is sustainability consultant on the Built Ecology team and led the EPA Affordable Modular Housing project

Article originally published on www.the-possible.com

Related Publications

Thn-Web-P_B-Profiles-Ahmad

May 2023 | 5 minutes

Shaped by structural engineering: an interview with Ahmad Rahimian

Blog
Places
thn-wgbc-report-summary

May 2023 | 3 minutes

Accelerating circularity in the built environment

Blog
Energy Transition , Decarbonization , Places
thn-manufacturing-led-approach

April 2023 | 5 minutes

21st century challenges call for modern methods of construction

Global
Blog
Places , Technology
thn-portfolio-decarbonization-whitepaper

March 2023 | 2 minutes

A structured methodology for planning commercial real estate portfolio decarbonization

White Paper
Decarbonization , Places
563x220 Sara

January 2023 | 5 minutes

What if we can... make cities car-free?

Australia
Feature
Places
bnr-ccri-climate-risk_coastal-bridge

December 2022 | 5:30 minutes

First Tool of Its Kind Is Improving Climate Resilience Evaluation for Infrastructure Investments

United States
Feature
Climate , Mobility , Places
thn-citizenm-hotel

October 2022 | 5:15 minutes

WSP USA Helps citizenM Develop Efficient Approaches to Affordable Luxury

United States
Feature
Places
thn-De-Guesselt-swimming-pool-c-Marcel-van-der-Burg

July 2022 | 6 minutes

The why & the how: Designing timber buildings for disassembly

Blog
Places
thn-logo2020-Web

July 2022 | 5 minutes

Five thoughts on heritage buildings versus net-zero

Feature
Decarbonization , Places
thn-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-highways-ev

July 2022 | 6:00 minutes

Exploring Opportunities in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Highways, Bridges and Electric Vehicles

United States
Feature
Mobility , Places , Resources
thn-mass-timber-high-rise-building

June 2022 | 7:00 minutes

Wood You Believe: Mass Timber Leading a Renaissance in Modern Construction

United States
Feature
Decarbonization , Places , Resources
thn-new-balance-track-panorama

June 2022 | 6:00 minutes

Creating a Lightning-Fast Experience for The Track at New Balance

United States
Feature
Places , Technology

Share this page

  • Share on Facebook - link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Linkedin - link will open a new tab
  • Share on Twitter - this link will open a new tab
  • Share on Skype - Warning, this link will open your Skype application.

Related themes and tags

  • Places (237)


  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  • Who We Are
  • What We Stand For
  • Our Story
  • Future Ready
  • U.S. Leadership
  • Our Offices
  • What We Do
  • Sectors
  • Services
  • Projects
  • Insights
  • Climate
  • Mobility
  • Places
  • Society
  • Resources
  • Technology
  • Careers
  • U.S. Job Opportunities
  • Apply Here
  • Supplier Registration Page will open in a new tab
  • FEMA Inspection Services Page will open in a new tab
  • Corporate
  • Sustainability
  • Health and Safety
  • Investors
  • Whistleblowing Service
  • News
  • Corporate Governance
  • Ethics and Integrity
    ©2023 WSP
    • The WSP Logo
    • Privacy Policy
    • Anti-Spam Commitment
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Use
    ©2023 WSP

    Exiting our Website

    You are about to leave WSP.com and are being redirected to a job opportunity at Louis Berger, which has been recently acquired by WSP in the US.