MAC ZERO: HELPING CLIENTS MOVE TO ZERO

Órla McAvoy-Corr and Conor McAvoy have a long history in modular construction, with both siblings previously Directors in their family business, the McAvoy Group. Since June 2021, Órla and Conor have been building a new breed of modular construction company with the establishment of Mac Zero Modular Buildings. Following a successful first year in business, Business Eye sat down with Órla and Conor to hear more about Mac Zero and the benefits of modular construction.

Congratulations on the new business Órla and Conor. How are things going?

Conor: We prepared ourselves to grow Mac Zero at a slow and steady pace as this was a new business that required a new base, new machinery and a new team. But our plans were soon side-tracked with orders coming in almost as soon as we opened for business, and we had to fast-track our growth plans quickly. In just 15 months, we’re now at 16 people, and have invested £500,000 into the refurbishment and extension of our manufacturing site, purchasing of new machinery, acquiring new vehicles, creating and developing the Mac Zero brand and the installing of a new IT system to support the growing business.

Órla: In addition to the goodwill and referrals from our associates in the industry, we have also secured several significant contracts within the education sector in Ireland which generate a solid pipeline of projects over the next few years. This has catapulted our growth, and we’re now set to double our growth projections in 2023.

You’ve been in the industry for a long time. What makes Mac Zero Modular Buildings different?

Órla: We’re building a business that’s agile, flexible in its approach and one that’s renowned for being close to the client, understanding their needs and delivering exceptional service.

Conor: When my father first set up McAvoy, outside Dungannon 50 years ago, the business was special. The enormous potential for modular construction was still relatively unknown, but as awareness grew and the benefits and adaptability of modular buildings became clear, our family business grew exponentially. We’ve returned to our roots on the Derryvale Road, Coalisland, and our team has been carefully assembled with some of the most skilled workers in modular construction joining Mac Zero. We’re a business that’s committed to delivering innovation, value and flexibility, especially in the provision of NZEB (nearly zero) buildings through solutioncentric modular construction.

Our goal is to become active in all aspects of construction where modular buildings are the solution, offering modular buildings for both sale and hire.

Órla: Both Conor and I have worked in modular construction for the majority of our careers and we’re passionate about the industry and continuing to promote it as a credible alternative to traditional construction. We feel a responsibility to take a leadership role on this and be actively involved, therefore, as Mac Zero, we have just became a founding partner of MMC Ireland (Modern Methods of Construction in Ireland) - an organisation which is committed to developing and promoting Ireland’s MMC sector, nationally and internationally. In conjunction with designers, installers and other manufacturers from the MMC sector, we have joined the representative body to lend our voice to promoting and educating stakeholders on the sustainable and efficient benefits of modular construction.

Tell us about some of your recent projects.

Conor: We deliver modular building solutions, including design, manufacturing, groundworks and installation, which is often why our offering is well matched to the education sector, health sector, and commercial and industrial businesses’ requirements. We manufacture offsite so the potential for disruption is reduced and we can reach NZEB requirements for new buildings.

Two of our most recent projects have been in Cavan and Monaghan for colleges. Inver College in Carrickmacross is a mixed vocational post primary school that we built and installed an 825sqm, two storey, low carbon building expansion. Designed with a blend of cedar-clad alongside an aluminium façade, the extension blends seamless into the existing site and has achieved EPC ratings of A for energy usage.

In Curragho, Co. Cavan, Breifne College is our latest school to embark on a Move to Zero. Almost completed, we have just delivered this 1,400sqm, two storey building from our production facilities to site this month for the final stages of the construction programme. When completed, the nZEB (nearly Zero Energy Building) building, which will house multiple classrooms, will deliver an EPC rating of A for energy usage.

Closer to home, we have also delivered modular, high spec offices for local companies and we’ve recently installed a new office building at Air Ambulance NI’s base outside Lisburn.

Why should businesses or organisations consider modular construction?

Orla: Modular buildings are made up of separate sections, constructed offsite and then delivered to site for assembly. They offer flexibility, minimal disruption and can often be a quick and more cost efficient that traditional building methods.

As technology has progressed and awareness of the immense capabilities of modular construction has been explored, the focus has shifted to the role that modular construction is playing in delivering Net Zero Buildings. A building’s performance starts in the planning, with good design critical.

Sustainability is at the core of design for manufacture of Modular Buildings. The materials that are used in modular structures are often created from recycled materials, and in turn can be recycled after use. Modular buildings go a long way to minimising the carbon footprint too with 67% less energy used in creating a modular build versus its equivalent traditional build.

In addition to the benefits of less disruption on-site, increased safety and turnaround times, the confidence of high-grade, factory-controlled production and installation provides a greater degree of certainty with regards to the unit’s thermal performance.

This is helping modular buildings to be at the forefront of new developments as we’re providing timely and exceptional nearly zero (nZEB) buildings.

Mac Zero’s name is reflective of the business’s values - striving for zero accidents, zero defects, zero delays, zero carbon footprint and zero waste.