AMDC’s new modular building system targets 10,000 houses in 5 years
Determined to make impact in Nigeria’s housing market, Alpha Mead Development Company (AMDC), a young but very dynamic real estate investment and development firm, says it will deliver 10,000 homes in the next five years using its new building technology called formwork panels.
The new building technology is made up of metal objects that ensure strict quality control and increased housing delivery speed when compared to conventional building methods.
This new system, according to the company, has capacity to build one house every week.
In addition to this, the firm says it is also breaking new boundaries by dropping home ownership entry levels from a market average of N6 million to about N250, 000 a month without any down payment.
Damola Akindolire, the General Manager of AMDC, explained in an interview in Lagos that while the firm would officially unveil its flagship project of 112 family units in December 2015, it had the capacity to deliver 3,000 housing units and a land bank to support the delivery of 1,000 houses within the next 18 months.
“We are also building extra capacity to increase that to 10,000 units within the next five years,” Akindolire disclosed further, adding that his firm’s sole purpose as a business was to be the biggest provider of quality and affordable housing to middle income level professionals in the Nigerian real estate market by the year 2020.
He however, argued that rising urbanisation rate in Nigeria, which was ahead of other similar markets such as India, prompted his firm to invest hugely in the new technology.
According to him, the ability to use the forms over 2000 times helps his firm manage delivery costs to the benefit of their customers in terms of affordability.
He also argued that if the country was to effectively tackle its growing housing deficit, there was need for a paradigm shift away from traditional building systems.
“We must break away from conventional systems and be ready to adopt tried and tested building systems to increase the housing stock,” he said.
Developed by a recognized world leader in the formwork industry, the forms otherwise called wall-ties can achieve the ‘one house- every week’ ambition with the Cast-in-situ construction method, the General Manager explained.
“We are able to achieve this feat post foundation due to our method of construction which is a cast-in-situ system that would allow us set up the panels, along with the mechanical and electrical services, within three days using an average of six personnel.
The concrete pour takes place within a few hours and can be carried out within seven days,” he said, adding that that ensures customers get quality buildings with straight lines especially in an industry known for poor craftsmanship.
ODINAKA MBONU