Satellite Shelters Inc.

Satellite Shelters, Inc. Announces Strategic Alliance Agreement with The Shaw Group, Inc.

satshelters — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:06:10 +0000

As of May 18th, 2010, Satellite Shelters, Inc. has been selected for a Strategic Alliance Agreement with The Shaw Group, Inc. This agreement will enhance the business relationship, already shared by the 2 companies, and make the ease of doing business between them even better. “An agreement like this, between our 2 companies, will raise our level of commitment and cooperation and allow us to share the unique strengths that each company brings to the market place”, said Suzann Robinson, Director of Strategic Accounts for Satellite. “Strategic Alliance Agreements help pave the way for companies to work closer together, providing quality products and better value for the end-user.”

Satellite Shelters, Inc. is a Veteran-Owned, Small Business. For over 35 years, they have been a national provider of temporary and permanent space solutions including Mobile Offices, Ground-Level Offices, Modular Buildings, Storage Containers, and Blast Resistant Modules. To view Satellite Shelters, Inc.’s entire product offering, please visit their website at www.satelliteco.com.

The Shaw Group, Inc. (NYSE:SHAW) is a leading global provider of engineering, construction, technology, fabrication, remediation, and support services for clients in the energy, chemicals, environmental, infrastructure, and emergency response industries. A Fortune 500 company with fiscal year 2009 annual revenues of $7.3 Billion, The Shaw Group, Inc. has approximately 28,000 employees around the world is the power industry leader according to Engineering News Record’s list of Top 500 Design Firms. For more information about The Shaw Group, Inc., please visit their website at www.shawgrp.com.

Contact
Suzann Robinson – Director of Strategic Accounts
Satellite Shelters, Inc.
Phone: (972) 393-2200
SuzannR@satelliteco.com

Satellite Shelters Awarded NJPA National Contract for Portable/Modular Space Solutions

satshelters — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:09:40 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – NJPA CONTRACT ANNOUNCEMENT
Staples, MN – May, 2010

An industry-leader in providing temporary and permanent Modular Space Solutions, Satellite Shelters, Inc. has been awarded the contract for “Portable/Modular Space Solutions” by the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA). The contract was approved on February 18th, 2010 and is available nationally to all NJPA Members.

Satellite Shelters is a national provider of permanent and relocatable modular buildings. If you have design/build needs, we have the knowledge and experience necessary to manage the entire construction process. With 16 branch locations across the nation with national service capabilities, we can provide you with quick, cost-effective space solutions to accommodate your needs.

“Satellite Shelters is very pleased to announce we have been selected to partner with NJPA”, said Marty Mullaney, President and CEO of Satellite Shelters, Inc. “This partnership will bring great value to our current and future government customers. By virtue of this alliance, we are now better positioned to serve the needs of our best customers with a much easier, streamlined purchasing process. Our customers will benefit tremendously by utilizing this public agency for their modular needs. We believe our proven experience combined with the reach of NJPA will result in a winning combination for our customers, NJPA, and Satellite Shelters.”

The NJPA contract enables government, education, and non-profit agencies a purchasing solution that satisfies most agencies’ competitive bid requirements. Buildings, grounds, and other groups now have access to industry-preferred equipment via a competitively bid contract.

National Contract #121709-SSI: “Portable/Modular Space Solutions” has been added to the competitively bid products and services available to National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) Contract Purchasing Members throughout the nation.

About Satellite Shelters, Inc.
Satellite Shelters, Inc. is a Veteran-Owned, Small Business company. For over 35 years, Satellite Shelters has been an industry-leader in providing temporary and permanent Modular Buildings. This includes, but is not limited to, classrooms, offices, daycare facilities, libraries, computer labs, cafeterias, press boxes, shower/locker rooms, restrooms, media rooms, dormitories, hospitals, clinics, and more. For more information, visit www.satelliteco.com.

About NJPA
The National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) is a Municipal Contracting government agency established through legal statute in 1978. NJPA serves over 30,000 members throughout the nation with competitively awarded purchasing solutions from industry-leading vendors. For more information, visit www.njpacoop.org.

Satellite Shelters Responds to Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

satshelters — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:42:36 +0000

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Could be Worst in History

– Far Surpassing the Exxon-Valdez Disaster

As 200,000+ gallons of oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico per day, tens of thousands of birds and other wildlife are being displaced from their natural homes and habitats.

Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal, has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana and has asked the federal government for 6,000+ National Guard troops. With thousands of animals and wildlife affected, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality), US Navy, US Coast Guard, and other environmental agencies are being called in for the clean-up.

Satellite Shelters can help you prepare before and recover after a disaster strikes. We’ll work with you to proactively manage and reduce vulnerabilities and down-time in the event of a crisis.

We have a fleet of buildings for temporary use that are available for immediate delivery! From 8’ wide to 20’ wide Mobile Offices to Multi-plex Modular Buildings for your Recovery Centers, we have the size offices you need to maintain the daily course of business. We even have 12 person bunk houses!

Satellite can also help with your permanent rebuilding efforts after the initial clean-up.

Did you know Satellite Shelters can also provide additional products and services?

If you need storage containers, portable restrooms, generators, first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, or other products and services, we can help with that too! We have a wide variety of additional products and services to help with your disaster clean-up & rebuilding efforts.

No one likes to think about disaster, but it is critical to be prepared. With a national network of resources, Satellite Shelters is prepared to help you immediately!

Find the nearest Satellite branch location

How To Save Money While Renting/Leasing a Mobile Office

satshelters — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:40:17 +0000

Avoid unexpected charges next time you’re renting or leasing a Mobile Office by following a few suggestions:

Use push pins to hang announcements, posters, messages, etc. on the walls.
- Using tape to hang messages will cause damage to the walls, which will cost you/your company money.
- Ask the company you’re renting/leasing from to provide you with a box of push pins to make sure you have the equipment you need to meet the requirements of posting special messages.
Use a plastic floor protector.
- Rolling chairs are frequently used at desks inside a Mobile Office. These chairs can cause extensive damage to the floor, often grinding the tiles down into the floor boards.
- At the time of your order, ask the company to provide you with a floor protector. There will likely be a nominal charge; however, this practice will save you money over the course of your project. You may even be able to purchase the floor protector outright. That way it’s yours to keep and bring with you to use on your next project/job-site.
Ask for assistance for on-site moves from the company you’re renting/leasing from.
- Avoid hitch damages or replacement by enlisting their services to move an office to another location on your job-site. Hitch damage and replacement can cost you/your company up to $2,000.00.
Purchase used steps instead of renting them.
- A set of used steps can cost anywhere from $450.00 to the equivalent of a 12 month Mobile Office lease. If cared for properly, your used steps can last a very long time and be used on many future job-sites and projects.
Purchase a used Mobile Office rather than renting one for a long-term or long distance project.
- Long-term / long distance projects = longer leases / larger freight bills
- If you have a long-term or long distance project, ask your Mobile Office provider what is available for purchase from their fleet. Use your money towards the purchase of a used Mobile Office rather than paying the company more freight to haul the trailer back and forth to/from their yard.
- At the end of your project, you can either keep the office for future projects or, many times, the Mobile Office provider can help you re-market it by providing you with names of companies or individuals that are looking to purchase a used office of their own.
Avoid damage waiver charges.
- Prior to delivery, Mobile Office providers may require that you provide them with an insurance certificate or sign-up for their damage waiver program. Many times, a damage waiver will automatically be added to your monthly invoice if you don’t have a certificate on file with them. Damage waivers typically cost anywhere from $30.00 – $180.00 per month, depending on the type of equipment you are renting.
Return all keys when you return the office.
- Most likely, the company will send all available sets of keys with the office.
- Why don’t Mobile Office providers keep an extra set of keys just in case?
  - Imagine the logistics of making hundreds of sets of keys in a year and then keeping track of them. This would end up costing you, the customer, more (made evident in rental rates) than just replacing the locks whenever necessary.
- Check with your provider for their requirements and return at least 1 set of keys per door with the office. Otherwise, a new lock will need to be installed, which could cost you/your company upwards of $50.00 per lock.
Order additional job-site products, other than offices, through your Mobile Office provider. This will save you time and money!
- You may be able to order all of your job-site products including security systems, portable toilets, hand-washing stations, holding tanks, storage containers, ramps, skirting, furniture, door & window bars, security window screens, vending machines, and more through the same company.
- Generating and processing just 1 purchase order can cost you/your company $150.00 or more.
- Instead:
  - Make 1 phone call to place the order for your items, generate 1 purchase order, then there’s 1 invoice to approve each month, and you make just 1 more phone call to return the items.
- Or:
  - You could order each item from a different company and at the end of the month be signing and approving 3, 4, maybe 10 purchase orders and invoices.

Now-a-days we’re all working with less resources and a leaner staff. Lean on your Mobile Office provider to provide you with all of the products you need for your construction job-site.

About the Author
Nikki Karnopp is a Sales Representative for Satellite Shelters, Inc. She has 9 years of experience in the Mobile Office and Modular Building industry. You can reach Nikki at 763-420-2001 or by email at NikkiK@satelliteco.com.

About Satellite Shelters, Inc.
For over 35 years, Satellite Shelters, Inc. has been a national provider of space solutions including Mobile Offices, Modular Buildings, Ground-Level Offices, Storage Containers, and Blast Resistant Modules. For more information, visit www.satelliteco.com or call 800-453-1299.

Increasing Deposits and Market Share With New Construction Method

satshelters — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:02:41 +0000

An axiom of marketing professionals believe that the first to market owns the market. That has never been truer for banks. Speed to market for a retail bank or branch location means as much as $1,000,000 per day in deposits and the potential for being the market leader in a geographic area.

In today’s market, convenience and service reign supreme. Choosing the right location is an important first step. When determining the viability of a site, traffic flow and surrounding demographics will play an important role in the vitality of a bank location. Drive through capabilities, ingress and egress to intersecting streets and proximity to shopping are important considerations.

There are a myriad of design and construction options available when considering a new facility. However, when speed is of the essence, permanent modular is the hands down winner. According to Keith Medford of Satellite Shelters, “Permanent modular will reduce cost by 20 – 35%. And time to occupancy is accelerated as well. Based on the complexity of the building and site work required, you can expect your institution to be up and running in 90 to 180 days.”

Faster construction time means greater market share, increased deposits, and quicker return on investment. Lowell Galloway, president of Vantage Bank in Alabama echoed the importance of speed to the market. “With all the mergers timing is of the essence. We needed to get open fast” said Galloway. Vantage Bank is using a triple wide modular building option. “The quality is great, we have all the space we need and our customers have been pleased with the new bank.” Galloway suggested that modular is a great solution especially when expanding branch locations. “Although the cost savings was not the primary reason for modular, it has saved us money. It’s been a great experience and very convenient” he said.

In many cases modular offers some tax advantages not found with conventional construction. Before deciding on your construction type be sure to consult your accountant or professional tax advisor. The chart below is for illustrative purposes only. Local material and labor cost vary from city to city.

-Building Type: Conventional
-Building Size: 3,000 sq ft ($165/sq ft)
-Building Cost: $494,000
-Construction Time: 9-12 Months

-Buildings Type: Modular
-Building Size: 3,000 sq ft ($107.25/sq ft)
-Building Cost: $321,750
-Construction Time: 3 Months

Modular gains speed over traditional construction as a result of factory construction. Various trades work simultaneously on and off site. Components are built-in a closed environment that is not weather dependent or affected by labor shortages. Sophisticated computer programs ensure precise measurement and material usage. Minimizing material waste and site debris is an important first step for green conscious building owners.

According to a September 2007 twenty-city index published by Engineering News Record (ENR), labor costs are becoming the major driver of construction industry inflation, which is up 3.7% for the year. ENR also reported that labor shortages in some markets are causing construction delays or in some cases halting the project altogether. Labor conditions do not affect modular construction as the building is constructed primarily off site in a controlled environment.

Another consideration for a building owner is the construction process. There are various options available. The two most common processes are 1) design, bid, build and 2) design-build.

The design, bid, build requires the building owner to contract with an architectural firm to design a building and prepare specifications documents. Once the documents are approved and completed the owner solicits bids from the various trades. The next step is the awarding of contracts and coordination of the construction process. Hiring a construction manager is an option for the owner but it is an additional cost.

The design-build process is vastly different. The building owner solicits bids from firms to provide all of the above services. The advantage for the owner is single source accountability and a not to exceed budget number. The design-build process also dramatically reduces the owner’s time commitment to the construction process.

Tony Kleyer AIA, an architect with Louis & Henry Group Architects in Louisville, KY says there are advantages to both. “In the design-build process single source responsibility is invaluable to the owner and the costs are clearly defined. With the design, bid, build process the architect works as an advocate for the owner. However, placing responsibility should something go wrong can be difficult.” More information about the design-build process can be found at the Design-Build Institutes website http://www.dbia.org/about/designbuild.

Traditional construction does provide a few architectural advantages although the gap is closing with advances in modular design. Tradition construction allows for a greater variety of ceiling heights and window detail. The differences beyond that are negligible.

Modular buildings like traditional buildings are often skinned with brick or siding to replicate the architectural detail of neighboring buildings. Gypsum interior walls, marble flooring, hipped roofs, covered drive through and entry porticos are all found in permanent modular construction.

Whether it is the speed of the Internet, customer response time or production process – speed is the tool that helps business capture market share. Using the speed of modular technology can mean the difference between an average performing location and a highly profitable location. The modular building institute (www.modular.org) is good resource for finding a modular building partner. An anonymous author once said, “There are no speed limits on the road to success”.

About the Author
Keith Medford, Vice President of Major Projects, is with Satellite Shelters, a national modular building and design / build firm. Keith has over 20 years experience in the design and construction industry. You can reach Keith at 770-529-0266 or KeithM@satelliteco.com.

About Satellite Shelters, Inc.
Satellite provides a wide range of space solutions for public and private enterprises including, mobile offices, modular buildings, blast resistant modules and design / build services. For more information, visit http://www.satelliteco.com or call 800-453-1299.

Responding to Changing Patient Needs with Modular Technology

satshelters — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:07:27 +0000

Hospital administrators and healthcare providers are facing unprecedented challenges in meeting changing demographic needs and profitability. One of the biggest challenges is the soaring number of baby boomers. They will be 78 million strong by 2029. Their expectations for healthcare are unlike any previous generation. They expect convenience, satellite locations, clean buildings and if it is green all the better. Joining this group are over one million injured war veterans from WW1 through the Persian Gulf War. The Iraq war has resulted in an additional 28,451 injured through 2007.

Medicare reimbursements have fallen below facility cost. The Medicare population is continuing to grow while commercial insurance is shrinking. Add in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 that significantly slows spending for Medicare and Medicaid. And you can see why administrators are in a full blown cardiac arrest. Delivering quality healthcare while preserving profit margins requires intense scrutiny in every department. From housekeeping to capital equipment every department is under the microscope. The facilities management department is no exception.

SERVICE EXPANSION

Meeting the needs of various demographics fueled a surge in new construction starts that reached an all time high of 109 million square feet in 2006. That peak according to Engineering News Record was 24% higher than what was reported at the start of the decade. “As profitability improved, major hospital chains began to undertake huge capital expansion programs, boosting construction activity. New technologies and the need to remain competitive have been key reasons for development initiatives.” Surgery centers, clinics, rural outreach locations, and diagnostic centers have seen a rapid rise in expansion to meet the demands of an aging population. For profit hospitals are not alone in this expansion. The renovation of older facilities and an increasing number of aging veterans has the government expanding at a record pace as well.

Rapid expansion this decade has given life to alternative forms of construction. Administrators, facilities managers and architects have turned to the modular building industry to meet both short-term and long-term demand for quality space.

FLEXIBILITY • EFFICIENCY • SPEED

One benefit of modular is flexibility. It can be adjusted to function more efficiently. It can be moved and it offers a myriad of interior design options. “Temporary modular buildings used in healthcare applications are designed and constructed to uncompromising standards of quality,” said John Hale, director of healthcare design and construction for Satellite Shelters, Inc. “The very nature of being modular allows the medical community to design and configure the buildings in a manner that best suits their needs.” Robert Hash, MD, Senior Associate Dean at Mercer University School of Medicine is currently using modular technology for the construction of science research labs for medical school faculty. “We needed space for the intermediate term (4 years) and a short window between approval for the project and start-up for the project (9 months)” said Hash. According to Hash there are many other applications within the medical community that modular is well suited.

Hash advises his colleagues to talk through the design process and the project needs with the modular builder. Seek cost and space effective alternatives to the needs of traditional build uses, i.e, think beyond “how we always do it”. Hash notes, “thinking about even simple things like wash tub basins, equipment positioning, common use areas will maximize the efficiency of the building and the overall design.”

The Veterans Administration has adopted the modular concept even with its conventional construction. The VA Hospital Building System (VAHBS) is an approach to the design and construction of large, multi-story hospital buildings based on the principles of systems integration. Key features of the VAHBS are modular design with integrated service zones for permanent and adaptable building subsystems. Building efficiency is key in any new building discussion. The definition of building cost efficiency is a moving target but there are several undisputable qualifiers that modular buildings bring to the conversation.

• They are easily sited near existing facilities thus minimizing travel time for healthcare providers.
• When sited on a campus, modular facilities are easily accessible by patients thus speeding the delivery of services.
• Modular offers flexible interior design that allows for easy supervision of patients by fewer staff
• Outpatient clinics offer speed to occupancy and cost efficiency

Speed to occupancy is another variable that helps drive revenue to the bottom line. Simultaneous manufacturing and site work often shortens the construction time frame over conventional construction. Reduced construction time can reduce financing and supervision cost. Bringing a new service on-line quickly or opening a new clinic in an underserved market is quantifiable in revenue gains. Add in the increased consumer brand recognition and it is easy to see how modular buildings can work for you.

ECO-FRIENDLY

Modular by its very nature is an excellent choice for the green conscious building owner. The eco-friendly benefits include:

• The entire modular building can be recycled
• Reduced on-site construction minimizes noise pollution
• Less vehicular traffic reduces green house gas emissions and fuel consumption
• Lower amount of building contaminates
• Manufacturing technology recycles the minimal building waste
• Life expectancy of modular is the same as conventional construction

Often times building users are unaware that they are in a modular building. The design and construction techniques enable architects and general contractors to design buildings that blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment. A case in point is the Oasis Family Health Center in Casa Grande, Arizona. This is a 3,000 square foot family medical facility with a large geriatric practice. Interior exams rooms and offices were configured in a U shape to enhance flow and centralize medical support services. The low maintenance exterior was designed to withstand the harsh desert conditions. Close attention to the natural and built environment resulted in architectural details that include parapets, pillars, bell towers and a stucco finish.

CONCLUSION

As the demographics and needs of the American population continue to evolve so to must the approaches to the construction of medical facilities. An excerpt from Building Economics: Theory and Practice accentuates the changing face of building construction today. “We no longer build buildings like we used to, nor do we pay for them in the same way. Buildings today are… life support systems, communication terminals, data manufacturing centers, and much more. They are incredibly expensive tools that must be constantly adjusted to function efficiently. The economics of building has become as complex as its design.” And modular construction technology is at the forefront of function and efficiency.

About The Author
John Tully Hale is the Medical Facilities Sales Manager for Satellite Shelters, Inc. He has over 25 years experience in the design and construction of medical facilities throughout the United States. You can reach John at 216.978.2312 or by e-mail at JohnH@satelliteco.com.

About Satellite Shelters, Inc.
Satellite provides a wide range of space solutions for public and private enterprises including, mobile offices, modular buildings, blast resistant modules and design-build services. For more information visit http://www.satelliteco.com or call 800.453.1299.