tallest prefabricated building

The tallest building constructed using pre-fabricated modules is 101 George Street, a 135-m (442-ft 10-inch) residential tower located in Croydon, UK. The building was topped out on 1 November 2019, when the 1,526th module was lifted into place, just 35 weeks after the first modules arrived on site.

The modules used in 101 George Street consist of a concrete floor slab with steel-framed walls and a ceiling over that. The modules are constructed off-site, and their interiors finished to a liveable standard before they arrive on-site. Modules have all wiring and plumbing already in place, and include units with fitted kitchens and bathrooms. Once on site, these modules are lifted into position, bolted together and their utilities hooked up to the rest of the building.

The buildings 1,526 modules, each around the size of a shipping container, give the tower a total floor area of 41,819 m² (450,136 sq ft) with 546 apartments and common areas.

Mini Sky City in Changsha, China, is often described as a modular construction, and at 207.8 m (682 ft) it is taller, however there are significant differences between the two buildings. It is common for steel-framed buildings to pre-fabricate sections of steelwork, particularly complex joints and braces. The design of Mini Sky City takes that existing practice and applies it to the whole frame. It is, however, a fundamentally conventional steel-framed building, albeit one made in a highly organized and systematic way. The only pre-finished module-like components are the floor panels, which come with basic wiring and plumbing built in. Interior walls and finishes are done on site in the traditional way.