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Article Link: Marana business polishes modular construction’s old image

Patty Machelor did a phenomenal job captivating what we do at ESB Design+Build with her article, “Marana business polishes modular construction’s old image,” in the Arizona Daily Star. Here is a snippet:

A family-owned business in Marana has done more than move beyond simple modular construction: It’s done away with the term altogether.

ESB Design + Build — formerly ESB Modular Manufacturing — offers custom-built commercial structures ranging from single classrooms to three-story medical facilities and specialized military buildings. The decades-old business includes three generations of women and several members of their extended family.

“The way that modulars have evolved, it’s not just a portable little building anymore,” said Alan Johnson, an ESB foreman who has been with company since 1991. “These are all permanent buildings. We’re able to create a really nice product for people at a decent price.”

With an annual growth rate of about 7 percent, ESB uses its 44,000-square-foot facility at 11280 W. Adonis Road to construct buildings that are then moved on-site. At any given time, 32 to 50 people work full time for the company, including inmates from a nearby minimum-security prison.

A recent ratings report for the General Services Administration gave ESB a top rating for nonresidential construction and included a survey of 19 customers who all gave positive feedback for order accuracy, delivery and timeliness and product quality.