Digital Building Components (DBC) designed, fabricated, delivered and installed 288 prefabricated exterior wall panels with integrated windows for the Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Office Building (MOB). While the project was not a direct expansion, construction planning focused on minimizing disruption to ongoing hospital operations.
The prefabricated panel system accelerated the building’s dry‑in schedule and reduced on‑site trade activity, a critical benefit in a labor‑scarce market dependent on out‑of‑area contractors. Labor shortages and weather delays led DBC and general contractor Swinerton to adopt a hybrid delivery approach. Half of the panels were delivered as waterproof units, with final waterproofing and aluminum composite material installation completed on site. While the adjustment increased costs and duration, it maintained the required dry‑in schedule.
The Modesto project was among DBC’ first pre‑engineered medical office building templates to integrate multiple trades into a single panelized system. Portions of the work were executed under the company’s memorandum of understanding template, supporting cost certainty, design consistency and continuous improvement.
Rather than performing mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection layout in the field before stick‑framing exterior walls, the project team incorporated penetrations and attachment points directly into the panel design. This approach delivered a turnkey building envelope and shortened the overall construction schedule. Using Revit and Navisworks, DBC coordinated all trade penetrations and resolved a significant clash with structural steel. To avoid impacting the aluminum composite material finish, the team modified the panel framing to accommodate the steel while preserving the building’s exterior appearance.
