Cambria Hotel in O’Fallon Completes Modular Set in 8 Days, Showcasing the Speed, Cost Savings and Quality of Offsite Hospitality Construction

Construction of the new Cambria Hotel O'Fallon reached a major milestone last week as the project team completed setting the hotel’s guest room modules in just 8 days. From podium to three stories in a matter of days, the 112-key upscale hotel demonstrates the speed, cost savings and quality advantages of off-site construction in hospitality development.

While this is the first Cambria Hotel in Missouri and the first commercial modular project in O’Fallon, it is not the first for developer Koucar and Choice Hotels, of which the Cambria is a premier brand. Having collaborated on other hospitality projects in other states, the team knew they wanted to replicate the success they had with offsite construction, but finding a partner that would deliver mods in the central US was a challenge. That’s where RISE Modular came in.

“RISE had experience with hospitality and from their portfolio of class A buildings, we knew the quality of their product would align with the Cambria brand,” said Geo Babu, Project Manager, Koucar. “They collaborated closely with us from the beginning, which was incredibly important as we coordinate the completion of the building with local subcontractors. Communication throughout the process has been excellent, and the product really speaks for itself.”

The project has utilized 73 modular units manufactured off-site at RISE Modular’s climate-controlled facility  in Owatonna, Minn. before being transported and installed in O’Fallon. These mods make up the entirety of the guest rooms. The first floor, built onsite, will feature a full-service restaurant and bar with outdoor seating, business center, flexible meeting spaces, indoor heated pool, all sports simulators and fitness center.

“We value the partnership with Koucar and the opportunity to support a quality brand like Cambria,” said Christian Lawrence, founder and CEO of RISE Modular. “Projects like this demonstrate how modular construction can deliver speed, cost control and a high-end guest experience without compromising expectations. Being centrally located in the Midwest allows us to efficiently serve projects across the central United States and beyond, and our team is committed to meeting the quality standards hospitality developers and brands expect.”

By building guest rooms off-site while site work progressed simultaneously, the project team was able to reduce the impact of record rainfall and challenging weather conditions that had affected construction after groundbreaking last year. Because the guest rooms were completed in RISE Modular’s controlled manufacturing environment before arriving on-site, the project experienced far less weather-related disruption than if traditionally constructed.

Like other RISE Modular projects, the Cambria Hotel’s guest rooms were customized to meet brand standards, with built-in furniture, fixtures and refined finishes integrated during manufacturing. The controlled manufacturing environment also allowed for greater cost control and consistency in construction quality compared to traditional site-built hospitality projects. Because modular units are engineered to withstand transportation and craning during installation, the wall assemblies are built to be stronger and more robust than conventional construction, which also enhances acoustic separation between rooms and corridors, contributing to a quieter, more comfortable guest experience for hotel guests.

The hotel is expected to open later this year. The project team also includes architect-of-record MGA Architects and Designers, Koucar is the developer and general contractor, and RISE Modular served as module manufacturer, transportation coordinator and on-site installation partner.