A look at the F2O POD, a modular office that provides a modernized, high-performance, next generation environment for project team members.

What is the Future Field Office initiative? 

The construction job site is getting an upgrade. Mortenson, a top-25 builder and developer in North America, has launched the Future Field Office initiative (F2O), a strategic project that aims to provide a modernized, high-performance, next generation environment for team members working in the field. The initiative includes facilities designed to increase collaboration and efficiency among project teams in an adaptable layout, designed and built by Mortenson. 

"The F2O initiative spawned from the observation that, as an industry, little has been done to innovate the jobsite work facilities in the past 50 years.” said Derek Cunz, President at Mortenson. "We want to create the best working environments for team members and our leadership identified the project office as a great place to start. The deployment of our initial F2O POD is an important milestone for our company, and we hope it sets a new standard for the industry." 

What is the F2O POD? 

The F2O POD is a modular “plan-of-day” or “POD” office that it designed and built by Mortenson. It is a 2-unit modular, scalable building with better lighting, acoustics, flooring, HVAC, furniture, and technology, which ships to projects in a complete package. The F2O POD was constructed by Mortenson union carpenters and local Minneapolis MEP trade partners. The F2O POD is deployed at the Meta RMN data center project site in Rosemount, MN. 

"We believe the F2O initiative will help to provide a safer, healthier, and more productive environment for our project team members, as well as enhance our collaboration, communication, and innovation," said Gene Hodge, Vice President of Innovation at Mortenson. "The F2O initiative reflects how serious Mortenson is about improving the workplace of our project team members, who are the backbone of our success." 

How is the F2O POD different from typical project office trailers?  

• The F2O POD is designed to optimize the health, safety, and well-being of its occupants, with an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) system, air quality remote monitoring, double-glazed Andersen Windows, ergonomic furniture, acoustic treatment, and is handicap accessible. 
• The POD is (2) 12’x28’ units making the total dimensions 24’x28’. Purpose built to fit on commonly available trailers in the market. Set with commonly available truck cranes without specialized rigging, making deployment anywhere as simple as possible. 
• The F2O POD arrives on the project site fully finished and enclosed, complete with assembled furniture and integrated technology, to minimize set-up time for project teams.  
• The F2O POD features integrated technology, such as ‘touch to join’ conferencing ability, prewired for Starlink Internet and smart locks, to enable collaboration and communication among project teams.
• The F2O POD is more environmentally friendly compared to typical project office trailers, utilizing high-R value continuous exterior insulation and thermally broken enclosure, which improves energy efficiency and thermal comfort. 

What is the purpose of the F2O POD? 

The first iteration of the F2O POD is being used to gather data on how to further improve the project office. Mortenson will use the feedback and input from the project team members using the F2O POD to refine and enhance the initiative moving forward. 

The F2O POD is branded with graphics that include a description of the initiative and a QR code that leads to a survey to gather feedback from project team members using the F2O POD. To learn more about the F2O initiative and see the F2O POD in action, visit Mortenson.com/FutureFieldOffice. 

"We believe the F2O initiative will help to provide a safer, healthier, and more productive environment for our project team members, as well as enhance our collaboration, communication, and innovation across the entire project team," said Gene Hodge, Vice President of Innovation at Mortenson. "The F2O initiative sets a new bar in workplace performance for our project team members, who are the backbone of our success." 

To learn more about the F2O initiative and see the F2O POD in action, visit Mortenson.com/FutureFieldOffice.