Questions to plan your building with SmartBrix
SmartBrix Construction is PEB Corp Group’s construction company and delivers turnkey projects in steel framing and modular construction. To assess a proposal, compare the complete building: its location, requirements, and contract scope. The price of the steel structure alone is not the price of a finished building.
Two systems, a clearly defined scope
Steel framing uses cold-formed steel (CFS) members for the structure. Modular construction organizes the project into prefabricated modules. The choice depends on building use, repeated spaces, site access, transport, finishes, and schedule.
What to prepare for comparable quotes
Prepare the location, use, area, number of floors, drawings, soil conditions, permit status, and target date. Ask for separate line items for engineering, approvals, foundations, structure, roof and facades, MEP systems, finishes, transport, erection, and taxes. Compare offers with matching inclusions and exclusions.
Frequently asked questions
What does SmartBrix build?
SmartBrix builds educational buildings, healthcare facilities, industrial buildings and warehouses, offices, camps, and housing, in steel framing or modular construction. The system is chosen for the building’s use, design, and site conditions.
Where does SmartBrix provide construction services?
SmartBrix builds in Colombia and Panama, from the group headquarters in Panama City and its office in Bogotá. It also accepts inquiries for projects in Central America and the Caribbean. Coverage, logistics, permits, and the involvement of local contractors are confirmed for each location.
What does a turnkey construction contract include?
A turnkey construction contract covers the work the parties expressly agree on, up to the defined handover. Ask for a responsibility matrix that shows who covers design, permits, foundations, structure, envelope, building systems, finishes, testing, and handover. A price per square meter does not automatically include every item.
How much does a steel framing building cost?
Cost depends on the country, city, area, geometry, number of floors, loads, soil conditions, envelope, building systems, and finishes. Each project requires its own quote. A published structural supply range for Panama is neither a turnkey price nor a price that automatically applies to Colombia.
How long does a project take?
Duration depends on scope. The schedule covers design, permits, site preparation, foundations, fabrication, transport, erection, building systems, and finishes, and several tasks can overlap. Ask for a schedule with a defined start, milestones, dependencies, and scope; the structural erection rate is not the same as the total building delivery time.
Are steel framing and modular construction the same?
No. Steel framing is a structural system of cold-formed steel profiles, while modular construction is a way to prefabricate and organize spaces into modules; the guide Steel framing vs. modular construction: how to choose compares schedules, permanence, and uses.
Who handles permits and structural calculations?
The proposal should assign responsibility for each approval and each design. Engineering is coordinated with PEB Corp and adapted to the codes that apply at the project location. The approvals and professional signatures required by the local authority are verified before the related work begins.
What should I check for a coastal or high-wind project?
Ask for the site-specific design criteria, anchorage and connection details, coating specifications, envelope requirements, and maintenance plan. A building’s resistance depends on the complete system and its design; it cannot be inferred from the material alone or from a wind speed published for another project.
Will the steel structure be visible in the completed building?
That depends on the architectural design. The system accepts different facades and finishes. Thermal insulation, acoustic performance, fire protection, and moisture control must also be specified. Confirm which assemblies and performance levels your proposal includes.
Where can I review completed projects?
See the SmartBrix projects section and the PEB Corp Group project case studies. Ask for references comparable in use, size, and location, with a description of the work delivered. One project’s metrics do not guarantee another project’s outcome.
Who manufactures the steel, and can I buy it separately?
NewCon Steel® is the group’s manufacturer and supplies profiles, panels, and structural kits. If you already have a contractor and only need the steel, contact NewCon Steel directly; if you need construction, contact SmartBrix.
Which documents should I request before signing?
Ask for the scope and exclusions, drawings and specifications, an itemized budget, the schedule, permit responsibilities, payment terms, warranties, and acceptance criteria. For any certification cited, request current copies that identify the holder and scope.