Modular building construction system

1 . A modular building construction system for fabricating a facility comprising:

a plurality of primary function modules, each primary function module configured to house equipment for a primary function;

at least one transition module configured to cooperate with at least two of the plurality of primary function modules in order to allow people to move from at least one of the primary function modules to at least one other of the primary function modules via the transition module, and

a support module configured to house equipment for supporting the primary function modules and the at least one transition modules,

wherein each primary function module includes multiple preassembled service modules mounted inside the primary function module, each one of said preassembled service modules includes a support framework, at least one of ventilation ducting, an electrical cable tray, and piping for supply of at least one fluid to the primary function module, and

wherein said ventilation ducting, said electrical cable tray, and said piping are preassembled into the preassembled service module and are configured such that said ventilation ducting, said electrical cable tray, and said piping of one of the service modules mounted in said primary function module can be connected to ventilation ducting, cable tray, and piping of an adjacent service module mounted in said primary function module.

2 . The modular building construction system of claim 1 , wherein each primary function module comprises a framework having a plurality of openings and which is configured to provided structural rigidity for the primary function module.

3 . The modular building construction system of claim 2 , wherein each primary function module further comprises panels which attach to the framework and are configured to occlude the openings in the framework.

4 . The modular building construction system of claim 3 , wherein the framework comprises lateral beams configured such that the preassembled service module is secured to the lateral beams such that it is suspended from the lateral beams.

5 . The modular building construction system of claim 1 , wherein the primary function modules are configured to be stacked one above the other.

6 . The modular building construction system of claim 1 , wherein each primary function module is a laboratory module.

7 . The modular building construction system of claim 1 , wherein the support module is plant room module configured to house plant machinery.

8 . The modular building construction system of claim 7 , wherein the plant machinery comprises a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

9 . The modular building construction system of claim 8 , wherein the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is a once-through heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system having heat recovery.

10 . The modular building construction system of claim 1 , wherein each module has a length not greater than 20 m, a width not greater than 5 m and a height not greater than 4.2 m.

11 . A facility comprising:

a plurality of primary function modules, each primary function module is configured to house equipment for a primary function;

at least one transition module connected with at least two of the plurality of primary function modules such that people are able to move from at least one of the primary function modules to at least one other of the primary function modules via the transition module, and

a support module configured to house equipment for supporting the primary function modules and the at least one transition modules,

wherein each primary function module includes multiple preassembled service modules mounted inside the primary function module, each one of said preassembled service modules includes a support framework, at least one of ventilation ducting, an electrical cable tray, and piping for supply of at least one fluid to the primary function module, and

wherein said ventilation ducting, said electrical cable tray, and said piping are preassembled into the preassembled service module and are configured such that said ventilation ducting, said electrical cable tray, and said piping of one of the service modules mounted in said primary function module can be connected to ventilation ducting, cable tray, and piping of an adjacent service module mounted in said primary function module.

12 . The facility of claim 11 , wherein the facility comprises:

a first floor having at least one primary function module, at least one transition module and at least one support module which houses equipment arranged to support the at least one primary function module and the at least one transition module, and

a second floor having at least one primary function module, at least one transition module and at least one support module which houses equipment arranged to support the at least one primary function module and the at least one transition module.

13 . The facility of claim 11 , wherein the preassembled service module is not greater than 6 m in length.

14 . A method of assembling a facility comprising the steps:

providing a plurality of primary function modules, each primary function module configured to house equipment for a primary function;

connecting at least one transition module with at least two of the plurality of primary function modules in order to allow people to move from at least one of the primary function modules to at least one other of the primary function modules via the transition module, and

connecting at least one support module configured to house equipment for supporting the primary function modules and the at least one transition modules to at least one of the primary function modules and/or the at least one transition module,

mounting multiple preassembled service modules inside each one of the primary function modules, said preassembled service module includes a support framework, at least one of ventilation ducting, an electrical cable tray, and piping for supply of at least one fluid to the primary function module, and

connecting said ventilation ducting, said electrical cable tray, and said piping of a service module mounted in said primary function module to ventilation ducting, cable tray, and piping of an adjacent service module mounted in said primary function module.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the primary function modules, the at least one transition module and the at least one support module is fabricated remotely from a site at which the facility is assembled, and subsequently transported to the site for assembly with the other of said primary function, transition and support modules.