The developer Bruce C. Ratner is pursuing plans to erect the world's tallest prefabricated steel structure, a 34-story tower that would fulfill his obligation to start building affordable housing and cut costs at his Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, according to an article by Charles V. Bagli in today's edition of The New York Times.

"The prefabricated, or modular, method he would use, which is untested at that height," the article said, "could cut construction costs in half by saving time and requiring substantially fewer and cheaper workers. And the large number of buildings planned for the $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards - 16 in all, not including the Nets arena now under construction - could also make it economical for the company to run its own modular factory, where walls, ceilings, floors, plumbing and even bathrooms and kitchens could be installed in prefabricated steel-frame boxes."

The building, with about 400 apartments, would comprise more than 900 modules that would be hauled to Atlantic Yards, lifted into place by crane and bolted together at the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Dean Street, next to the arena. the article said.

Mr. Ratner's development company, Forest City Ratner, the article continued, adding that it has been investigating modular construction for a year, but has kept its plans secret. MaryAnne Gilmartin, executive vice president of Forest City Ratner, it added, confirmed Wednesday that the company was seriously considering the modular method, although, she added, no final decision had been made.

"Forest City hired Ove Arup & Partners, a prominent engineering firm, for the modular work, while SHoP Architects is working on designs for both types of buildings. The developer has also recently directed real estate brokers to scout for sites in Long Island City, Queens, that would be large enough to accommodate the modular factory," the article said.

"The company is interested in modular, high-rise construction in an urban setting," Ms. Gilmartin said, but the article added that "it would also infuriate the construction workers who were Mr. Ratner's most ardent supporters during years of stormy community meetings, where they drowned out neighborhood opponents with chants of, 'Jobs, jobs, jobs.'"

"This is something that could be of great consequence to the building trades," said Gary La Barbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, an umbrella group for the construction unions, the article said, adding that Mr. La Barbera added that "we have never been supportive of prefab buildings, for obvious reasons."

"After several years of delays," the article added, "Forest City is under considerable pressure because of the difficulty in obtaining financing for the building and the weak real estate market. Work on the arena began a year ago. The developer has delayed the start date for the 34-story building, the first of the 16 planned for Atlantic Yards, several times. He now says he hopes to begin by the end of the year. Under an agreement with the state, Forest City must begin excavation by May 2013, or pay up to $5 million in penalties for every year it falls behind."

"Affordable-housing advocates, who supported Atlantic Yards because at least 30 percent of the more than 6,000 apartments would be reserved for low-, moderate- and middle-income tenants," the article said, "have been pressuring the company to start building. But Rafael E. Cestero, the city's commissioner of housing preservation and development, who had already set aside $14 million to subsidize 150 units in the first building, declined Mr. Ratner's recent request for an additional $10 million in subsidies."

"Under current wage scales, the article noted, "union workers earn less in a factory than they do on-site. A carpenter earns $85 an hour in wages and benefits on-site, but only $35 an hour in a factory."