Modular cladding panels for buildings and associated methods

A system for covering an external surface of a building, the system comprising:

• a plurality of cladding alignment features attached to the external surface of the building according to a predetermined pattern;
• and
• a plurality of cladding panels, each of the plurality of cladding panels comprising:
• a structural frame;
• a substrate attached to a first, external, surface of the structural frame;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners that are formed on a second, internal, surface of the structural frame, the plurality of fasteners being arranged according to the predetermined pattern, such that each of the plurality of fasteners is configured for alignment with one of the plurality of cladding alignment features;
• wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is configured for attachment to a corresponding one of the plurality of cladding alignment features.

A method of covering an external surface of a building, the method comprising:

• producing a plurality of cladding panels, each of the plurality of cladding panels comprising:
• a structural frame;
• a substrate attached to a first, external, surface of the structural frame;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners that are formed on a second, internal, surface of the structural frame, the plurality of fasteners being arranged according to a predetermined pattern;
• arranging a plurality of cladding alignment features on the external surface of the building according to the predetermined pattern;
• aligning each of the plurality of fasteners with a corresponding one of the plurality of cladding alignment features on the external surface of the building;
• and
• attaching each of the plurality of fasteners to the corresponding one of the plurality of cladding alignment features.

A building comprising:

• a plurality of modular units assembled together to form the building;
• a plurality of connectors affixed to exterior surfaces of each of the plurality of modular units, the plurality of connectors comprising a plurality of cladding alignment features, wherein the plurality of cladding alignment features are rigidly attached to and extend from an external surface of the building according to a predetermined pattern;
• and
• a plurality of cladding panels, each of the plurality of cladding panels comprising:
• a structural frame;
• a substrate attached to a first, external, surface of the structural frame;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners that are formed on a second, internal, surface of the structural frame, the plurality of fasteners being arranged according to the predetermined pattern, such that each of the plurality of fasteners is configured for alignment with one of the plurality of cladding alignment features;
• wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is configured for attachment to a corresponding one of the plurality of cladding alignment features;
• wherein each of the plurality of cladding panels is affixed to one or more of the plurality of modular units.