Walk into any offsite construction event, from IBS to a regional builders’ association meeting, and you’ll hear it. Factory owners swapping stories over coffee, leaning on bar counters, or waiting in line for a shuttle bus. And like clockwork, advice flows freely—everything from how to solve labor shortages to why
For generations, $80,000 a year was the picture of middle-class comfort. Families earning it could buy a house in a decent neighborhood, drive a reliable car, pay the bills, and even set a little aside for vacations and college funds. It was the number that seemed to promise stability. But
If you’ve been around the building industry for more than five minutes, you’ve heard the word modular. It’s the golden child of construction right now—hailed as the solution to housing shortages, rising labor costs, and the need for speed. But here’s the problem: too many companies are calling themselves modular
In offsite construction, margins are measured with a microscope. Materials rise and fall in cost like the tides, labor shortages never seem to ease, and project delays chew through profits faster than a dull saw blade through plywood. And yet—despite all the hand-wringing over the economics of building—an astonishing 36%
Walk into a house built in the 1960s, 1970s, or even the 1990s, and you’ll feel the difference before you spot it. There’s a subtle draft around the windows, a little cold pocket by the front door, and if you hold your hand up to an electrical outlet on an
If you’ve ever talked to someone who built a modular home in Ontario, chances are you’ve heard you’ve ever talked to someone who built a modular home in Ontario, chances are you’ve heard the name Quality Homes. For decades, Quality Homes has been leading the charge, helping people rethink what’s
Designing and building a modular factory has never been more exciting—or more accessible. In fact, it seems like every month a new team of consultants pops up, ready to help bring someone’s offsite vision to life. These firms range from solo operators to full-service companies with slick presentations, clever branding,
Imagine walking by a demolition site and instead of seeing mountains of concrete rubble and twisted rebar destined for a landfill, you see workers delicately removing windows, carefully unbolting steel beams, and labeling wooden panels for future use. It sounds like a scene from a utopian future, but it’s happening
LG is already a household name—literally. But now the brand is on a mission to bring that same trust into the realm of modular homes with its clever Smart Cottage. Think of it as the ultimate synergy: your favorite ThinQ-enabled laundry paired with a roof that produces its own energy.
After nearly two decades writing about offsite construction and spending even more time in the trenches of the building industry, I’ve come to appreciate something simple but powerful:The best ideas don’t always come from the top. They often come from high schoolers, trade students, and college freshmen who see the
In a quiet corner of East Vancouver, something big is happening—on a tiny scale. A project from local developer Urban Homestead has set its sights on transforming the way cities think about density, affordability, and dignity in housing. At the heart of this initiative is a collection of charming, modern
In the heart of Rotterdam, a transformative vision is taking shape—one that reimagines urban living by embracing the city’s most abundant resource: water. Danish maritime architecture firm MAST, in collaboration with local contractor BIK bouw, has unveiled plans for Europe’s largest floating housing development in the Spoorweghaven district. This ambitious
After thirty years of walking into a modular factory, I ask myself the same question: Is this place truly a small business, or is it more like a hobby that just happens to produce a few homes? The answer isn’t always as obvious as it seems. Production volume, financial planning,
The hum of saws, the clatter of hammers, and the laughter of young voices filled the Whitbeck Construction Education Center in Gansevoort, New York this summer. What might sound like just another week in the life of a bustling construction shop was, in fact, something far more extraordinary: the Northeast
Imagine this: 42 sleek, modern micro‑homes quietly springing up in East Chattanooga—affordable, sustainable, and community‑centered. Welcome to Valentina Estates, the first project of its kind in Tennessee, spearheaded by none other than former pro basketball player Rashad Jones‑Jennings. A true hometown hero, he’s swapping arenas for architecture, and the results are stunning.
When you finish your morning espresso, the last thing on your mind is what happens to those spent coffee grounds. Most of us assume they vanish into the trash, destined for landfills. But what if that leftover caffeine kick could help build your next home or office building? Thanks to
When rising sea levels and intensifying hurricanes threaten to wash away our coastal dreams, Seasafe Homes stands as a powerful beacon of innovation. Based in Tampa Bay, Florida, Seasafe isn’t merely building homes — they’re creating a new standard of resilience, speed, and energy efficiency designed to thrive where others
In a quiet corner of Durham, North Carolina, a small team of engineers is quietly working on something that could reshape the future of homebuilding. The company is called BotBuilt, and their mission is simple—but far from easy: use AI-powered robotics to solve one of the biggest problems in construction
In the words of Peter Drucker, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence—it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Never has that statement rung more true than in the current crisis gripping housing markets across North America. We are living in a time of turbulence: high
The construction industry often resists change, but one startup is proving that with vision, engineering, and perseverance, the system can be reimagined—quite literally. San Leandro-based Reframe Systems just won the prestigious 2025 House Building Prize from the Centre for Natural Material Innovation at the University of Cambridge, recognizing their groundbreaking
CertainTeed stands out as a pioneer, especially with its innovative ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES™ (OPA™) system. This cutting-edge approach to building is redefining efficiency, quality, and sustainability in residential construction. photos – OPA™ system Understanding ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES™ Introduced in March 2023, the OPA™ system offers fully constructed wall, floor, ceiling,
Offsite construction as a segment of the homebuilding industry, often times suffers from a common bafflement, lack of an understanding coupled with an appreciation for Building Science. In a recent conversation with Mark Eckard,President of Restoration North he attempts to cut to the chase. Mark is a veteran builder as
Gary’s viewpoint is for informational purposes only…and a few chuckles! Starting a modular home factory is easy! All you need is a building, some equipment, a few workers, a design, a sales team, a delivery system, a set crew, a finishing crew… oh, and a small fortune. Simple, right? Today,
For centuries, builders have relied on natural ventilation to keep buildings cool and dry. Before the era of modern air conditioning, homes featured elevated roofs, ventilated attics, and airflow gaps behind exterior materials to regulate temperature and moisture. These passive cooling techniques not only enhanced comfort but also preserved the
Walk into any offsite construction event, from IBS to a regional builders’ association meeting, and you’ll hear it. Factory owners swapping stories over coffee, leaning
For generations, $80,000 a year was the picture of middle-class comfort. Families earning it could buy a house in a decent neighborhood, drive a reliable
If you’ve been around the building industry for more than five minutes, you’ve heard the word modular. It’s the golden child of construction right now—hailed
In offsite construction, margins are measured with a microscope. Materials rise and fall in cost like the tides, labor shortages never seem to ease, and
Walk into a house built in the 1960s, 1970s, or even the 1990s, and you’ll feel the difference before you spot it. There’s a subtle
If you’ve ever talked to someone who built a modular home in Ontario, chances are you’ve heard you’ve ever talked to someone who built a
Designing and building a modular factory has never been more exciting—or more accessible. In fact, it seems like every month a new team of consultants
Imagine walking by a demolition site and instead of seeing mountains of concrete rubble and twisted rebar destined for a landfill, you see workers delicately
LG is already a household name—literally. But now the brand is on a mission to bring that same trust into the realm of modular homes
After nearly two decades writing about offsite construction and spending even more time in the trenches of the building industry, I’ve come to appreciate something
In a quiet corner of East Vancouver, something big is happening—on a tiny scale. A project from local developer Urban Homestead has set its sights
In the heart of Rotterdam, a transformative vision is taking shape—one that reimagines urban living by embracing the city’s most abundant resource: water. Danish maritime
After thirty years of walking into a modular factory, I ask myself the same question: Is this place truly a small business, or is it
The hum of saws, the clatter of hammers, and the laughter of young voices filled the Whitbeck Construction Education Center in Gansevoort, New York this
Imagine this: 42 sleek, modern micro‑homes quietly springing up in East Chattanooga—affordable, sustainable, and community‑centered. Welcome to Valentina Estates, the first project of its kind in
When you finish your morning espresso, the last thing on your mind is what happens to those spent coffee grounds. Most of us assume they
When rising sea levels and intensifying hurricanes threaten to wash away our coastal dreams, Seasafe Homes stands as a powerful beacon of innovation. Based in
In a quiet corner of Durham, North Carolina, a small team of engineers is quietly working on something that could reshape the future of homebuilding.
In the words of Peter Drucker, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence—it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Never has
The construction industry often resists change, but one startup is proving that with vision, engineering, and perseverance, the system can be reimagined—quite literally. San Leandro-based
CertainTeed stands out as a pioneer, especially with its innovative ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES™ (OPA™) system. This cutting-edge approach to building is redefining efficiency, quality, and
Offsite construction as a segment of the homebuilding industry, often times suffers from a common bafflement, lack of an understanding coupled with an appreciation for
Gary’s viewpoint is for informational purposes only…and a few chuckles! Starting a modular home factory is easy! All you need is a building, some equipment,
For centuries, builders have relied on natural ventilation to keep buildings cool and dry. Before the era of modern air conditioning, homes featured elevated roofs,