Sometimes the smartest startup begins with something already working. Whenever the idea of starting a modular home factory becomes the mission, I’m always surprised by how few startup principals seriously consider buying an operating factory instead of building a new one from scratch. Most startup teams arrive with a vision
Starting a new offsite construction factory is exciting. Maybe too exciting. There is something powerful about standing in an empty building, looking at a set of plans, and imagining production lines, finished modules rolling out the door, builders calling for more homes, and a company that finally solves the housing
A Time Capsule from Offsite Construction’s Past Around 2005, just a few years before the housing collapse of 2008 changed the trajectory of our industry, there was one person who seemed to know just about everyone who wanted to start an offsite construction company. His name was Don Carlson, publisher
I’ve sat through hundreds of meetings over the years. Factory meetings. Executive meetings. Crisis meetings. Strategic planning sessions. Special task force meetings. Most of them started with good intentions. Someone identifies a problem, everyone agrees it’s important, the issue gets added to the agenda, opinions are shared, action items are
Over the years, I’ve talked with dozens of people who wanted to build the next great modular, panelized, or volumetric factory. They usually have impressive business plans, sophisticated equipment layouts, experienced advisors, and enough confidence to fill a convention center. Most of the discussion revolves around production capacity, automation, labor
For decades, the story was the same: graduate high school, go to college, get a degree, land a career. But for many of today’s young people—especially Gen Z—that story no longer feels like the right fit. Instead, they’re taking a serious look at trade schools, particularly in the MEP (mechanical,
Over the past several months, I’ve spoken with several modular factory owners, managers, and developers considering vertical integration into manufacturing. In almost every conversation, I hear some version of the same statement: “I’m buried.” “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” “Things are completely crazy right now.” Anyone who
Wes Moore recently approved the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2026 Qualified Allocation Plan, a move that will direct more than $300 million in state investments and federal tax credits toward affordable housing projects across Maryland. On paper, that sounds impressive. The plan includes incentives for projects that
photo – Quality Homes “The Bluewater” elevation B
photo- Eco-Panels
There’s a growing narrative that factory-built housing might be the future. In Vermont, that conversation is getting louder as the housing shortage tightens its grip on families, workers, and entire communities. But here’s the part that gets lost in all the policy talk and media coverage—this isn’t some experimental idea
In my previous article, I introduced what I refer to as the scope gap—the difference between what the modular factory delivers and what must still be completed on site to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy. That gap is not theoretical. I’ve seen it play out on real projects over the
The first article in the “In the Beginning” series from Offsite Innovators There are moments in every industry’s history when someone proposes an idea so unconventional that most people dismiss it before it has a chance to prove itself. Looking back years later, those same ideas often seem obvious, even
Innovation has never had an easy time finding acceptance in construction. In fact, many of the ideas we now take for granted were once dismissed as impractical, unnecessary, or simply impossible. Sometimes the resistance comes because a product is unfamiliar. Sometimes it comes because changing long-established methods makes people uncomfortable.
Several weeks ago I had an opportunity to learn about a panelized start-up in Durango, CO. I was immediately struck by their innovative approach to maximizing sustainability through the use of readily available underharvested Ponderosa Pine. Timber Age and their use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) which is composed of sustainable
Walk into almost any offsite factory and ask who’s really in charge of operations, finance, or long-term strategy, and you’ll usually get a confident answer followed by a quiet reality check. The titles are there, the responsibilities are assigned, but the experience behind them is often still developing. That’s not
Photo – Autovol
Fourth in a series on improving the Bottom Line by 1% and more (For a list of all the articles, go to the end) I’ve talked to more than a few factory owners over the years who all say the same thing in slightly different ways. Sales are steady. Backlogs look decent.
Every month in the offsite construction world, I hear about another promising new idea. Someone has developed an app that will streamline scheduling, a machine that promises faster panel production, or a digital tool that claims to simplify design coordination between factories and builders. The process almost always starts the
The View From My Windshield For years, I’ve driven past empty malls, dark office towers, and logistics buildings that look like they’re waiting for something to happen. In many cities, they sit quietly on valuable land while local leaders hold meetings about the housing shortage. It’s almost surreal. On one
Ribal Zebian
I often hear about someone—or some company—that has a new idea to improve, restart, or outright fix a problem in construction. Every time I hear that word, new, I can’t help but smile. Not because I’m cynical (well, not entirely), but because “new” has become one of the most overused
Watching my 14-year-old grandson — a Gen Alpha kid who somehow squeezes four lifetimes into one — has completely changed the way I look at the future of our industry. This is a young man who taught himself to weld in his garage, sketches plans and builds backyard structures for
Why climate-smart design is the next big shift for modular and tract builders For decades, homebuilding has followed a simple pattern: design the house, then make it comfortable by adding heating, cooling, and insulation. But today’s builders — especially in modular and prefabricated housing — are flipping that logic upside
Sometimes the smartest startup begins with something already working. Whenever the idea of starting a modular home factory becomes the mission, I’m always surprised by
Starting a new offsite construction factory is exciting. Maybe too exciting. There is something powerful about standing in an empty building, looking at a set
A Time Capsule from Offsite Construction’s Past Around 2005, just a few years before the housing collapse of 2008 changed the trajectory of our industry,
I’ve sat through hundreds of meetings over the years. Factory meetings. Executive meetings. Crisis meetings. Strategic planning sessions. Special task force meetings. Most of them
Over the years, I’ve talked with dozens of people who wanted to build the next great modular, panelized, or volumetric factory. They usually have impressive
For decades, the story was the same: graduate high school, go to college, get a degree, land a career. But for many of today’s young
Over the past several months, I’ve spoken with several modular factory owners, managers, and developers considering vertical integration into manufacturing. In almost every conversation, I
Wes Moore recently approved the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2026 Qualified Allocation Plan, a move that will direct more than $300 million
photo – Quality Homes “The Bluewater” elevation B
photo- Eco-Panels
There’s a growing narrative that factory-built housing might be the future. In Vermont, that conversation is getting louder as the housing shortage tightens its grip
In my previous article, I introduced what I refer to as the scope gap—the difference between what the modular factory delivers and what must still
The first article in the “In the Beginning” series from Offsite Innovators There are moments in every industry’s history when someone proposes an idea so
Innovation has never had an easy time finding acceptance in construction. In fact, many of the ideas we now take for granted were once dismissed
Several weeks ago I had an opportunity to learn about a panelized start-up in Durango, CO. I was immediately struck by their innovative approach to
Walk into almost any offsite factory and ask who’s really in charge of operations, finance, or long-term strategy, and you’ll usually get a confident answer
Photo – Autovol
Fourth in a series on improving the Bottom Line by 1% and more (For a list of all the articles, go to the end) I’ve talked to
Every month in the offsite construction world, I hear about another promising new idea. Someone has developed an app that will streamline scheduling, a machine
The View From My Windshield For years, I’ve driven past empty malls, dark office towers, and logistics buildings that look like they’re waiting for something
Ribal Zebian
I often hear about someone—or some company—that has a new idea to improve, restart, or outright fix a problem in construction. Every time I hear
Watching my 14-year-old grandson — a Gen Alpha kid who somehow squeezes four lifetimes into one — has completely changed the way I look at
Why climate-smart design is the next big shift for modular and tract builders For decades, homebuilding has followed a simple pattern: design the house, then