Like an archeologist excavating a dig site, renovating an old house or other building often comes with discoveries—some good, others disappointing. Renovations follow trends, and it isn’t unusual to tear up a once-fashionable pink or forest green wall-to-wall carpet from the 1970s and discover layers of linoleum or gorgeous old hardwood beneath.

Sometimes, renovations can turn yesterday’s trash into treasure, with new owners finding long-sealed safes or decades-old bottles of alcohol. While renovating an old home in British Columbia in 2020, workers discovered dozens of original movie posters in remarkable condition behind walls and beneath floorboards. Originally used as insulation, once-worthless posters from the 1930s advertising movies like The Petrified Forest and The Bride of Frankenstein have since sold for $50,000 or more each.

Not every old property undergoing renovation contains valuables, and sometimes trash is just, well, trash. Every contractor has stories of finding old cigarette packs, used coffee cups, broken beer bottles, and food wrappers in air vents and behind walls, usually left by workers from years past. Movies like 1986’s The Money Pit, featuring a young Tom Hanks, and its predecessor, 1948’s Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, with Cary Grant, reveal the perils of buying a fixer-upper, from unanticipated costs to fix weak foundations to re-routing underground streams to replacing support beams.

Although Hollywood likes to exaggerate the pitfalls of old homes, the reality is, many historic properties still contain knob and tube wiring, lead paint, fragile clay pipes, asbestos, mold, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), aluminum wiring, termite damage, and even radioactive materials in soil. These hazards, and others, often require specialists trained in removing dangerous old insulation, wiring, and plumbing.

Then there is the issue of heritage properties. Depending on where the property is located, different rules apply, as many cities, states, and provinces have by-laws protecting historic homes. In Toronto, for example, these by-laws fall under the Ontario Heritage Act. Created to help preserve the province’s heritage, homeowners and contractors alike need to be aware of the dos and don’ts before doing any upgrades, repairs, or renovations.

Reasons for historic preservation vary. Often, it is to ensure future economic growth and development, conserve “important places for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations,” according to the Act, and attract tourist dollars. Historic homes, schools, churches, and banks are sometimes transformed into restaurants, stores, libraries, and coffee shops on the inside, but exterior elements typically need to be preserved to maintain their vintage charm.

While many construction companies perform additions and renovation work, performing work on centuries-old structures requires specialized experience and knowledge of by-laws, architecture, and more. To maintain authenticity and preserve a building’s character, renovators must have an in-depth understanding of modern and period construction methods and materials. The old and the new must be carefully balanced. Depending on the scope of the project, this may include bringing experts on board including historians and researchers, engineers, and architects familiar with period buildings.

From restoring old homes up to the recently completed, five-year-long resurrection of Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral—which sustained significant fire damage in 2019—historic renovation requires advance planning. In the case of Notre-Dame, which dates back to the Middle Ages, modern technology including robots, drones, and thermal imaging were used to assess damage, while augmented reality (AR), 3D mapping, and laser scanning were used to create a “digital blueprint” of the complex structure, writes Frank Kalman for Built – The Bluebeam Blog. The work was no small challenge for the renovation team, who worked tirelessly on the beloved cathedral, which has sections dating back to 1163. To safeguard workers, some 460 tons of lead—which melted in the fire—were removed.

For months, all eyes were on the UNESCO World Heritage site, with many questioning if the team could make the building whole again. Where possible, damaged limestone was replaced with similar stone from quarries used in the original construction. Instead of re-using old wood, fire-resistant materials and reinforced metal were strategically concealed beneath, to safeguard against potential fires. And to ensure all enjoy the cathedral for years to come, a new sound system, energy-efficient lighting, and ramps were installed. Centuries of dirt were scrubbed from the limestone exterior, and Notre-Dame’s legendary spire was rebuilt to look exactly as it did before the inferno.

Not every historic renovation is as dramatic and costly as that of Notre-Dame, although more contractors are using some of the same state-of-the-art technology in their own projects. Another consideration is environmental: once-trusted materials, such as lead paint and asbestos—widely used in insulation, vinyl floor tiles, adhesives, and popcorn ceilings until the 1980s—are now known to be toxic to humans and the environment. These products and others must be tested and safely removed.

Depending on the scope of the work, getting approvals to renovate heritage buildings can take years. Some structures, such as churches, often require objects such as hand-carved pews, carvings, sculptures, paintings, stained glass windows, copper roofs, and more to be painstakingly removed, evaluated, repaired if necessary, stored, and put back in place. Sourcing vintage materials like old stone can be a challenge, as can finding qualified people to perform the work.

In the United States, there are different departments regulating the renovation of old buildings. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), an independent federal agency, has in-depth information on Historic Preservation Policy, Tools, and Resources, such as federal legislation protecting and preserving historic building and sites and details on the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), which became law in 1966.

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties “provide guidance to historic building owners and building managers, preservation consultants, architects, contractors, and project reviewers prior to beginning work.” And others, like the National Institute of Building Services, have plenty of information on Historic Preservation. Through the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), the Institute states: “Preserving historic buildings is vital to understanding our nation’s heritage. In addition, it is an environmentally responsible practice… This not only makes good economic sense, but preserves our legacy and is an inherently sustainable practice and an intrinsic component of whole building design.”

Restoring heritage properties is certainly not for the faint of heart, but when done well, it can be greatly worthwhile. Whether it’s uncovering a long-forgotten relic behind a wall or breathing new life into a historic landmark, renovating older properties is a delicate blend of discovery, craftsmanship, and respect for the past. While challenges abound, and the work is best left to the experts, the reward lies in seeing history restored, not erased.

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At a time when we’re more conscious than ever about greenhouse gases and climate change, it’s important to recognize that the substantial amount of energy used to demolish and create new buildings has its own significant impact. Campaigners against the demolition and redevelopment of London’s Marks & Spencer art deco flagship store in London claimed as much as 40,000 tonnes of CO₂ would be produced by the project. After years of opposition, the plan got the green light in 2024, but demolition has yet to start.

New solutions to traditional demolition and redevelopment are emerging, however. One that is gaining momentum is adaptive reuse, also known as recycling and conversion—making the most of what we have.

Adaptive reuse is the process whereby buildings are used in a different capacity than their original purpose. Typically, these buildings are at the end of their lifespan, so reuse allows for elements of their design, appearance, cultural heritage or historic significance to be saved from demolition in processes that consume a significant amount of energy. In this way, they also serve a function that could bring new populations through their doors. Historic places are transformed and vacant buildings become opportunities to revitalize communities as new homes, offices, hotels, and more.

Some of the most well-loved places in the world are adaptive reuse projects. The Tate Modern Gallery in London was converted from a former power station. The Distillery District in Toronto was home to an industrial distillery that’s been transformed into a pedestrian and commercial area with a theatre and outdoor performance space. And the High Line in New York City was re-imagined and repurposed from a former railway line into a public park and beautiful urban walkway.

Research backs the environmental benefits. When buildings are reused instead of demolished and replaced, up to 90 percent of their materials can be salvaged so they don’t end up in landfills, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Construction and demolition is one of the largest waste streams, responsible for an estimated 30 percent of total solid waste.

The World Economic Forum, in consultation with global experts and municipalities, has developed a model policy on adaptive reuse to support initiatives that ultimately create better communities. Projects work to “boost local economies and contribute to regional productivity and competitiveness by attracting investment and creating workforce development opportunities, including temporary and permanent jobs,” the policy states. It also outlines the potential to increase the market value of built assets, increasing property values and property tax revenues, creating a ripple effect of additional revenues for local governments to improve schools, emergency services, public transportation, and affordable housing.

Top of mind for the construction industry is recognizing adaptive reuse as a strategy for maximizing the operational and commercial performance of built assets. There’s a general misconception that new energy-efficient buildings are the way to move toward carbon neutral goals and sustainability. In fact, as Autodesk reports, a new energy-efficient building can take anywhere from 10 to 80 years to offset the environmental impact of its own construction process. “Think of buildings as very large manufactured goods; prolonging the lifespan of existing structures is a sustainable strategy that’s becoming a necessity as the world population grows more urbanized.”

Adaptive reuse addresses carbon burdens that already exist in the built environment. As Carl Elefante, former president of the American Institute of Architects, has said: “The greenest building is the one that already exists.”

What makes adaptive reuse distinct from historic preservation? With the former, designers are not limited to using original building materials and methods. Instead, they can be innovative, incorporating recycled materials and leading systems. Projects can also earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, all while making the most of some stunning old factories with brick exteriors and large, light-filled windows.

The Roebling Lofts in Trenton, New Jersey are housed in a 1917 wire rope factory that produced wire rope for aircraft and cables for suspension bridges like New York City’s George Washington Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Famously, John A. Roebling’s Sons Co. provided wires for Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis for its celebrated 1927 transatlantic flight.

The Roebling Lofts project preserved the exterior masonry, steel, and heavy timber framing. In a nod to its history, the wire rope testing machine is on display in the fourth-floor residents’ lounge. Architects designed for solar panels on the roof and recycled materials for kitchen and bathroom counters, including Richlite, an antibacterial surface made from recycled paper and resin. The backsplash tiles in the kitchens are made from recycled glass.

In another plus, this adaptive reuse project promotes neighbourhood development and green transportation. The pet-friendly building is steps from the Roebling Market, local restaurants and businesses, and public transportation.

In Brooklyn, the 1930s-era Lewis Steel Products factory has become loft apartments. The LEED Silver-certified Lewis Steel Building spans an entire city block and showcases original features like 12-foot ceilings, exposed brick walls, and beams of steel and wood. Now the manufacturing-centered area has morphed into a hub for a diverse and artistic community. There’s close proximity to public transportation and locally owned restaurants and shops, and the building itself features bicycle storage. The development team also focused on reducing energy and water use.

When you think about places where abandoned structures remain signs of economic prominence in days gone by, Detroit is a front-runner because of the auto industry’s moving production out of the city. It’s turning around, however, to become a model for economic resurgence, with major investments in the downtown, including Ford Motor Company’s commitment to overhaul Michigan Central Station into a 1.2-million-square-foot innovation campus. The project stared by drying out the 600,000-square-foot structure, which had been damaged by the elements since the last train left the station 30 years ago.

Michigan Central opened in fall 2024 as a tech and cultural hub to promote innovation in autonomous vehicles and urban mobility solutions. The walkable community is anchored by the train station and designed to help residents and businesses connect with the surrounding neighbourhoods and the city at large.

Ford Chair Bill Ford, great grandson of company founder Henry Ford, said attracting top talent to Detroit is “getting better” but noted that “it’s a tall order” to convince workers from California or the East Coast to relocate to Detroit and work for Ford, CNBC reports. “If you can show them a place like Michigan Central, not just in its beauty, which alone is incredible, but then talk about the kind of things that will be going on there, then it becomes, I think, a really valuable resource for the company going forward,” he said.

Lori Ferriss, co-founder of the Built Buildings Lab, makes the case that reusing existing buildings is not only good for the planet; it’s good for business. Adaptive reuse projects are outperforming new construction by delivering faster returns, reducing risk, and spurring community revitalization. Ferriss’s report drives the point home, exploring how developers can find both profit and purpose in adaptive reuse for existing buildings.

“One message I heard from almost everyone I spoke to, and that I continue to hear again and again in the field, is that in addition to making money, reuse is often a labor of love,” Ferriss tells Urban Land. “There is a special sense of pride, accomplishment, and often stewardship that comes from successfully renewing existing buildings. In an industry driven by financial returns, I think it’s important that we also recognize the delight and sense of community that comes from adaptive reuse.” When done well, adaptive reuse represents a clear win-win-win for communities, residents, and the environment.

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This impressive data was compiled by industry research firm FMI Consulting of Raleigh, North Carolina, for the benefit of the Modular Building Institute (MBI). Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, the nonprofit institute represents modular construction companies around the world.

While pleased with the findings, there was “nothing too shocking for me” in the FMI reports, given the popularity of modular construction, says MBI Executive Director Tom Hardiman.

“Everybody’s talking about housing. Local governments, state governments, federal governments… The Canadian government is pushing their Build Canada Homes initiative and modular is at the forefront of it,” states Hardiman, referring to a new Canadian government agency that aims to create more affordable housing.

There are two main types of modular buildings: permanent structures featuring foundations, often used for housing, healthcare, education, or office space. Relocatable modular buildings, as their name implies, are moveable, and this category consists of school portables, temporary housing for workers, emergency disaster shelters, and the like.

Multifamily residential is leading the permanent modular market in America, accounting for $7.1 billion in project value last year, and this is expected to rise to $11.3 billion by 2029, according to FMI’s 2025 United States Permanent Modular Construction Industry Report. Office-use buildings accounted for $1.4 billion in U.S. permanent modular construction last year, and this sector is expected to top $2 billion in 2029. For its part, the relocatable modular market generated $4.7 billion in total U.S. revenues in 2024.

In Canada, the multifamily modular market was valued at CDN$2.16 billion in 2024, followed by the commercial sector at CDN$644 million, education buildings at CDN$495 million, office space at CDN$135 million, and healthcare facilities at just under CDN$100 million, as reported by the FMI’s 2025 Canadian Permanent Modular Construction Industry Report. The reports cited speed to market and cost efficiency as leading drivers of the modular market.

In modular construction, sections of a building are built offsite in a factory. Large modules are shipped to a worksite and put together somewhat like massive building blocks. Steel and wood frames and concrete are the primary materials used in modular construction, and light-gauge steel framing is particularly popular for low-rise modular buildings. Only a handful of modules are needed to complete a structure; traditional construction, by contrast, is primarily conducted at the building site using countless parts and pieces.

Modular construction is safer, speedier, more sustainable, and less expensive than conventional methods, say advocates. Since modular building requires fewer workers and less on-site work, it can help ease soaring housing costs. And modular homes are constructed in controlled factory settings, which is “much safer than working outside, hanging off a building 10 stories up,” adds Hardiman.

Modular construction also produces less waste than traditional construction, which typically generates bins of scrap which are shipped to landfill sites. With modular, leftover lumber and other materials can be set aside in the factory for use in future projects.

MBI has approximately 700 members around the world, the majority of whom are from the permanent modular sector as mergers and acquisitions have reduced the size of the relocatable modular segment. Canada accounts for approximately 80 members, while Europe has roughly 60. Interest in modular building is growing in these regions, says Hardiman, who points to MBI’s recent World of Modular Europe event in Madrid, Spain in October. In Canada, newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised to tackle housing issues, and Build Canada Homes was launched September 14, 2025, under his auspices. MBI has worked with Canada for years and continues to meet representatives there to talk about the sector.

MBI hosts its annual Awards of Distinction to salute notable achievements by its members. MODLOGIQ, a Pennsylvania-based commercial modular construction firm, took first place this year in the Permanent Modular Healthcare category, for its work on a 100,000-square-foot hospital called the Athens Medical Campus. About 95 percent of this four-story hospital facility was prefabricated in Pennsylvania before being shipped to Athens, Ohio and assembled. Waste was drastically reduced on the project and much of the material was recycled.

“This approach prevented 400 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, recycled 230 tons of materials, and significantly cut project costs,” notes an MBI case study.

“The community got their hospital completed a year early, so it was a great story for the community and our industry,” marvels Hardiman.

On the political stage, MBI continues to grapple with the long wake of the Davis-Bacon Act. Passed during the Great Depression, the act mandated that companies pay local prevailing wages to laborers and mechanics employed on government-funded public works projects. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor announced plans to tweak the act so its provisions included modular construction. Given that this would drastically raise costs for the industry, MBI lobbied hard against these changes. The U.S. Department of Labor eventually scuttled plans to modify the act. While this was a victory for MBI at the federal level, the fight continues.

“Unfortunately, what we’re seeing now is a lot of states taking up ‘Little Davis-Bacon’ [Acts]. We had Oregon and New York pass bills this year to expand prevailing wage rates into modular factories for state-funded projects—schools, housing, healthcare,” Hardiman states. MBI is working hard to rescind such bills or convince state legislators not to pass new ones.

Pushback against modular construction might stem from the sector’s growing mainstream acceptance, which threatens the conventional construction industry, Hardiman suggests. MBI runs an initiative called the Modular Advocacy Program (MAP) to raise funds for awareness campaigns. Fundraising has enabled MBI to hire a national public relations firm which arranges interviews and produces news articles; in Canada, another public relations firm performs a similar on behalf of MBI. The institute also maintains a foundation for public education.

The goal of all this activity is to highlight the benefits of modular construction while dispelling stereotypes, since people often confuse modular buildings with trailer homes, for example. These efforts are starting to bear fruit, says Hardiman. “We’re finding more groups like architects, engineers, contractors, are reaching out to us and saying, ‘We have modular on the agenda. Can you speak to us?’ Whereas in the past, it wasn’t on their agenda,” he shares.

In addition, MBI continues its work with the International Code Council (ICC) to implement modular construction standards. MBI is encouraging legislators to adopt standards it has produced in collaboration with the ICC. These include ICC/MBI 1200, which covers planning, fabrication, assembly, and design in off-site modular construction, and ICC/MBI 1205, which concerns regulatory compliance and inspection. These standards have been adopted by Utah, Virginia, and other states.

MBI also has a close relationship with the University of New Brunswick—which features an off-site construction research center—and the American Institute of Architecture Students. In addition, MBI works with universities in proximity to its annual World of Modular conferences and offers scholarships to students who want to attend its annual conference in the U.S. “Last year, we had 50 students come there; we pay for it. We just think, if we want to get the best and brightest students, they should be at the industry conference meeting people,” says Hardiman.

MBI also offers details about careers in the sector as well as job postings as part of its careers in modular construction campaign. “Anyone can send us their résumé and then we try to matchmake with our members. [We provide] a portal for careers in our industry.”

With an eye toward cultivating the next generation of skilled workers, the future looks very bright, with the U.S. modular market forecast to hit $25.4 billion in 2029, based on a 4.5 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to FMI. The Canadian modular market is estimated to reach CDN$6.4 billion that same year based on a five percent CAGR, adds FMI.

As for further growth potential, Hardiman cites the 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure published earlier this year by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). While the report focused on non-residential structures such as transit (which earned a D), ports (B), and rail (B minus), it also covered aviation and schools, both of which received dismal D+ grades. When all results were compiled, U.S. infrastructure earned a C overall.

While this is actually an improvement on previous ASCE scores, Hardiman was unimpressed. “We’ve got to do better,” he says. “I’m not suggesting that modular is going to solve all the problems, but I think it’s time to take a fresh look at how we build.”

The post Big Gains Ahead for Modular Construction<p class="company">Modular Building Institute </p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

“While we continue to offer the core services that built our reputation—roofing, windows, siding, and decks—we’ve expanded our capabilities to include large-scale additions, complete home remodels, and ground-up new construction projects. Now, 25 years later, this expertise is highly sought after by a growing customer base who want only the best leading their construction projects.”

This is how Advanced Construction has grown from a small team to become a network of over 40 skilled contractors and administrators, more than 60 trusted subcontractors, and more than 4,700 satisfied customers in Southeastern Connecticut and across the United States. Licensed in four states, there is no limit to where this company will go to bring value to its customers.

While Preka and his team got their start in residential renovations and remodeling, their attention to detail, strong communication style, and meticulous craftsmanship earned Advanced Construction a reputation as a partner of choice for projects of varying complexity. Now, as experts in full-scale new construction, large commercial projects, and transformative remodeling ventures—including historic preservation and restoration and projects to improve resilience against the harsh New England climate—Advanced Construction has the knowledge and capacity to bring commercial and residential projects to life.

A one-stop shop
The team’s expertise runs the gamut from coastal and historical projects to commercial projects and site work, modular homes and buildings, a plethora of residential services including additions and garages, kitchens and baths, outdoor living, roofing and siding, windows and doors, and complete, end-to-end design to build services.

Part of Advanced Construction’s success is its ability to offer a la carte service that identifies the unique characteristics of each property and project to develop a specialized solution for its clients. “A one-stop shop is what people really do look for,” says Preka. “You have to deliver on that diversity. We bring a ton of knowledge to any project and oftentimes we don’t just show up for a job; we show up with knowledge and give people an education as to what they’re looking for.”

This education has not just been to the advantage of its customers, but also to the Advanced Construction team. When asked what sets the company apart from competitors in the market, Preka tells us, “Learn from your failure. Customer service goes a long way and the biggest thing in our line of work is that we need to understand our clients and we need to provide our clients with realistic timeframes and the service and quality they are dreaming about—or at least as close as anybody could possibly do.” He credits the Advanced Construction team with making this a reality time and again.

With these principles in mind, relationships are one of the most important things that Advanced Construction builds. Preka and his team appreciate the unique character of the projects they undertake, but even more so, the people they meet along the way. It is always a challenge to pick a favorite project, especially with 25 years of examples to choose from, but the people make projects truly unforgettable.

For Preka, “I don’t normally focus on the project as much as I focus on the people—the clients, the atmosphere around them, the time [we spend] with them. It makes any project go so fast, so well, so enjoyably.”

Curating quality and building community
Building relationships is not only important from a customer service perspective, but also from a talent acquisition and development standpoint, which is another area in which Advanced Construction thrives. To reinforce a culture of quality, safety, and service, hiring is done very intentionally, with careful attention paid to the person, their skills, as well as the personality and the energy they bring to the team.

“I just feel blessed with the team that we have,” says Preka, once again praising the people who drive value for his customers day in and day out and reinforce the reputation the company has come to earn. “At the end of the day, it’s about a good relationship, a good marriage, a good family dinner table, a good understanding in the good days and the bad days,” which goes a long way to creating a culture of understanding and the drive to push forward to meet and exceed expectations.

Through the work that it does, Advanced Construction is both literally and figuratively building community. In addition to the craftsmanship the company brings to its projects, it has also become a philanthropic champion in the communities it calls home. From early on, Preka felt blessed with an opportunity and used that ability to do good; like the old adage goes, ‘when you are blessed, be a blessing,’ which is exactly what he has done through Advanced Construction.

From financial contributions to in-kind donations, as well as serving as Past President and Chair of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association in Connecticut—a trade organization that represents the residential construction industry in the state—and now as the state representative for the organization, there are countless ways that Preka and Advanced Construction give back to their community.

To 25 more
With 25 years behind it, Advanced Construction has evolved with the ebbs and flows of the market and as the market is returning to strength in the post-pandemic period, the company is poised to take advantage of growth in demand.

“A lot of things have changed in the past 24 months,” Preka shares. “We had a hard time locking in trades, let alone employees. That was nearly impossible [for a time], but nowadays I think that the dust has settled a little bit and homeowners have choices. Now we’re dealing with the better and the best, so the competition is legit competition in that sense,” he adds, which is a “big factor at this point that makes us very strong in our market.”

The goal is to leverage this market position to continue to grow not only the company, but also its ability to effect positive change in the community, which remains top of mind for Preka and his team.

“It’s one of the biggest things, from the first day that I started this business,” he says. “I would like to be known not just as someone that has been there for the community, not just someone that has been there for the people in need, but as a real builder, a real supporter. So, what I’m looking forward to is to expand the team, expand the company larger than we are so more people can benefit from our craftsmanship and our customer service,” he says, with the goal of maximizing both the potential of the company and its ability to give back to the community for many years to come.

The post Where Quality is Built<p class="company">Advanced Construction</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

While real estate markets adapt to the concept of modular homes as a beneficial and beautiful solution to the housing crisis, buyers are learning that modern modular units offer far more than their spartan prefabricated predecessors. Ritz-Craft delivers tremendous value and modern style across 25 states from the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and South on a level rarely seen in this trade. Working solely in timber, its buildings typically range from 15,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet.

Now, as one of the country’s largest in its field, this family business is gearing up to cover ever greater distances for its customers.

Ritz-Craft Corporation and Ritz Craft Commercial (RC²) are both members of the John Brothers Holdings LLC family, a large group of vertically integrated companies that work in tandem to provide a total project delivery model. Marked by a distinct talent for collaboration, this team works closely with project owners, engineers, and architects to deliver comprehensive services in off-site single and multi-family homes. It also builds low-cost military housing, assisted living, senior housing, motels, and hotels for companies like Holiday Inn Express and others.

Of these building types, multi-family is the firm’s fastest-growing sector. “We are a construction service, not a product. So we will build whatever is designed and complete whatever your vision is,” says Ray Cudwadie, President of RC². Cudwadie has been in the modular construction industry for over 40 years, and he takes a down-to-earth, humble approach to business and to leadership.

Starting its journey as a trailer fabricator in 1954, John Brothers Holdings is now owned by the sons of one of the founders, Paul and Eric John, who have been joined in the business by the third generation. “Our success is solely reliant upon Eric and Paul John and their vision, what they built up here,” says Cudwadie. “They give us the reins and say, ‘Go do it.’”

As a result of this commitment to excellence, the company always has exciting projects underway. One of these, for a longstanding client, is a multi-building apartment complex, The Loop in Traverse City, Michigan. Loop 1, a small 3-story apartment, was recently completed and will be followed by Loops 2 and 3, which are 5-story podium builds (4 over 1). Fabricated partially in Pennsylvania and Michigan, the final product will be delivered to Traverse City, complete and ready for installation. These will be followed by further construction at Loops 4 and 5, starting in the first quarter of 2026.

One of the greatest advantages of using RC² means and methods in this region of northern Michigan is the speed of delivery, which is vastly improved by the fact that off-site construction is unhampered by extreme weather conditions and harsh winters.

The company is especially proud of the work it is doing for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, an organization that provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families and builds specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. RC² is currently completing a project for the foundation in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “I’m very honored to be doing a mission-based project. It’s not just putting the pieces together; we’re helping to eradicate [veteran homelessness] in the United States,” Cudwadie says. “We’re very honored to be associated with them. We look forward to getting our first project completed and then hopefully we’ll do others as we move forward.”

Ritz-Craft’s multi-family work is also driven by the desire to provide much-needed workforce housing. “Workforce housing is a huge need across the country and a staple for industry in the United States. It’s great that we can provide a sound quality and effective product to address workforce housing needs across the country,” says Michael Bussiere II, Vice President of Business Development.

Even with such high demand, the company’s seamless, integrated processes allow it to execute large projects across its entire footprint. “Ray is process-driven, very structured in helping enable success but with flexibility to tailor our systems to customer needs,” Bussiere continues.

One of the team’s most rewarding recent projects on Martha’s Vineyard came about when Columbia Construction approached RC² to supply affordable housing for healthcare staff, as accommodations and daily ferry commutes in the Cape Cod area have become prohibitively expensive for those on regular salaries. To solve the challenge, Columbia Construction collaborated with RC² to manufacture, deliver, and install 106 modular units comprising 48 beautiful living units. Fabricated in Pennsylvania, shipped by land and then sea to the island of Martha’s Vineyard, these homes now let this famous hospital provide quality housing to much-appreciated staff at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, strengthening the local healthcare landscape in the process.

A similar workforce housing project saw the company deliver outstanding quality housing for employees near Vail, Colorado, where the flourishing local skiing industry has created a demand for more workforce accommodation. Another two such projects in New Hampshire introduced workforce housing combined with low-income/subsidized housing in the area.

Being discerning and realistic about the business’s capabilities is crucial for its sustained growth. While it is extremely rare for the company to turn anyone away, determining at the outset whether a customer is a fit is an important part of the process. “We solely focus on what is best for the project,” Cudwadie says. “We know how to be innovative in the way we apply our products and services, so we sit down with and listen to our clients to determine what the best fit is for them,” he adds. And to ensure that its staff are always up to speed with the latest developments in the field, Cudwadie has introduced a successful lunch-and-learn program that supports continuing education and skills development while also educating customers on its capabilities.

Rounding out the vertical integration for the John Brothers Holdings (JBH) portfolio, Legacy Building Products in Mifflinburg provides the group and others in the industry with wholesale building materials, while the group’s transportation is handled by Ritz-Trans. This oversized trucking outfit takes care of all preconstructed building deliveries. Legacy Crafted Cabinets, a sophisticated automation-based fabricator, supplies semi-custom cabinets from its facility in central Pennsylvania. There are also two custom builder retail centers responsible for product distribution and installation—one in Susquehanna Valley, Pennsylvania and another in Hudson, New York.

The JBH group even offers a full client experience, while Rusty Rail Brewing Company is landmark of hospitality, complete with a restaurant, brewery, events facilities, and boutique hotel suites whose visitors include existing and prospective customers and locals alike.

Having built RC²’s success on a solid base of strategic growth and a repeatable business model, the company has more than quadrupled its revenue over the past four years, now earning around $20 million to $25 million annually. As the family of companies navigates current building trends with the aim of long-term expansion and doubling revenue, it is always finding new ways to improve its offering through technology, improving capacity, and investing in more resources.

Bussiere sums up the market perfectly: “I see so much opportunity out there—specifically in this market,” he says. “That’s why educating folks on what it is we do is important.” As one customer pointed out—and Cudwadie agrees—doing ‘big business the small way’ and welcoming increasing numbers of new customers ultimately means growing the family.

The post Doing Big Business the Small Way<p class="company">Ritz-Craft Corporation</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

As a result of this tenacity, the company has established a reputation for excellence and innovation across the United States and Canada, serving schools, correctional facilities, workforce housing, medical facilities, and more. Collaborating with top modular fabricators, Lochsa Engineering knows how to deliver superior service, something the founders have cultivated since the early days.

Lochsa Engineering started out in a garage with a couple of young engineers and a few good ideas. Now-retired President Mark Hedge, a civil engineer, founded Lochsa in Las Vegas in 1995 alongside his business partner, the late Jess Haldeman, a structural engineer. Together, the two newly qualified professionals set out to make their mark on the Las Vegas skyline.

Landing their first contract for work on a notable casino project complete with a tower, the duo built the company into a powerhouse employing approximately 175 staff members in the Las Vegas office alone. “[Our founders were] great visionaries. Mark’s still a mentor to me,” says Riley Mahaffey, P.E., Principal in charge of Marketing and Business Development. Today, the Las Vegas branch continues to offer a full spectrum of civil engineering services, including flood control and civil land development with teams of structural engineers, transportation engineers, and survey crews.

With help from the Las Vegas office in 2003, Mahaffey established the Idaho office, eventually becoming partners with Jared Keller, S.E./P.E., who is the current President of Lochsa. This office focuses on nationwide structural engineering, building information modeling (BIM), and virtual design coordination (VDC). “It’s been a great collaboration. In 2020, we were acquired by an investment group,” Mahaffey says of the company’s current position within the larger group of companies belonging to Fremont Wright Collaborative, which holds around 10 firms and over 600 staff members.

One of its senior members leading modular engineering at the firm, David Butler, P.E., a professional engineer and senior structural project manager, joined the company in March 2020. It was not long into his tenure that Butler discovered that what he had thought of as perhaps an overly diverse field of experience had, in reality, acted as the perfect preparation for his position at Lochsa Engineering.

Starting his career in utilitarian structures, he moved to automotive manufacturing facility improvement, followed by a stretch designing 45-foot RVs. This was followed by a structural engineering position in manufacturing. “All of these things that I learned, without even realizing, set me up to take on volumetric modular work specifically,” he says of what can be a challenging field.

In all its work, Lochsa Engineering aims to exceed expectations and to make its employees and customers alike feel valued, supported, and respected. “We want every employee and every client to know that they’re valued here,” says Mahaffey. “There’s value to what you bring.” The company’s commitment to its people includes providing continuing education. “We support people who want to further their careers, further their degrees if they want, or further their training.”

The company is also an early adopter of technology, a habit that stood the team in good stead when 3D modeling was first introduced around 2008. Around that time, Lochsa landed a contract for work on the CityCenter project for MGM Mirage Group, a prominent building of complex design which, in Mahaffey’s opinion, would not have been achievable without the right technology. “We knew 3D modeling was not going to fade; it was going to grow from there. So we embraced it.”

The team has extensive experience in working with a range of materials, including wood, post-tension concrete, and steel—especially light-gauge framing, also known as cold-formed steel. “[Cold-formed steel is a material that there are] no classes for in college; you just have to learn it,” Mahaffey continues, adding that, as a result, Lochsa Engineering has established itself as a well-known technical representative for the Steel Stud Manufacturers Association and its outstanding technical manuals on the subject.

Moreover, Lochsa won the respect of many in the industry when, instead of stacking studs in situ in the field, its engineers came up with what they call “panelizing,” a safe method of doing façade studding in batches on the ground, after which each unit is lifted or “flown” into place. As these panels are installed quickly, the protocol became popular, especially in casino construction, where design and engineering typically continue as the building goes up in a process known as deferred submittal. Here, a design is not yet finalized at the time that the initial building permit is granted but rather submitted later to enable project owners to operate while construction continues in phases.

As the Lochsa panelizing method became popular, the team has taken it across the United States with immense success. And, as panelizing lends itself so well to volumetric modular construction, where entire units are manufactured in a factory and shipped for installation on site, the company’s evolution and the method’s adoption were quite organic. Following this initial introduction period, the cold-formed steel panelizing method showed up in factory settings in regions like Canada, where extreme winters made working outside especially tough. Butler and his teams still collaborate with factories across North America, building everything from generator housing to entire hotels, attainable housing, student housing, and more.

The modular fabrication process doesn’t just allow for better working conditions in temperature-controlled facilities, however; it also makes for a reduction in material waste. Standardization, and therefore precision, are also easier to achieve due to better operational conditions. As a result, this method allows hotels to have rooms built complete with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components installed, stocked with all necessary furniture, soft furnishings, and amenities, shipped to the construction site, installed, and opened up by hotel staff for preparation without a single builder entering the room after the unit is sealed in the factory. Another incredible plus is vastly improved worker safety, as a comparatively minimal number of people work at heights during installation.

These units also make for fantastic low-cost housing in expensive hospitality hubs, as illustrated during a project in Colorado. Here, staff had to drive quite far to get to work as local living costs were prohibitively high. Thanks to Lochsa’s modular engineering, the situation is being remedied in a creative way that provides decent housing for hardworking folks to call home.

In a different vein, Lochsa Engineering has also completed beautiful luxury modular engineering in Mammoth Lakes, in California’s Sierra Nevada range, illustrating the sector’s versatility. From dorm construction in Rhode Island to a hotel in Maine and housing in Philadelphia, the team is always working on something fresh and challenging.

“What’s interesting is, as a structural engineer, we don’t think about being manufacturers. We design buildings and bridges, but getting into this level of manufacturing makes volumetric construction interesting,” Butler says on the trend of design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) that has taken structural engineering by storm.

When it comes to team building, the company is equally adaptable. Its leadership understands that there is an inevitable period wherein people need to be allowed space and time to settle into a group dynamic as they figure one another out before reaching peak performance. That performance allows the team to build long-lasting relationships with customers who end up returning time and again as the service and quality they receive keep calling them back.

These relationships are invaluable. As Butler, who presented at World of Modular in Las Vegas earlier this year, says, “Projects don’t always come from socializing with prospective customers and colleagues at conferences. But relationships do, and reputations do.” In this way, Lochsa Engineering cultivates an environment that is as healthy as it is progressive. In a high-stakes industry where everyone works under pressure, Lochsa Engineering provides a supportive place to work, rich in opportunities to innovate and explore the industry. Employees also have a voice in how they choose to develop the firm’s culture through a dedicated culture committee.

In a company with such a reputation for reliability, where people are encouraged to do what they love best, there is no shortage of passion for every project the team takes on. And that, perhaps—even beyond its outstanding engineering capabilities—is what makes Lochsa Engineering much more than just another industry partner.

This warm hospitality is serving Lochsa Engineering well, as its first intern has now taken up a formal position with the company as an off-site student contributor. With its sights set on growing its capabilities and output, growing the entire modular sector to represent a more significant percentage of the construction industry is another priority for the firm.

“What I’m really pushing for in the industry is more clarity and acceptance from code writers and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)—building departments and the like recognizing that off-site construction is beneficial and that it works,” Butler says. “There’s still a lot of code verbiage that doesn’t address modular construction and some of the things that we have to do,” he explains. Working hard to demystify the discipline and its methods, the Lochsa Engineering team continues making historic strides in modular manufacturing.

The post Modernizing Modular Engineering<p class="company">Lochsa Engineering</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

The Valgardson family’s connection to housing goes back generations, beginning in the aftermath of World War II. Kam Valgardson, President of Irontown Modular, shares a story that sounds almost cinematic. When his grandfather returned from the war, he started driving trucks for a local excavation company. The twist? The business owner had a daughter, who would later become Kam’s grandmother. When things got serious, her father stepped in. “You’re not going to be a truck driver your whole life,” he told Kam’s grandfather. Instead, he helped set him up in the house-moving business.

Armed with dollies, jacks, and beams, the family began moving entire homes off their foundations to make way for highways, shopping centers, and new developments. It was grueling work, but it introduced them to a fascinating discovery: modular homes, which were far easier to move than traditional brick structures. Kam noted that moving prefabricated homes required less labor, imposed less risk of damage, and allowed for far more flexibility than traditional construction, which sparked a long-term interest in modular methods.

By the mid-1980s, Kam’s father, Richard Valgardson, pivoted into modular construction full time. What began as Valgardson Housing Systems evolved over the decades into Irontown Modular, a name now synonymous with high-quality, effective, innovative offsite building.

In its early years, the company focused on small homes for rural families, farmers, and mining communities. Over time, demand shifted, and so did Irontown’s capabilities.

“We’ve gone all the way up to high-end custom homes that are multi-million-dollar builds in resort areas like Beverly Hills, Big Sky, Aspen, and Telluride,” Valgardson explains. “Now, we’ve settled into a niche doing higher-end modular construction across several channels.”

That flexibility has been a key to survival in a notoriously volatile industry. Irontown Modular now operates in four areas: multifamily, single-family, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and park model glamping. When one market slows down, say, ADUs during periods of high interest rates, another often picks up the slack. This diversification is strategic; by keeping multiple revenue streams active, Irontown ensures continuity and growth, regardless of market fluctuations.

“This multi-channel approach allows us to innovate within one segment while keeping the rest of the company steady,” Marketing Specialist Ashley Peabody adds. “It’s about smart risk management and staying nimble without losing focus on quality.”

One of the company’s biggest turning points came around 2013–2014, when Kam’s father sold the business and new ownership stepped in. The team made the strategic decision to shift from fully custom builds to a catalog-based product line.

This change streamlined operations and made modular homes more accessible and scalable. While Irontown still takes on custom projects, it does so selectively, focusing on repeatable designs or large-scale developments. This pivot meant that the company could standardize certain processes, improve costs, and reduce lead times, all while maintaining the high-end finishes and customization clients expect.

The result is a more viable business model that balances efficiency with creativity. Valgardson emphasizes that, “By moving to a productized model, we can offer more predictable delivery timelines, consistent quality, and a broader range of designs, while still keeping the door open for bespoke projects that make sense.”

Among the many projects Irontown Modular has tackled, one stands out for its community impact: The Other Side Academy in Salt Lake City. This nonprofit is dedicated to helping people rebuild their lives after homelessness, addiction, or incarceration. Through education, job training, and supportive businesses, participants are given the chance to re-enter society as productive members. When The Other Side decided to create a new ‘Prep Academy’ and supportive housing village, they turned to Irontown Modular.

“We were excited to be able to participate in the improvement of these lives,” Valgardson says. “We’re not just building apartments; we’re building hope, funded by donations, churches, and community partners who believe in change.”

The project includes a 32-unit apartment building designed to foster socialization and community living. Even more historic, it marks the first modular apartment complex in Utah. Pointing out the significance, Peabody tells us, “It’s a huge deal for Utah. Modular is breaking ground here, both literally and figuratively.”

Valgardson explains that the project required careful planning to ensure that the units were not only durable and well laid out but also thoughtfully designed for communal living. “We think about these projects holistically,” he says. “Every detail, from how people will interact in shared spaces to how sustainable the construction materials are, is considered.”

In today’s world, any conversation about construction eventually turns to sustainability. This and energy efficiency are now baked into the process, thanks to updates in building codes, particularly in California where 90 percent of Irontown’s work is located. However, modular building offers even more advantages. Unlike traditional job sites, where leftover materials often end up in dumpsters, a factory environment allows for maximum reuse and minimal waste. Offcuts are repurposed, packing materials get a second life, and nothing goes to waste unless it truly can’t be used.

“Resources are expensive, and waste is a burden on our economy,” Valgardson says. “Modular is the solution. It’s not just efficient; it’s responsible.”

He adds that modular construction also allows for higher quality control, reducing defects and extending the lifespan of each unit. “Every wall, every floor, every fixture is inspected under controlled conditions before it even leaves our factory. That’s hard to achieve on a traditional site.”

Despite its advantages, modular construction has long been called the ‘future of building,’ with skeptics asking when that will finally arrive. Valgardson sees two major hurdles: transportation and mindset. Modules must be sized to fit down highways and be lifted by cranes, limiting how much can be built in one piece. But the bigger challenge may be the industry itself. “Construction is one of the least modernized industries,” he says. “Methods haven’t changed much in decades, and people are reluctant to try something new because building is already so expensive. Taking risks feels dangerous.”

Yet Irontown Modular persists, using each challenge as an opportunity for inspired solutions. From designing units that can withstand long-distance transport to collaborating with local authorities for logistics, the company has found ways to overcome traditional constraints.

While the team does not rush headlong into every trend, it does embrace technology where it counts. Software platforms help track sales, project management, and customer care. AI is being used in marketing and explored in operations. With labor shortages looming, Valgardson sees potential in robotics down the road, if costs become feasible.

In the meantime, innovation also shows up in new product ideas like the company’s modular wellness unit. Earlier this year, Irontown expanded its offerings with the launch of the Sweaty Yeti, a modular sauna and cold plunge unit designed to bring luxury wellness experiences right into homeowners’ backyards. Built with the same high standards and craftsmanship as the company’s large-scale projects, the unit is versatile enough to also serve as a fitness room or private studio, making it a seamless extension of modern living.

The idea for the name came about in a unique, modern way. During a brainstorming session, Valgardson’s daughter suggested using ChatGPT to generate ideas. One of the options that emerged was Sweaty Yeti. Initially, the team was skeptical, but the name stuck and now has become a talking point in its own right.

Beyond the playful branding, the Sweaty Yeti embodies Irontown Modular’s approach to innovation: thoughtful, creative, and aligned with lifestyle trends. Peabody emphasizes that the product allows the company to maintain engagement and productivity in slower periods while offering clients a high-quality, personalized wellness solution.

From multifamily housing in McCall, Idaho, to an RV resort in Lake Havasu, Arizona, and even cabins for a youth camp in Malibu rebuilding after wildfire, Irontown’s pipeline is as diverse as it is inspiring. At its core, Irontown Modular is about more than structures; it is about stories—the story of a family that built a legacy from house-moving equipment. The story of clients who trust the company with their life savings. The story of communities, like The Other Side Academy, that are stronger because of what Irontown Modular helps create.

What ties it all together is resilience. “We’ve been around for 40 years, because we’re survivors,” says Valgardson. “Our plan is to be here another 40.” With a mix of tradition, adaptability, and heart, it seems like a safe bet.

As modular construction continues to evolve, Irontown Modular stands as proof that the future is being built one considerate, sustainable, and sometimes even Sweaty Yeti-sized step at a time.

The post Modular with a Mission to Reshape the Future of Construction<p class="company">Irontown Modular </p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

“Jim is 100 percent right, and it goes back to him as well,” agrees John Buongiorno, Vice President, Modular Division at Axis Construction. “We’ve known each other forever as businesspeople in the same industry; we have a very strong personal friendship, and without him and his company, we wouldn’t be able to do the complicated medical buildings we do in this industry.”

Established in 1993, Axis Construction Corporation has proven its ability to create and effectively complete projects for more than two decades with a concentration in the hospital and healthcare sectors and experience in commercial, industrial, and educational building. For its part, MODLOGIQ, spearheading a new wave of innovation in off-site modular construction and a “Build Together” approach to off-site manufacturing, produces intricate, beautiful, long-lasting modular constructions far beyond simple assembly-line techniques.

Together, the two companies are currently working on the second emergency room addition for Beth Israel Health System in the Boston area, with delivery planned for around November of this year and completion scheduled for March or April of next year.

Facing challenges head-on
Despite the valuable and productive relationship that keeps these companies progressing smoothly, labor shortages and wage legislation remain ongoing challenges across the industry, ones that affect modular building in particular. At the moment, factories like Gabriel’s are able to hire people to do non-union work at a non-prevailing rate, helping to keep costs down, which is a key benefit to modular construction. However, various states are trying to bring prevailing rates into the manufacturing facility, says Buongiorno. Prevailing wage rules apply to public projects and, when they exist, establish a minimum wage that must be provided to the majority of workers. If passed, when orders are placed with MODLOGIQ, Gabriel will have to introduce paying the given state’s prevailing rate into his plans.

“But there’s also a tremendous shortage in the overall construction industry of skilled labor, whether it be electricians, plumbers, carpenters, masons, or painters,” adds Buongiorno.

Both gentlemen have numerous years of experience in the industry, and both are seeing a serious lack of industry expertise at the moment, particularly when it comes to working with larger, modular building projects, Buongiorno tells us. “There’s just nobody really growing up in the industry anymore, because it has changed to where it’s really become almost two separate industries.”

The first of these is the relocatable, temporary buildings, office trailers, and fleet-type buildings that come in and out of lease, which is certainly a huge part of the industry. The second is the PMC model—permanent modular construction—which both Buongiorno and Gabriel are involved in. In that sector, there simply aren’t enough tradespeople who are coming up through the industry and learning all its nuances: working for a fleet; leasing and renting classroom trailers, office trailers, and smaller buildings; and getting those delivered.

“There are just not a lot of people coming into construction at all,” Buongiorno adds. “Not just trades, but project managers, construction management, and superintendents. We have a very, very difficult time finding good candidates.”

Other issues within the industry include financial constraints, with modular’s accelerated construction meaning both accelerated schedules and accelerated payments as well. “While Jim is building down at the site and needs to be paid, we’re doing the foundation work, which also needs to be paid for,” says Buongiorno. “So the client and the lender need to understand how that cash flow model is completely different than the traditional one.”

Modular construction must also—still—face down perceptions of lesser quality, with some clients not convinced that the buildings are strong and of high quality. “Jim and I can sit there all day and prove to you that they actually are more robust buildings than conventional buildings because they have to be shipped thousands of miles and not fall apart,” says Buongiorno.

Advocating for an industry
While this perception is changing, the process has been slow. Now considered a progressive method of construction, initially modular was only meant to be a temporary solution, and a perception of lesser quality—one that these companies are trying to repair—was thus born.

The industry continues to make progress here, with both the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) and the MBI (Modular Building Institute) working to improve the perception of modular and broaden its reach. To this end, there has been some global expansion into Europe—an important part of demonstrating the viability of the industry—along with MAP, the Modular Advocacy Program, which encompasses aspects including protecting, defending, addressing, and advocating.

“Jim’s MAP program generates the funds needed to educate, promote, and in some cases even hire lobbyists to help us with some of these causes, whether to change code or adopt new codes,” adds Buongiorno. “Jim was instrumental in really pushing that program and getting the awareness there.”

“We are hyper-focused on telling the story of not just what the Modular Building Institute is, but what modular does and what its constituent members do for communities in distress in terms of recovery, relief, and rebuilding,” says Gabriel.

In a key success story, MODLOGIQ recently completed the Athens Medical Campus in Athens, Ohio, the largest permanent healthcare facility ever built using off-site modular construction in North America, a 100,000-square-foot complete standalone structure that MODLOGIQ produced and assisted in the design of, an example of exceptional quality modular construction.

A model for growth
Looking to the years ahead, both companies are aiming to not only grow their businesses but to support and strengthen the entire industry as well. “We want to move from the manufacturing of things toward the assembly of projects,” says Buongiorno. “That starts with design and a kit-of-parts strategy that allows us to be able to speed up design and then speed up the assembly of projects.”

This means creating a model that lifts all boats, as it were. It isn’t enough that a given company is able to increase its capacity and skill set; it is important to reduce the total cost of setting up new factories, period, and to geographically locate facilities in areas in need of accelerated building, such as those that have been devastated by natural disasters. The ability to move the assembly process to a near-site location doesn’t just help grow business; it recognizes how to appropriately scale the industry and how to bring more capacity online to provide greater value to communities in need.

Built on trust
All of the growth and the ingenuity that underpins these two companies has been made possible by the solid relationship that John Buongiorno and Jim Gabriel have built over the years. “In the construction world there are inherent conflicts in every step along the process, from design to final completion and commission,” Gabriel says. “What breaks down those barriers is trust. What facilitates that level of trust is, in my view, friendship and common goals.”

Buongiorno and Gabriel’s relationship is unique in terms of who they are and what’s important to them, starting with trust, leading to a shared give and take, and resulting in a successful project. “John and I have been in the industry for 30-plus years, and it’s been a long, winding path,” says Gabriel. “We want to succeed because of what it means for us as friends and as people who have worked together for a long time, and we really want that to be a repeatable model.”

Buongiorno agrees. “If it wasn’t for Jim and his firm having the willingness to push the envelope and continually having us push them to do more and more in the factory, it would just be like everybody else,” he says. “That’s what sets us apart. Integrity is paramount. Do what you say you’re going to do, whether it’s in a contract or not.”

Both companies strive to maintain a very high level of reliability, he adds, not just with each other, but with their firms and their board positions at the Modular Building Institute. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have tough conversations—we do—but you can have those tough conversations with the level of trust and respect that we have for each other, not just personally, but as organizations,” Buongiorno says.

It’s not always easy, but it’s all in an effort to continue down that path of success. “There are very few, if any, other companies that do buildings the way we do it together, and that’s special.”

The post Trust, Integrity, Value: Constructing a Perfect Partnership for Success<p class="company">Axis Construction/MODLOGIQ</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Senior Architect and Partner, Philippe Ashby, appreciates that such a longstanding firm continues to evolve and build on its capabilities, adding three new partners since we last spoke in 2021 and never resting on its laurels. These new partners, he says, bring experience in design, construction, technology, and the technical side of architecture, all of which exemplify the work that DMA does. Moves like these showcase the firm’s vision of keeping its expertise broad and building on a strong foundation.

Mr. Ashby tells us that DMA has gained a bird’s-eye view of the architecture field in its near-70 years in business. With a team of more than 40 individuals, the company excels in institutional, commercial, and cultural work, and specializes in rehabilitation projects including heritage properties and the unique considerations they bring.

The team’s collective knowledge base includes not only this rich technical expertise but also the robust processes needed to better itself and its industry, with particular attention paid to documentation. Since its founding, the company’s reputation has been built on its methodology, tenacity, knowledge of Montreal’s built environment, and avant-garde creativity, which all come together in a comprehensive offering with the data to back it up. At DMA Architectes, this data is put to good use for the benefit of the awarded project while taking into account potential future needs and the long-term value of the project—key considerations with heritage properties in particular. As Mr. Ashby explains, “It’s important for us to engage the client relationship and ensure they get full service for the work we’re putting into place.”

Guided by such rigorous internal processes, DMA is able to tackle projects of varying scopes and scales. The company is currently collaborating with PRA and NFOE on a three-phase project for Polytechnique Montréal involving expansion and redevelopment work, and important rehabilitation work is also being done with NORR at the National Printing Bureau, a Classified Federal Heritage Building in Gatineau.

Indeed, Montreal has proven to be a fruitful place for DMA Architectes to call home. Mr. Ashby explains that many of the city’s buildings were built in the 1970s and 1980s, which means many of them are now in need of maintenance and renovation work; this work is promising but it is also complex. Many of these projects involve occupied commercial buildings, which means that the firm must be wary of the particular needs of the tenants within, as well as those of the client.

Mr. Ashby says that DMA has the technical know-how to see and approach these projects from all angles, looking at restoration, rehabilitation/conversion, or replacement as needed. Each approach comes with distinct impacts, technical challenges, and benefits, so when it comes to projects, DMA looks carefully at the finer details. For instance, in light of the rise of modern office towers in the ’70s and ’80s, DMA has developed an expertise in glazing, window, and curtain wall interventions that come with specific challenges, expertise that is coming in handy in the company’s present work on two major rehabilitation projects.

“It is important to be able to accompany our client with the technical support required but also to engage in important questions regarding logistical issues such as how the work will impact tenants, how the job site will be organized, and how the work will take place,” explains Mr. Ashby. Of the two current projects in question, both impose very different impacts on the sequence of work and therefore the tenant impact; one is employing more traditional methods (lifts and platforms) and one a newer, enclosed system (Upbrella). The Upbrella system provides an enclosure that offers a controlled environment which facilitates the work and inspections and improves control over the schedule. However, the work and services need to be adapted to the different conditions that are chosen for a project.

As an employer, DMA aims to curate a similarly collaborative environment in the workplace. Overall, the firm maintains a horizontal approach wherein everyone is encouraged to participate and share their thoughts on various aspects of projects. This is key to creating a sense of openness and belonging within the team.

DMA has also recently moved into new offices, a move done in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to get its people back to business as usual in an enticing work environment. “Collaboration is important in our field of work,” says Mr. Ashby, and younger staff members benefit from working in proximity to their team and their mentors. One never stops learning as an architect, says Mr. Ashby, and there is no better way to do so than in person.

The company makes this mentoring easy with in-house presentations on projects, software, and lessons learned. “It’s important to feel like you’re growing within the firm,” says Mr. Ashby. He tells us that architects, traditionally, are generalists in terms of technical ability; although DMA encourages its team members to develop their own specialties, everyone enjoys and benefits from a variety of work. By continually building on their skill sets and expanding their knowledge bases, everyone at DMA is in a position to meaningfully contribute in a variety of ways, and the work is that much more rewarding and stimulating.

The current architectural market, Mr. Ashby says, is in a state of flux, which poses certain challenges but has also allowed DMA to adapt its approach. There have been significant budget cuts in institutional projects in the education sector (historically, a large segment of the firm’s work), bringing market shifts for the firm and the industry. A number of projects are presently on standby, and meanwhile, DMA is shifting focus to its other markets such as building restoration and commercial buildings.

Although DMA is meeting with success in exploring diverse projects, there are still a lot of unknowns around elements like tariffs and global trade. While some suppliers may not see an impact (such as aluminum suppliers who get their product from Europe), others are affected far more greatly, forcing everyone to adapt to stay competitive.

Mr. Ashby says that, as a firm whose rich and varied expertise sets it apart, DMA Architectes wants to continue building on its strengths and applying them to as many sectors as possible. The team is exploring some new avenues and, as always, enjoying the large-scope projects to which it can contribute as part of a team. Moving forward, DMA will also keep its eye on factors like sustainability and climate change with regard to the role they play in building maintenance. Mr. Ashby says that attention must be paid to the ever-aging built environment, and to protect and preserve these buildings means they must first be carefully analyzed through every lens.

DMA Architectes has always gone the extra mile for its clients, and now, with nearly seven decades of experience behind it, the firm continues to evolve with purpose, blending tradition, technology, and teamwork to meet the demands of an ever-changing built environment. This company’s enduring success lies not only in the quality of its work but also in its capacity to adapt, mentor, and anticipate what comes next. As the firm strengthens its leadership, expands its expertise, and deepens its commitment to the preservation of Montreal’s architectural fabric, DMA Architectes remains firmly rooted in the values that have defined it since 1957: precision, collaboration, and an unwavering dedication to building better spaces for generations to come.

The post Expertise and Collaboration Come Together at DMA Architectes<p class="company">DMA Architectes</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

“We have the freedom to experiment with different types of housing and concepts, without having to answer to someone questioning our every move,” he explains.

By funding the business with personal capital and carrying no debt, Bourque and his partners, General Contractor Ricky Martins and Plumbing Contractor Paulos DeMorais, use their combined 90 years of experience to explore unconventional approaches without the pressure of external investors. This independence allows the company to focus on efficiency, quality, and social impact while remaining agile and responsive to new opportunities.

“We view this as a family business, with our sons and daughters growing into the business to provide the next generation of leadership,” says Bourque. “With our kids either in college studying engineering or in the trades, we are able to allow them to grow in their respective fields while contributing to the strength of the company. We are looking to have them bring a fresh perspective and energy to the firm, helping expand operations and explore future growth. Bourque reflects, “We want to create something enduring, something that contributes to both society and the future of construction.”

Integrity Modular is a turnkey design and construction firm managing every aspect of the project lifecycle. From design and permitting to construction and installation, the company delivers fully finished units, including appliances, fixtures, and interiors. “As the architect running these projects, I have incredible control over the schedule,” Bourque notes. This integrated approach ensures timelines are predictable, costs are controlled, and quality is consistently high.

The company employs in-house tradespeople, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and fire protection specialists. This vertical integration eliminates dependency on external labor, which is critical given the aging trades workforce in the United States. According to Bourque, “The average electrician is 58 years old, the average plumber is 59. Without our in-house team, projects would face major delays.”

Having all trades under one roof allows the company to maintain disciplined scheduling, unaffected by weather or subcontractor availability. “If a traditional construction crew is delayed by rain, it can take weeks to recover. We don’t have that problem,” Bourque explains. This ability to control every aspect of production contributes directly to the company’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

A key differentiator for Integrity Modular is its focus on prefabrication, which reduces inefficiencies in traditional construction. Every module is constructed in the factory, overbuilt slightly for transport, and fully finished with interiors and appliances. “It takes us three days to construct a two-bedroom apartment from piles of wood to a finished product,” Bourque shares. The second unit is then completed on a staggered schedule, essentially creating an assembly-line process that maximizes speed and consistency.

The process is highly engineered. Exterior elements, window trims, corner columns, and parapets are preassembled, allowing rapid on-site assembly. This approach drastically reduces construction timelines, from 18 months for conventional projects to as little as five months for modular buildings. For investors, this accelerated timeline means faster returns and lower financing costs. Bourque adds, “We dissect every inefficiency in the construction process and turn it into an assembly process. It’s about maximizing efficiency, not cutting corners.”

Additionally, this modular system allows for scalability across multiple projects. Because each unit is built with the same rigorous standards and tracked via a unique serial number, Integrity Modular can replicate successful designs efficiently across multiple locations, ensuring quality and consistency while reducing project risk. This approach positions the firm to respond quickly to market demand, whether for affordable housing, senior living communities, or seasonal workforce housing.

While profitability and efficiency are important, Integrity Modular is equally committed to social responsibility, and up to 25 percent of the company’s business is dedicated to working with nonprofits and affordable housing initiatives. One notable project is the Seeds of Hope program in Worcester, designed to provide ADA-accessible housing for at-risk seniors with integrated support services.

“We’re not just dropping units on a lot; we’re wrapping services around them to ensure residents succeed,” Bourque emphasizes. These projects are intended as prototype models for Massachusetts, demonstrating that modular housing can be affordable, efficient, and supportive of vulnerable populations.

The company also experiments with tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which address both urban density and seasonal workforce housing needs. ADUs, or “granny flats,” can be installed on underutilized property and provide affordable, high-quality housing options for seniors, seasonal workers, or low-income residents. Bourque explains, “We can reduce costs, maintain quality, and provide communities with solutions that didn’t exist before we started.”

Integrity Modular is also tackling the seasonal housing crisis on the Cape and other East Coast locations. Many restaurants and businesses struggle to hire staff because housing is limited or prohibitively expensive. Bourque has developed an innovative approach: modular tiny homes that can be temporarily installed, connected to a shared utility manifold, and relocated after the season ends.

“This approach allows businesses to provide housing for their employees during peak season, and then those units can be repurposed in other communities,” Bourque explains. The solution reduces costs for municipalities and businesses while providing flexible housing for workers, a model that could be scaled to address seasonal housing shortages nationwide.

Bourque is also exploring ways to optimize utilities and infrastructure, reducing overall costs by designing modular homes that can share systems like water and electricity. By thinking creatively about these efficiencies, Integrity Modular demonstrates how innovation can meet the practical challenges faced by many towns and businesses.

Sustainability is another critical component of Integrity Modular’s approach. By constructing most components in the factory, the company produces less than 1 percent waste, compared to the 15 to 20 percent typical of traditional construction sites. Prefabrication reduces material waste, minimizes site disruption, and supports environmental stewardship.

The company is also moving toward passive building standards, incorporating advanced insulation, sealants, and energy-efficient construction principles. “We’re achieving sustainability by design. As energy codes evolve, we’ll already be ahead of the curve,” Bourque notes. By embedding efficiency and environmental responsibility into the core of the business, Integrity Modular is proving that modular construction can be both profitable and environmentally conscious.

This sustainability extends beyond environmental factors to social impact, as the company prioritizes partnerships with nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions to deliver solutions that serve communities effectively and inclusively. Education and knowledge-sharing are key priorities for the firm, and Bourque regularly hosts students, nonprofit representatives, and local officials to showcase modular construction processes. From factory tours to on-site assembly demonstrations, visitors gain firsthand insight into the advantages of modular housing.

“The next generation will inherit the housing challenges we face today,” Bourque emphasizes. “If they understand modular construction and the efficiencies it brings, they can apply that knowledge to future projects.” The company works closely with architecture students and universities such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute to provide real-world learning experiences, from factory workflow to site installation. By fostering this knowledge-sharing, Integrity Modular is ensuring that the next generation of architects, engineers, and builders can continue to innovate, improve efficiency, and create socially responsible housing solutions.

Integrity Modular is establishing itself as a pioneer in Massachusetts and beyond. Bourque recounts meetings with the Secretary of Housing and local banks: “We figured out financing for modular projects ourselves, while others were just starting to explore it,” he shares. This leadership and willingness to innovate has earned the company recognition from policymakers, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders alike.

The firm’s success with early projects, including 30-unit buildings and multiple ADU installations in progress, demonstrates both the scalability and versatility of modular construction. Bourque explains, “Once a client experiences the efficiency and quality of modular, they rarely go back to stick-built construction. It’s a vote of confidence in the process.”

Looking ahead, he envisions a future where modular construction is a mainstream solution for a variety of housing needs: affordable housing, workforce housing, senior living, and small urban units. By combining operational discipline, technical innovation, and social responsibility, Integrity Modular is proving that modular housing is not just a construction method; it is a strategic solution capable of reshaping the housing industry.

“Our goal is to create a framework that can be replicated, scaled, and adapted by others,” Bourque says. “We’re showing that modular can be better, faster, and more socially impactful than traditional construction, and that’s a model we want to see grow.”

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