Inside Modular: The Podcast of Commercial Modular Construction

Hosted by Modular Building Institute

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Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Inside Modular is the official podcast of the Modular Building Institute, the Voice of Commercial Modular Construction. This series will highlight industry news and trends, include conversations with industry thought-leaders, and discuss the advantages of modular building construction.

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60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 421 min

A World of Potential: How Supply Chain Integration & a Respect for Culture are Powering AluHouse LLC

Send us Fan MailEric Kwong, founder of AluHouse USA LLC, started with an aluminum manufacturing foundation in Hong Kong and used that advantage to create durable, design-forward modular units. From there, the company’s path tracks the pressures reshaping construction worldwide: labor shortages, housing demand, and the need for consistent quality that job sites often struggle to deliver. In this episode, Eric describes how AluHouse's capabilities expanded from aluminum into steel and concrete systems that can support mid-rise and high-rise modular construction.Eric also shares what makes global expansion succeed or fail. Eric explains how to evaluate market potential, why building codes and QA/QC systems matter, and why culture is not a side note but an operational requirement. He digs into supply chain integration, certification needs across regions, and where modular clearly outperforms traditional construction today, plus where customization and complex finishes still require careful planning.Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

May 14, 2026Episode 318 min

Working with Canadian AHJs, Building Codes & the Value of Early Stakeholder Alignment w/ Crosscheck Modular Consulting

Send us Fan MailPermitting can turn “faster with modular” into “stuck in review” long before the first module leaves the plant. Sam Taylor, founder of Crosscheck Modular Consulting in Ontario, explains what actually slows modular projects down and what teams can do differently on their next build. If you’ve ever wondered why approvals feel unpredictable from one town to the next, this conversation puts real structure around the problem. Sam walks through the modular approvals process in Ontario, where building permits are submitted to local authorities having jurisdiction and shaped by local bylaws as much as code. She explains why early engagement with building officials matters so much, especially in smaller communities that may not see modular often, and how proactive communication can reduce redesigns, clarify inspections, and keep projects moving. Additionally, she also compares province-to-province realities, from Alberta’s deeper familiarity with modular to BC’s Step Code energy efficiency requirements.Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

April 16, 2026Episode 225 min

How Financing Companies Can Leverage AI to Help Modular Developers Build Faster w/ Park Place Lending Inc.

Send us Fan MailFinancing can kill a great modular project long before the first module is built. That’s exactly where AI is starting to change the game. Jim Park, founder of Park Place Lending, talks about how AI is impacting financing for commercial modular construction, and the real-world bottlenecks that keep good ideas from turning into funded projects.Jim digs into how AI helps with early feasibility: faster budgets, tighter schedules, cleaner pro formas, and clearer comparisons between modular vs conventional construction. Jim shares how developers can use data to identify true demand pockets, even down to ZIP codes, and why the “obvious” markets are not always the best markets. We also talk about the bigger shift most builders miss: you don’t just need a better build method, you need a scalable system that connects marketing, qualification, financing, and delivery.Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

April 14, 2026Episode 130 min

How "Physical A.I." & Energy Resiliency are Redefining HVAC Systems w/ AIIR Intelligent HVAC

Send us Fan MailEnergy prices swing, grids strain under electrification, and the old habit of oversizing HVAC “just in case” is getting expensive. Trevor Schick, CEO of AIIR Intelligent HVAC, unpacks what a modern HVAC strategy looks like when comfort, resiliency, and life-cycle cost matter as much as first cost, especially in commercial modular construction. In this episode, Trevor explains how HVAC decisions can give developers back rentable square footage, reduce mechanical closets, keep ceilings higher, and even free up rooftops for amenities instead of equipment. Trevor also talks about “physical AI” for buildings: sensors that understand occupancy, humidity, and outdoor conditions, variable-speed compressors and fans that run more smoothly, and edge computing that learns the needs of each individual space instead of guessing at a whole-building average. Along the way, he connects the dots between indoor air quality, noise, demand flexibility, and the reality that refrigerants and regulations will keep changing. Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

July 15, 2025Episode 822 min

Simplifying Modular Preconstruction for Building Developers w/ RaaP Builders

Send us Fan MailImagine having precise pricing for your construction project before ever hiring an architect. That's exactly the paradigm shift that RaaP Builders wants to create in the modular construction industry.RJ Mahadev, co-founder and CEO of RaaP Builders, reveals how his company is transforming modular preconstruction through a "rooms as a product" approach that brings clarity, certainty, and efficiency to building developers. The company's innovative online platform lets developers input basic information—location, number of floors, and units—and immediately receive comprehensive designs with detailed pricing comparisons between traditional and modular construction methods. For developers building prototypical structures like affordable housing, workforce housing, or budget hotels, RaaP's system offers a potential path to greater certainty, faster timelines, and significant cost savings.Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

July 7, 2025Episode 726 min

From Bespoke Tiny Homes to Full Modular Developments: How Wind River Built Scaled Up

Send us Fan MailTravis Pyke, founder and CEO of Wind River Built, shares his journey from tiny home builder to modular manufacturer and explains how his company's vertical integration approach allowed it to quickly scale production and attract commercial building developers.For developers considering modular construction, Pyke's insights about coordination, partner selection, and pre-construction planning provide a roadmap to successful projects. By focusing on transparency, quality, and bringing more services under one roof, Wind River Built demonstrates how modern modular construction can deliver turnkey solutions that consistently exceed client expectations.Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

June 10, 2025Episode 626 min

Contract Clarity: Templates Tailored for Modular Construction Success w/ AIA Contract Documents

Send us Fan MailFor years, modular construction stakeholders have struggled with traditional contracts that fail to account for the dual-site nature of prefabrication, the split responsibilities for design between architects and manufacturers, and the complex permitting processes spanning multiple jurisdictions. Now, new agreements from AIA Contract Documents tackle these challenges head-on by clearly delineating responsibilities and risks where they're best managed.Listen as Sara Betancorth from AIA Contract Documents and Sal Verrastro from Spillman Farmer Architects detail how these new contracts were created through years of collaboration between architects, attorneys, and industry experts. Now available to the public, these contracts represent a balanced approach that acknowledges the realities of modern modular construction. The result? Contracts that reduce risk, clarify responsibilities, and ultimately facilitate smoother project delivery for all stakeholders.Whether you're an owner, architect, contractor, or modular manufacturer, these new documents promise to transform how modular projects are structured and executed.Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

May 16, 2025Episode 522 min

UnContained: How One Manufacturer is Helping to Change the Way Chicago Builds

Send us Fan MailRory Rubin, founder and CEO of SI Container Builds, shares her journey from clinical social worker to modular construction innovator and discusses two of her company's groundbreaking container-based projects in Chicago. Rory explores how shipping container construction offers sustainable, cost-effective building solutions as she details her recent experiences navigating municipal approvals and changing perceptions about this innovative construction method.Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

March 18, 2025Episode 421 min

Revolutionizing Portuguese Housing: The Promise of Modular Construction w/ Bond Housing Systems

Send us Fan MailDiscover how modular construction is primed to reshape Portugal's housing landscape. Diogo Rutkowski from Bond Housing Systems explores the urgent challenges facing Portugal, including a shortage of construction workers and an overwhelming number of homes with poor energy efficiency. Diogo highlights how modular construction can create vibrant, inclusive communities, offering faster, more efficient building processes that promise to redefine the future of housing in Portugal.Diogo also unpacks the advantages of wooden and steel modular structures that promise eco-friendliness, strength, and cost stability. He explains how these sustainable solutions can address the housing shortage with rapid delivery and environmental benefits. Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

March 10, 2025Episode 326 min

The Future of Healthcare Construction & the Potential of Modular w/ EIR Healthcare

Send us Fan MailGrant Geiger, CEO of EIR Healthcare, explores how modular construction is transforming healthcare building projects by addressing the industry's unique challenges of high costs, slow timelines, and technology integration.What makes healthcare construction unique isn't the materials or processes—it's the motivation behind the projects. Unlike economically-driven commercial developments, healthcare facilities often expand based on community need rather than financial returns. And with more hospital systems shifting to a "hub and spoke" model with smaller satellite facilities, the opportunities for modular building has never been greater.In this episode, Grant shares his thoughts on the potential for modular healthcare construction to produce buildings that not only deliver care for patients but deliver faster, more predictable timetables for stakeholders. By eliminating the "blank sheet of paper" approach that currently dominates healthcare construction, modular methods promise facilities that can be built faster, cheaper, and with better patient outcomes—a win for providers, patients, and healthcare systems as a whole.Support the showListen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

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