Inside Modular: The Podcast of Commercial Modular Construction

Send us Fan Mail
A modular schedule can collapse over one thing: late decisions. That’s why cross-laminated timber (CLT) and modular construction fit together so well and why they can also magnify each other’s coordination mistakes if you treat them like conventional builds. Sidney Filippis, Director of Design at Sterling Structural, details what it really takes to bring mass timber into a factory-driven workflow without surprises. 

Sidney explains how modular teams should think about CLT, whether as a substitute for familiar assemblies or as a structural system that changes how loads, tolerances, and interfaces behave. Sidney also shares the first design assumptions to revisit when moving from steel to mass timber, including lighter weight impacts and the reality that wood, steel, and concrete each bring different tolerance expectations. Additionally, Sidney discusses costs: CLT can be more expensive up front, so the smarter comparison is total project cost, where exposed wood finishes can reduce drywall, paint, and labor while faster installs cut schedule risk. 

From there, Sidney details aspects that can make or break projects: MEP penetrations, connection engineering, acoustics planning, and moisture protection on site, and more.
If you’re considering a first step, Sidney explains why a plant tour and a pilot project can de-risk adoption, plus what success could look like for mass timber and commercial modular construction in the coming years.
Support the show
Listen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

Send us Fan Mail
Eric 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 show
Listen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

Send us Fan Mail
Permitting 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 show
Listen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

Send us Fan Mail
Financing 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 show
Listen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/

Send us Fan Mail
Energy 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 show
Listen to all episodes of MBI's Inside Modular podcast at https://www.modular.org/inside-modular-the-podcast-of-commercial-modular-construction/