Modular Building Institute Breaks Records with 2025 World of Modular Conference

The Modular Building Institute (MBI) held its annual World of Modular Conference Las Vegas earlier this month, featuring leading experts and industry leaders in modular building. The annual gathering saw a record crowd of 1,741 attendees – a 20% growth from 2024 – and featured insightful keynote speeches, with targeted breakout sessions covering key themes of affordable housing, the evolution of construction, and an introduction to modular construction.

The keynote speeches and breakout sessions examined the newest updates and findings in modular and offsite construction, giving them the opportunity to network and explore the newest advancements in the field. Standout moments from the event included:

• Hospitals Without Borders detailed their work in delivering modular hospitals to areas impacted by both natural and human-caused disasters.
• Adam Berger Development shared a compelling case study on their use of modular construction to create affordable housing solutions.
• Architect Eisa Lee led a session, focusing on the potential of utilizing surplus land owned by religious institutions to develop small, community-centered modular housing projects ideal for suburban and semi-urban environments, aiming to provide safe, accessible housing and foster community growth.

Other high profile attendees spoke to the current state of the industry, including: Christopher Peterson, CEO of Satellite Shelters, Inc.; Rick Murdock, CEO and Co-Founder of Autovol; Garth Haakenson, CEO and President of Pacific Mobile Structures, Inc.; and Trevor Haynes, CEO and President of Black Diamond Group.

“Each year, the World of Modular continues to surpass expectations—not just in attendance, but in the depth of innovation and impact we see across the industry,” said Tom Hardiman, Executive Director of the Modular Building Institute. “This year’s conference demonstrated the global momentum behind modular construction and reinforced our role as a catalyst for smarter, faster and more sustainable building solutions worldwide.”

World of Modular featured special honors, including the induction of Salvatore Tafuro to the MBI Hall of Fame. Tafuro, founder of R.I. Group S.p.A., has galvanized modular construction’s role in solving global challenges. Most notably, he co-founded Hospitals Without Borders, a nonprofit organization that provides modular clinics and hospitals to underserved communities worldwide.

Five students from around the world were also given scholarships to attend World of Modular, aligning with MBI’s commitment to helping  the next generation of modular leaders – with a total of 70 students attending.

World of Modular continues to be a pivotal event driving innovation within the modular building sector, aligning with Modular Building Institute’s mission of expanding the use of modular construction through community outreach and education.