Modular Advantage Magazine
In each bi-monthly issue, Modular Advantage magazine explores a specific modular construction topic and features interviews and articles from industry experts along with news and updates from the Modular Building Institute and its members, modular building case studies, and upcoming industry events. This construction trade magazine is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the global commercial modular and relocatable buildings industry.
Printed copies are free to MBI members and include exclusive content not available anywhere else. The abridged, digital versions of each issue, available below, are available free for everyone.
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Latest Articles & Interviews
Celebrating the Winners of MBI’s 2025 Awards of Distinction
MBI’s Awards of Distinction are presented annually, traditionally on the final evening of its North American World of Modular conference and tradeshow. This year’s Awards were presented in a variety of categories, including several each for permanent modular construction projects and relocatable buildings. Excellence in “green” modular construction and marketing were also recognized.
MBI Welcomes R.I. Group Founder & President Salvatore Tafuro to the Industry’s Hall of Fame
In 1973, Salvatore Tafuro, only in his twenties and already supporting a family of three children, set out to realize his entrepreneurial dream. From a humble garage in Leverano, in the heart of Salento, he began producing metal structures and aluminum fixtures for the construction industry.
The Best-Kept Secret in Housing
What can we do to right the ship, overcome these circumstances, capitalize on the opportunity, and address this epidemic in the housing sector? It’s easier than you might think.
The Blueprint for Accountability: How Mastery, Autonomy, and Purpose Drive Performance in Construction & Manufacturing
Accountability is one of the most critical elements of a thriving organization, yet many leaders in the construction and manufacturing industries struggle to create a culture where it truly thrives. High-performance teams require more than just technical skills and efficiency—they need strong accountability, alignment with the company’s vision, and a deep sense of ownership.
Current Issue
Celebrating the industry's latest award-winning projects, this issue of Modular Advantage features in-depth modular building case studies, articles, and an interview with the newest inductee into MBI's Hall of Fame, R.I. Group founder Salvatore Tafuro.
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Featured Modular Building Case Studies
Safe Modular Construction with Aerofilm Air Caster Transport
In collaboration with Aerofilm Systems, Heijmans developed innovative skids using air caster technology for moving modules easily and safely. These pallets are equipped with an auto-flow system, making operation extremely simple.
Building the Future: Triumph Modular’s Construction Services Team and Their Summer 2024 Masterpiece
In the summer of 2024, Triumph Modular’s Construction Services team undertook one of its most ambitious projects: $306 million modular construction initiative for the Manchester Public School system in New Hampshire.
Wilmot Modular Structures, Inc. Corporate Campus
Wilmot required a modern, efficient headquarters to showcase their modular construction expertise while fostering team collaboration and innovation. The facility was designed to streamline operations, reflect the company’s commitment to sustainability, and support long-term growth under multigenerational leadership.
Castlegar Student Housing, Selkirk College
Modular construction was chosen as the ideal solution to provide high-quality, fast-track affordable housing for students, delivering a 3-storey, 30-module, 114-student bed building with a mass-timber main common
area for student amenities.
Manchester Public Schools Temporary Classroom Space
The buildings can accommodate up to 1,000 students during construction of permanent buildings, allowing education to proceed without interruption. The modern and fully equipped modular learning spaces ensure a smooth transition for both students and staff.
Oldivai on 31st – Modular Housing, Rinse and Repeat
With a “kit-of-parts” approach, Oldivai on 31st demonstrated how a predesigned layout could deliver consistent programming and rapid deployment.
Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham—Jackson, WY
The plan was to build the project in two phases. This would enable the property to open sooner and start
accommodating guests while completing the second phase. The digital twin was designed to provide a complete factory-ready model for both phases upfront. That gave the factory everything it needed to bring each phase into production quickly. It also enabled everyone a way to plan both
phases ahead of time, and begin prepping the site in advance.
102-108 Westford Street
102-108 Westford was an opportunity for New England-based GreenStaxx to show how project costs could be trimmed by using a standardized, modular-ready Triple Decker design.
Geberit In-Wall Systems Makes a New Breed Luxury Room Concept a Reality for International Hotel Brand
Geberit in-wall flush toilet systems for wall-hung toilets are the classics for modern bathroom design. citizenM has specified the Geberit systems into their bathroom walls worldwide as a basis of their bathroom design. This installation is part of the over one million times building owners have installed Geberit systems in their buildings around the globe for over the past 50 years.
Panel Built Provides Custom Modular Enclosure for Major Beverage Manufacturer
The challenge was twofold. Firstly, Panel Built needed to create a spacious enclosure that could accommodate a large facility crane. This enclosure required a design that provided ample storage space and integrated seamlessly with the existing infrastructure. Secondly, the structure needed to incorporate office space that offered personnel an unimpeded, 360-degree view of the factory floor.
Fire Station 67
Fire Station 67 is designed in direct response to the climate crisis, the increasing threat of wildfires, and the needs to the Rancho Mission Viejo community. Prefabricated off-site and assembled from 10 modules, the 4,667-square-foot fire station is a modular design with the ability to reconfigure the structure into something new in the future.
Maceo May
Maceo May is a six-story, all-electric modular construction, affordable housing development located on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. The climate-responsive design provides 104 homes for formerly homeless veterans and their families with a strong focus on decarbonization, resilience and wellness. The apartment building offers 1 on-site manager’s unit, and a mix of 24 studio, 47 one-bedroom and 34 two-bedroom units.
The Sphere Made Possible with Exterior Wall Panels
This one-of-a-kind structure required one-of-a-kind building materials and exterior cladding that could accommodate the atypical geometries, project timelines, and significant daily foot traffic. Offsite construction, in the form of Dryvit’s Outsulite prefabricated panels of continuous insulation (CI), was the key method for streamlining the façade installation and ensuring quality control for the difficult building connections.
Modular Construction for Financial Viability: The Norwalk Project Case Study
The Norwalk project serves as a prime example of how Offsite Modular Construction, in collaboration with Architects, Consultants/Engineers, General Contractors (GC), and Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection (MEP/FP) Subcontractors, can make projects financially feasible by closely working with the Owner/Developer under an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach.
STAAT MOD Patient Bed Expansion at M Health Fairview – St. John’s Hospital
Construction firm The Boldt Company, and interdisciplinary design firm, HGA were engaged by St. John’s Hospital to deliver a 16-bed ICU patient observation wing onto the existing facility, built to over 90 percent completion offsite in Appleton, Wisc., then seamlessly transported and installed on the St. John’s campus – the first of its kind in the state of Minnesota.
Offsite Modular Construction Builds and Installs 12 New Classrooms for Westlake Academy in 100 Days
OMC utilized modular construction techniques to manufacture two brand new permanent 6,400-square-foot modular buildings, each housing six classrooms. The process included innovative design features for safety, durability, environmental sustainability, integrated technology enhancements, and health-oriented construction.
Formula 1 Race, Las Vegas, Nevada
In partnership with InProduction, Phoenix Modular Elevator (PME) designed, manufactured, and installed seven modular elevators for the F1 Grand Prix race in Las Vegas, Nevada. To minimize space, the design utilized machine roomless (MRL) hydraulic elevators, eliminating the need for separate machine rooms for each elevator. Instead, using the MRL design, the machine room equipment is built into the hoistway, and accessed via a small door on the side.
Silverking Student Housing, Selkirk College
ROC Modular was proud to deliver a much-needed new permanent modular Student Housing Residence for Selkirk College, located at the Silverking Campus in Nelson BC. The project is a 3-storey, 12-module 38-student bed building with a mass-timber main common area for student amenities.
Parkhurst Elementary School Classroom Additions
The Parkhurst Elementary School in Winchester, MA, has recently undergone an expansion of 13,074 square feet. Due to renovations at the neighboring Lynch School, students were temporarily relocated to Parkhurst. Modular construction was chosen as the preferred method to accommodate the influx of students and prepare for the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
VBC Chooses MAESTRO SMART 9 HP
Volumetric Building Companies (VBC), a global leader in the construction sector with a focus on building the future through volumetric modular techniques, choose the Maestro Smart 9 Heat Pump as their ideal comfort solution to heat and cool their modular housing project in Philadelphia, PA, consisting of 60 modular housing units.
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Online Exclusives
Recent Issues
Past Articles & Interviews
From Toronto to Suriname: A Global Modular Building Story
When I AM Gold – a Canadian gold mining operation based in Toronto, Ontario – wanted to expand its mining operations in Suriname, it knew it would also need to expand its infrastructure. More specifically, they needed to build a mechanical services compound that would allow their local crews to maintain and equipment critical to their mining operations. They also knew that it would be a challenge.
There Were a “Sea of Challenges” for this Modular, Island Development
Question: Can modular construction be used to build a series of affordable, unique housing buildings, all styled to look like they were built in 1845, on an
island that caters to the wealthy? The answer is, of course, yes, but how the
team at Signature Building Systems and KOH Architecture got there is quite a story.
America’s Construction Economy: A Race Against Time
If the economy has been able to handle higher interest rates thus far, undoubtedly it will be able to manage the lower interest rates to come. But many economists are pointing out that the Federal Reserve may already be too late to the game. While they gradually reduce interest rates, the U.S. economy could quickly decelerate, at least based on theoretical grounds if not on the most recent data releases, culminating in that long-predicted recession. Only time will tell.
Top Five Benefits of Modular Office Space
Modular office spaces are transforming how businesses think about their work environments. These innovative structures offer a mix of flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability, making them a smart choice for companies looking to gain an advantage.
Opportunities for Innovation
The construction industry stands at a crossroads. By embracing the principles of industrialized construction, learning from other industries, and harnessing digital technologies, the modular building industry can tackle its major challenges head-on. This transformation promises a future of increased productivity, improved quality, cost control, and a more sustainable, affordable and resilient built environment.
The Field Office: How to Create a Better & Safer Construction Worker Experience
A portable field office is a practical, versatile, and surprisingly powerful resource in the effort to save and improve the lives of construction workers.
Arctic Security and Sovereignty: The Role of Modular Structures
While the geopolitical challenges in the Arctic are immense, the physical environment of the region presents its own set of obstacles. The harsh climate, extreme weather conditions, and logistical difficulties make it challenging to establish and maintain a sustained presence in the Arctic. In this context, modular structures offer a practical and effective solution, providing the flexibility, speed, and resilience needed for operations in such a remote and hostile environment.
Data, Efficiencies Behind the Rise of MID-RISE Modular
Migrating the REVIT strategy into 3D volumetric modular pursuits has been nothing more than extending and applying the same DNA that has proven so effective in the 2D panel world. The team has a masterful understanding of fabrication of light gauge steel and heavy gauge steel, however the current focus in the volumetric world is on the refinement and integration of the various building systems that are specific to building types.
How Climate Change Will Impact Existing Fleet Units – Brace Yourself!
As an industry, we cannot expect the site requirements to remain unchanged over long periods of time, encompassing multiple code cycles. It is critically important for owners to follow potential building code changes relative to these site-specific conditions as it could impact all existing units labeled and weaken our “grandfather” provision.
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