Offsite Construction Summit + Modular Site Tour

Presented by the Offsite Construction Network, the Offsite Construction Summit returns to Berkeley, CA, on June 13, 2025, to offer:

• A guided tour of Berkeley's newest mixed-use modular building project, currently under construction just minutes from the Summit.
• Superior networking with the leading offsite construction manufacturers, designers, developers, and contractors in and around California,
• Informative presentations about the capabilities of offsite construction across all markets, and
• Direct access to regional companies and end-users who are embracing the benefits of off-site construction. 

Speaker Bios / Session Descriptions

Containerized Construction: Market Insights, Demand Trends, & Emerging Applications
Maximilian Birner, Co-Founder & CEO, Boxhub

By 2030, the container modification industry is set to become a $147.6 billion market. Are you positioned to capitalize on this explosive growth? Do you know how containers are used in construction? Join Maximilian Birner, Co-Founder & CEO of Boxhub, as he explores exclusive data on high-demand container building types and compelling case studies in housing, retail, and healthcare. Gain insights into the economic and environmental advantages of container-based construction and explore how containers are being used to create resilient and attractive buildings for both permanent and relocatable needs.

Inside Terner Labs Push to Expand Factory-Built Construction: Optimizing for Affordability
Tyler Pullen, Senior Technical Advisor, Terner Labs

California is a leader in thinking aggressively and quantitatively about solutions that address both affordable housing and sustainable construction. Likewise, Terner Labs—founded to complement the work of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley—is helping scale real-world answers to some of the most pressing housing challenges anywhere. Tyler Pullen serves as senior technical advisor at Terner Labs and will talk about how offsite construction methods reduce the time and cost of construction while increasing the supply of affordable housing. He will also elaborate on regulatory challenges facing housing delivery, tools for policy decision-making, efforts to spur innovation and modernize construction methods, and opportunities for impactful intervention.

In Berkeley Now: New 8-Story Building Offers Needed Mix-Used Space
Aron Johnson, Associate/Project Manager , DJR Architecture
Andy Nuessle, President, Synergy Modular
Chris Schmidt, Business Development Manager, Volumetric Building Companies

Join our panel of experts for a project overview of Berkeley’s newest modular development currently under construction. This mixed-use residential building has 207 units, 5000+ square feet of commercial space, semi-automated parking, and vast amenities. The eight-story buildings will yield around 134,400 total square feet. Parking will be included for 89 bicycles and 39 cars. Residents will benefit from a community garden, club room, and fitness center. Lounges and decks will be accessible on every floor owing to the structure’s unique stepped form. Offsite Construction Summit attendees will hear directly from the project team including DJR Architecture, Synergy Modular, and Volumetric Building Companies about the complexities of the project and how offsite modular construction provided a solution in an aggressive and complex market.

Mass Timber & the Future of Prefabrication & Offsite Construction
Sam Dicke, Manager of Client Development, Timberlab

Timberlab, a mass timber manufacturer and design assist partner, has been pushing the boundaries of prefabrication and offsite construction since their inception in 2017 when they worked on First Tech Federal Credit Union’s headquarters in Oregon. At the time, the project was the largest mass timber building in North America. Timberlab took a leap backwards in the supply chain in 2020, opening a fabrication and offsite facility in Portland and expanding operations nationwide with the opening of a South Carolina headquarters in 2023. In 2024, Timberlab acquired a large glulam manufacturer and in 2025 broke ground on their massive 200,000 square foot state-of-the-art cross laminated timber facility in Oregon. Timberlab has completed over 65 projects in 22 states across the US. Join Sam Dicke, Timberlab’s manager of client development, for a discussion on the importance of design coordination, manufacturing connection, and offsite assembly integration to deliver a successful mass timber project.

The Modular Design Process: Designing the Modules
Matthew Laase, AIA, Principal, Jackson | Main Architecture, P.S.

While the benefits of modular construction are fairly well known, differences between the design of modular vs. traditional multi-family projects tend to be less understood. One of the most critical aspects is early and ongoing engagement among key project team members. As with all buildings constructed offsite, modular projects require increased collaboration among the designer, module manufacturer, and general contractor. Involving the manufacturer and GC early is essential to achieving efficiencies in design, assembly, and installation. Join Matthew Laase, AIA, principal of Jackson | Main Architecture for one leading architect’s perspective on how offsite construction provides opportunities for innovative and creative solutions.

Rooms as a Product: A New Way to Drive Speed, Savings, & Standardization for Hospitality & Multifamily Construction
RJ Mahadev, Co-Founder & CEO, RaaP Builders

Developers may struggle with justifying offsite construction because of perceived risk and higher costs. Design prototypes, however, optimized for modular fabrication, including standardized and documented MEP and structural connections, enables time and cost savings across design, fabrication, and construction. Join this interactive, case-based session, geared for architects, fabricators, developers, general contractors, and more to learn about successes and lessons-learned with a “Rooms as a Product” approach. Attendees will hear about the advantages of this approach regardless of role, how design prototypes are used to accelerate fabricator ramp time and throughput, and how the approach saves money and reduces risk.