Build Ahead
At the Halfway Mark: Reflections on the MBI–CfOC Accreditation Task Force
This summer, the Modular Building Institute and the Center for Offsite Construction convened a high-level Task Force to explore the feasibility of creating a new accrediting body for offsite construction degree programs. Now at its midpoint, the Task Force has brought together leading professionals from across the industry to draft a foundational report examining educational gaps, accreditation models, and workforce needs. More than just a document, the effort reflects a shared commitment to shape the future of modular education through collaboration, precision, and vision.
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CfOC’s proposed Legal Infrastructure initiative
Blog | Jul 15, 2025
The Center for Offsite Construction (CfOC) has launched a Legal Infrastructure initiative to address the lack of standardized contracting tools for modular and offsite delivery, beginning with a research-first approach funded through a new HUD grant proposal. Early conversations with legal experts, including Ron Ciotti of Hinckley Allen, revealed that prior efforts to draft modular-specific contracts often failed due to incompatible assumptions and undefined legal terms. The CfOC’s strategy prioritizes foundational research—a legal whitepaper establishing shared definitions and interpretations—as a prerequisite to drafting modular-specific agreements that reflect the realities of offsite construction.
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Why We Wrote Three Grants in Three Weeks
In response to HUD’s unexpected $20 million grant opportunity, the Center for Offsite Construction rapidly mobilized to submit three targeted proposals—each addressing a major bottleneck in modular housing: interface standards, legal frameworks, and degree accreditation. While many institutions saw the four-week window as unworkable, CfOC treated it as a strategic inflection point, leveraging its pre-developed research roadmap and internal agility. This bold effort signals not just grant activity, but a decisive pivot toward national leadership in modular construction innovation.
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New York State Backs Modular Construction—CfOC Research Aims to Make It Viable at Scale
Blog | Jun 05, 2025
A recent article in Gothamist spotlights a $50 million investment from New York State to explore modular and starter home construction as a potential response to the city’s ongoing housing affordability crisis. The Center for Offsite Construction (CfOC) at New York Institute of Technology is proud to be at the forefront of research that aligns directly with this moment of public commitment.
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Jason Van Nest receives 2025 Modular Building Fellow Award
Blog | Apr 10, 2025
The Center for Offsite Construction is proud to share that our Executive Director, Jason Van Nest, has been named the 2025 Modular Building Fellow by the Modular Building Institute at the #WoM2025 conference.
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International Code Council and Center for Offsite Construction Partner to Establish Modular Interface Standards - Press Release
Blog | Apr 10, 2025
The Center for Offsite Construction (CfOC) at New York Institute of Technology and the International Code Council are proud to announce their collaboration to develop critical standards for modular construction through the creation of the “CFOC/ICC 1220 Standard on Configurations and Connections for Offsite Construction.” This groundbreaking effort aims to enhance quality, sustainability, resilience, and affordability in the construction industry by establishing clear guidelines for the connection and configuration of modular components.
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CfOC at World of Modular 2025
Blog | Apr 08, 2025
The Center for Offsite Construction (CfOC) at NYIT is proud to announce that Jason Van Nest will be representing CfOC as a featured panelist at the prestigious World of Modular 2025 conference.
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Symposium Key Takeaways -- "Future Marketplace for Offsite Construction" Discussion
This session marked a turning point in how modular construction can scale—through standardized interfaces and a shared path to Configure-to-Order (CTO) delivery. With new agreements in place between CfOC, ICC, and Good Developments Group, the groundwork is being laid for a true marketplace of interoperable modular products. The discussion made clear: building that future will require new standards, new partnerships, and a new kind of collaboration across the industry.
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Symposium Key Takeaways -- "Future of Design Thinking" Discussion
Attendees both praised and challenged the CfOC’s comprehensive approach to curriculum design, especially its alignment with the full real estate development value chain—from entitlement to financing to site operations. Many called for near-term offerings to bridge the gap while the Master of Offsite Design & Delivery program is developed, noting that the industry urgently needs leaders who think across silos. Across the board, there was strong enthusiasm for a new kind of systems-savvy professional—one who blends design, manufacturing, and business fluency to shape the future of modular delivery
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