Pioneering the Next Wave of Industrialized Construction

The Center for Offsite Construction (CfOC) in the School of Architecture & Design at the New York Institute of Technology is proud to announce that Mathew Ford and Jason Van Nest have been named track chairs for the upcoming Advancing Prefabrication 2025 conference, set to take place February 17-20 in Phoenix, Arizona. As two of the industry's leading voices in prefabrication and offsite construction, their leadership at this conference underscores the CfOC’s commitment to advancing modular methodologies, digital workflows, and regulatory innovations that will transform the built environment.

Driving the Prefabrication Conversation

Ford, Managing Director of the CfOC, will chair Track Two: Pre-Planning, Design & Preconstruction, focusing on how prefabrication strategies can be seamlessly integrated into early-stage project planning. Van Nest, Executive Director of the CfOC, will lead Track Three: BIM, Data & Digital Workflows, exploring how emerging digital tools can bridge the gap between design and fabrication, creating more efficient and scalable prefabrication models.

Their panel discussion, “Exploring the Benefits of an Organized Marketplace — Aligning Regulation & Prefabrication Standards Across the United States,” will tackle critical industry challenges, including:

Standardizing regulatory frameworks for prefabrication to streamline approvals across multiple states.

Developing pre-certification processes to ensure modular units meet diverse building codes.

Creating industry-wide interface standards that improve interoperability between prefab elements.

Leveraging regulation and standards to accelerate the adoption of offsite construction practices.

Advancing Prefabrication 2025: Accelerating Industry Transformation

Advancing Prefabrication 2025 is the premier event dedicated to revolutionizing construction through prefabrication, modularization, and industrialized building techniques. Over four days, industry pioneers will engage in workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities designed to increase adoption, streamline workflows, and explore new business models for prefab construction. The CfOC’s participation aligns perfectly with our mission to drive industry-wide innovation and standardization.

How CfOC is Advancing the Future of Offsite Construction

At the Center for Offsite Construction, we believe the future of construction lies in scalability, efficiency, and technological integration. Our work focuses on:

Developing open-source connectivity standards to ensure interoperability in modular design.

Advancing BIM workflows to streamline project coordination between architects, engineers, and fabricators.

Creating legal and financial frameworks that de-risk modular construction for developers and lenders.

Educating the next generation of AEC professionals to lead the evolution of industrialized construction.

Through leadership at Advancing Prefabrication 2025, Ford and Van Nest will continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in offsite, modular, and prefabricated construction—helping the industry evolve toward greater efficiency, sustainability, and affordability.

Meet the CfOC Track Chairs

Mathew Ford is an architect, educator, and Managing Director of the CfOC. With degrees from Ohio State and Yale, he specializes in structural design, integrated project delivery, and modular building systems. His research focuses on collaboration between architecture and engineering to drive scalable offsite construction solutions.

Jason Van Nest serves as the Executive Director of the CfOC and is an Associate Professor at NYIT. A licensed architect, Van Nest has taught at Yale, NYIT, and other institutions, with expertise in BIM workflows, modular design, and the intersection of digital tools with industrialized construction.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for CfOC?

As the industry shifts towards more integrated, data-driven construction methods, the CfOC is preparing for the next evolution in offsite construction:

Expanding our graduate curriculum to prepare students for careers in modular design and construction technology.

Partnering with regulatory bodies to develop frameworks that streamline prefab adoption and permitting processes.

Launching data-driven research projects that explore the economic and environmental impact of modular construction.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Construction

The future of construction is modular, standardized, and driven by digital workflows. If you’re attending Advancing Prefabrication 2025, we invite you to connect with Mathew Ford, Jason Van Nest, and the CfOC team to be part of this critical industry transformation.

For more details, visit:

Center for Offsite Construction (CfOC): nyit.edu/architecture/offsite

Advancing Prefabrication 2025: advancing-prefabrication.com

NYIT School of Architecture & Design: nyit.edu/architecture

Let’s build the future—smarter, faster, and better.