1 Table of contents 164

MODULAR MOVEMENT EDITION | BAM SOUTH

Feature Exclusive		1
Building		1
Homes, Not Costs		1
SOL HAUS DESIGN		1
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH		1
ELAVATE MODULAR		1
Chief Executive Officer Tamara Bellamy-Breen		2
Chief Financial Officer William Breen		2
Publisher Mara Mather		2
Director of Operations Scott Carter		2
Business Development Managers Nina Torres Menzi Sumile		2
Editor-in-Chief Skyler Grey		2
Production Manager Bill Gregson		2
Editorial Outreach Manager Brianna Jordan Darlene Muise		2
Chief Digital Officer (CDO)/Digital Strategy Manager Peter Gibbs		2
Built America Magazine connects your brand with over 278,000 elite executives, offering an unmatched platform to elevate your presence among key decision-makers in the construction and development sectors. Whether you're launching a high-end property, seeking investment for innovative ventures, or aiming to affirm your industry dominance, our dedicated team ensures your message resonates with those who matter most. We provide tailored content solutions—from feature articles to exclusive interviews—designed to showcase your brand's uniqueness and ambitions. Embrace this opportunity to highlight your latest achievements and upcoming projects in a publication revered by industry leaders. Join us in crafting a narrative that not only reaches, but profoundly impacts, an audience ready to engage with your vision. For a partnership that transforms exposure into influence, contact our Group Publisher. Elevate your brand with Built America Magazine, where success meets sophistication.		2
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DEAR		3
READER		3
FROM OUR EDITOR		3
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ABMA		4
INSIDE		4
FEATURE PARTNERSHIPS		4
MHBA-MBI		4
ABMA		4
BUILT ON TRUST: ‘WHEELS OFF’		4
ELAVATE MODULAR		4
SOL HAUS DESIGN		4
WIND RIVER BUILT		4
MHBA-MBI		4
102		4
SADDLEBROOKE LIFE		4
116		4
JT COLLECTIVE TINY HOMES		4
132		4
SEASAFE HOMES		4
148		4
AFFORDABLE HOMES		4
CLOSING LINES		4
160		4
WITH GRATITUDE		4
Built America Magazine		5
SHARE		7
YOUR STORY		7
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Built America Magazine		9
OPENING LINES		12
THE MODULAR MOVEMENT		12
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH		13
Page 14-25		13
EFFICIENT		14
SUSTAINABLE		14
PREDICTABLE		14
And for Tom Hardiman, Executive Director of both organizations, that evolution has been decades in the making.		15
An Industry That Didn’t Disappear—It Rebuilt Itself		15
Demand is rising. Labor is tightening. Timelines are stretching. And across the industry, builders are being asked to deliver more, faster, and with fewer resources than ever before.		15
And it’s not because they are falling behind, but because the system they’ve been operating within was never designed for this moment.		15
That reality is beginning to force a deeper question across construction:		15
At the center of that conversation are two organizations working to bring clarity, structure, and advocacy to a space that has long been misunderstood: the Modular Home Builders Association (MHBA) and the Modular Building Institute (MBI). Together, they represent a growing movement within the industry.		15
As an evolution to traditional construction, not as a replacement.		15
Is it time to rethink not just what we build, but how we build it?		15
TOM HARDIMAN		15
When Hardiman stepped into the Modular Home Builders Association in 2012, the organization was on the edge of disappearing.		16
“They were just kind of on life support,” he says.		16
Formed in the early 1980s, MHBA had originally served as a regional voice for modular home builders. But like much of the industry, it was hit hard by the 2008–2009 housing crisis. Membership dwindled. Momentum stalled. At one point, only three companies remained.		16
“The president of the board said, ‘I guess I’m still the president… we only have three members.’”		16
At that moment, the industry wasn’t just losing an organization. It was losing its voice. As partner of association management company Hardiman-Williams, LLC, Hardiman, already serving as executive director of MBI—the international association focused on commercial modular construction—made a decision that would ultimately reshape the trajectory of the sector.		16
"I asked my business partner, 'Why don't we manage MHBA?’ No expectations of fees or payment. Just let us keep it alive.”		16
WHAT SETS MODULAR APART		16
Same performance, different process Built to the same standards as traditional construction.		16
Controlled environment No weather delays, consistent inspections, higher precision.		16
Efficiency without compromise Faster timelines without sacrificing quality.		16
A system built for today’s demand Designed to handle pressure, scale, and complexity.		16
“We just wanted to make sure it didn’t disappear. There was still a need for it.”		16
THE		16
MOVEMENT		16
MHBA | MBI		17
The Most Misunderstood Word in Construction		17
If modular construction has faced one consistent challenge, it hasn’t been capability.		17
It’s been perception.		17
There was no immediate payoff. No guarantee it would recover.		17
“We just wanted to make sure it didn’t disappear,” he says. “There was still a need for it.” That need became the foundation for rebuilding. The organization was redefined. Its purpose clarified. Past members were brought back into the conversation. And slowly, what had nearly been lost began to take shape again.		17
Today, MHBA represents roughly 170 members and serves as the primary advocacy voice for modular home building across the United States. “It’s always been about bringing competitors together,” Hardiman explains.		17
“So, we can go to government with one voice instead of everyone trying to do it on their own.”		17
“Most people, when they hear modular… they think, ‘Oh, you mean trailers, manufactured housing, HUD code.’ And that is not who we are.”		17
Modular homes are built to the same local building codes as traditional site-built homes.		18
They are engineered for the same environmental conditions—wind, snow, seismic—and designed to perform, appreciate, and endure in the same way.		18
THE		18
MOVEMENT		18
“There’s legislation moving through Congress that says, let’s let the HUD code guys take that steel chassis off,” he explains. “And that is going to confuse the heck out of the public.”		19
For years, that chassis has been one of the simplest ways to distinguish between the two. Removing it risks creating a market where visual differences disappear, but structural and regulatory ones remain.		19
“There’s a real concern that customers may buy something thinking it’s modular… and later discover it was built to a different standard.”		19
“That’s not a position we want consumers to be in.” For an industry built on trust, clarity matters.		19
A Process Built on Predictability		19
Construction has never been simple		19
Weather changes. Schedules shift. Costs move. Delays happen.		19
It’s part of the reality builders have learned to work within. Hardiman doesn’t dispute that. But he does challenge the idea that it has to stay that way.		19
“That’s just been accepted as part of the process. But it doesn’t have to be.”		20
Modular construction introduces something the industry has historically struggled to control: predictability. “It’s a predictable process,” he says. “Once you say, ‘this is what I want, go build it,’ the timeline, the budget, the design—it’s all locked in.”		20
By shifting a portion of the build into a controlled environment, many of the variables that slow projects down begin to fall away. Materials are protected. Inspections are consistent. Waste is reduced. Timelines become more reliable.		20
“You’re not dealing with weather delays or materials sitting out in the rain,” he says. “It’s a much more controlled environment.”		20
But it’s important to note that predictability doesn’t mean compromise.		20
“You notice I didn’t say cheaper,” Hardiman adds. “The cost is comparable to site-built. The difference is that we're building higher quality, resilient homes that are efficient to build and faster to deliver.”		20
“The cost is comparable to site-built. The difference is that we're building higher quality, resilient homes that are efficient to build and faster to deliver.”		20
THE		20
MOVEMENT		20
MHBA | MBI		21
As modular construction continues to gain traction, one of the biggest barriers isn’t capability, it’s alignment.		21
“We are regulated at the state level, which means there’s 50 different ways we’re regulated in this country,” Hardiman explains.		21
For companies operating across multiple states, that creates a patchwork of requirements that complicates an otherwise streamlined process. “If you’re building in multiple states, you’re dealing with multiple systems,” he says. “And that adds friction.”		21
Efforts are underway to introduce more consistency through standardized inspection and quality control processes. Some states have adopted them. Many have not. “We’d love to have one standard way to do it.” At the federal level, the disconnect becomes even more apparent—particularly in disaster recovery.		21
The Segment No One Is Talking About		22
This isn’t a niche issue.		22
When Speed Becomes Critical		22
the importance of coordination between industry, government, and policy.		22
“There’s very little talk about the missing middle. Teachers, nurses, police officers… they can’t afford housing either. These are the people who keep communities running. We really want to zoom in on that.”		22
THE		22
MOVEMENT		22
MHBA | MBI		23
After more than two decades in modular construction, Hardiman has seen the industry evolve—slowly at first, and now with increasing momentum.		24
“You don’t often get to lead an organization in an industry that is evolving like this every day,” he says.		24
Construction, long rooted in tradition, is beginning to shift in ways that mirror the evolution seen in other industries. “I get to be on the tip of that spear,” he says. “Helping to lead the construction industry toward a different way of building.”		24
“Do your homework, because it is different. And that difference is where the opportunity is. There’s a better way to build, MHBA and MBI can help you get there.”		24
THE		24
MOVEMENT		24
MHBA | MBI		25
For builders and developers evaluating modular construction, Hardiman’s message isn’t complicated.		25
“There is a better way to build, more efficient, more sustainable, more resilient, more productive for your company.”		25
But it requires understanding.		25
“Do your homework. Because it is different.” “And that difference is where the opportunity is.”		25
That’s where MHBA and MBI continue to play their role—connecting builders, manufacturers, suppliers, and policymakers, and helping the industry navigate what comes next.		25
“There’s a better way to build,” he says. “MHBA and MBI can help you get there.” The industry isn’t being asked to abandon what it knows.		25
It’s being asked to evolve.		25
Not all at once and not in opposition. But in response to a reality that is already changing around it.		25
And for those willing to understand it, modular construction isn’t a departure from how we build.		25
It’s a step toward how we’ll need to build next.		25
Building		26
Homes		26
Not Costs		26
Inside ABMA’s new housing strategy—and a candid conversation with		26
FRANCIS PALASIESKI		26
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AMERICAN BUILDING MATERIALS ALLIANCE		26
Housing affordability has become one of the defining challenges of our time. A lived reality for families who are working hard, doing everything right, and still watching homeownership slip further out of reach. It’s discussed in policy circles and debated at dinner tables across the country, but it’s felt most deeply by first-time buyers who enter the market and quickly realize how limited their options have become. For the American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA), this reality demanded more than conversation.		26
Everyone knows housing is a problem. What’s been missing is a clear path to fixing it		27
— Francis Palasieski		27
homes needed nationally		27
4.3 Million		27
Regulatory delays		27
increase housing costs		27
Demand		27
continues to outpace supply across major markets		27
This plan was developed because affordability is at the center of the conversation right now.		28
Focusing on Where the Problem Actually Lives		28
THE		28
MOVEMENT		28
Where Affordability Breaks Down		29
At the heart of ABMA’s proposal is a clear insight grounded in market data: America’s housing shortage is not evenly spread across the market.		29
When ABMA examined supply-and-demand data, a clear pattern emerged. At higher price points, supply and demand are relatively balanced. But at $300,000 and under, demand dramatically outpaces supply — leaving millions of families with few, if any, viable options.		29
“That’s where affordability really breaks down,” Palasieski explains. “There are tens of millions of American families who can afford a home in that range, and simply not enough homes available to meet that need.”		29
For builders, the challenge isn’t desire. It’s feasibility.		29
THE HOUSING MARKET AT A GLANCE		29
$700k +		29
$500k +		29
$300k +		29
Builders want to build where demand exists. But right now, policy-driven costs make it extremely difficult to build homes in the price range American families actually need.		29
— Francis Palasieski		29
Recognizing the Cost Drivers Builders Can’t Control		30
“If we can reduce those delays, even modestly, we can make a meaningful impact on affordability, that’s a lever policymakers actually have the ability to pull.”		30
25%		30
Nearly		30
THE		30
MOVEMENT		30
The goal, Palasieski explains, is balance:		31
Balancing Safety, Choice, and Affordability		31
well-built, safe, efficient homes that remain attainable for the families who need them most.		31
KEY TAKEAWAY		31
“These systems have been used successfully for decades.”		32
THE		32
MOVEMENT		32
Momentum that crosses party lines		33
Practical Solutions With Proven Precedent		33
INDUSTRY RESPONSE		33
250+		33
The path forward may not be simple, but it is increasingly clear.		34
“That kind of appreciation benefits existing homeowners, but it also explains why so many families today feel locked out.”		34
THE		34
MOVEMENT		34
A Perspective Shaped by Experience		35
Rebuilding Affordability Starts With Building Smarter		35
It becomes achievable.		35
With support from hundreds of businesses, associations, and labor partners, ABMA’s Building Homes, Not Costs proposal is gaining momentum nationwide.		35
Learn more at abmalliance.org		35
Welcome		37
To Built on Trust		37
AT THE HEART OF EVERY SUCCESSFUL PROJECT, partnership, and community is the experience of the people involved.		37
Built on Trust, written by Leah Fellows, is a recurring column for Built America Magazine exploring how customer experience, service, lead engagement, loyalty, and the thoughtful use of modern sales tools shape growth in the built environment.		37
Written for executive and business leaders, the column reflects a simple truth: while beautiful projects matter, it is often the experience surrounding them that determines who earns trust and who wins the market.		37
Through the lens of customer journey strategy, Leah examines responsiveness, collaboration between marketing, sales, and onsite teams, service culture, communication, trust-building moments, process clarity, and the role of technology as a human enabler rather than a replacement.		37
Grounded in real-world experience, the column also draws from the wins, misses, and lessons that reveal what customers actually remember long after the first impression.		37
Leah Fellows		37
BUILT ON TRUST | A COLUMN BY LEAH FELLOWS		38
A COLUMN EXPLORING EXPERIENCE, TRUST AND GROWTH IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT		38
Leah Fellows		38
Wheels Off		38
BUILT ON TRUST.		38
Debunking Buyer Beliefs About Manufactured Homes		38
01.		38
The Belief Problem Comes First		38
THE		38
MOVEMENT		38
02.		39
There is a big difference between answering a question and earning the right to influence how someone sees the answer.		39
Buyers Bring More Than Questions		39
03.		39
Why This Is a Customer Journey Issue		39
04.		40
Stop Trying to “Overcome” and Start Trying to Understand		40
Most objections are not really about the product.		40
They’re about trust.		40
Leah Fellows		40
05.		40
The Trust Gap Is Where Good Teams Win		40
06.		41
Marketing, Sales, and Onsite Have to Work Together		41
TRUST BREAKS DOWN WHEN THE CUSTOMER HAS TO REPEAT THEIR STORY.		41
None of that is glamorous work, but it is exactly where trust is either reinforced or lost.		41
BUILT ON TRUST | A COLUMN BY LEAH FELLOWS		42
07.		42
Technology Should Support the Human Experience		42
Technology should help teams become more responsive, organized, and consistent. But It should never become a substitute for thoughtful communication.		42
THE		42
MOVEMENT		42
08.		43
What We Need to Take the Wheels Off		43
If the manufactured housing industry wants to change buyer perception, it has to do more than defend the product. It has to become more intentional about the journey surrounding the product.		43
That means clearer messaging. Better listening. Faster and more personal follow-up. More aligned handoffs. More respect for the emotional side of the buying decision. It means recognizing that old beliefs are not erased by facts alone. They are changed through experience, and experience is shaped by every touchpoint along the way.		43
The real opportunity is not just to debunk myths.		43
It is to create experiences strong enough to replace them with trust.		43
That is the work.		43
And for those of us who care deeply about customer journey, this is where the conversation gets interesting. Because once you understand that buyers are not just evaluating homes but interpreting meaning, the role of the business becomes much bigger. It is not simply to present inventory. It is to guide perception with honesty, consistency, and care.		43
That is how people begin to see something differently. That is how skepticism softens. And that is how a category that has too often been boxed in by old assumptions can start to be understood for the value it really offers.		43
Built on trust explores the intersection of customer experience, perception and modern manufactured housing.		43
Leah Fellows		43
LIVING, REDEFINED		44
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		45
Built Faster. Built Smarter. Built Right.		45
Written by: Skyler Grey Editor-in-Chief Built America Magazine		45
There’s a disconnect in how modular construction is understood.		45
Our mission is to provide an exceptional experience for everybody involved in the project		45
It’s not about capability or quality. It’s about awareness. “We need a more in-depth, educated delivery of what modular is and can be,” says Randy Rothweiler, General Manager of Elavate Modular.		45
It’s something he’s seen play out repeatedly. Clients often walk in expecting something basic. Temporary. Boxed in.		45
Then they step into a finished home and realize very quickly that assumption doesn’t hold.		45
Full-scale builds, custom detailing, and completed interiors. Structural precision that leaves little to chance. “The longer I do this, the more I’m dumbfounded at how many people just have no clue what you can do if you build a modular home,” he says. That gap between perception and reality is exactly where Elavate operates. Not by trying to redefine modular through messaging, but by showing what it actually looks like when it’s executed at a high level.		46
A Different Kind of Modular Builder		46
Elavate Modular isn’t structured around volume.		46
It’s structured around control. From the outside, it would be easy to assume they follow the same trajectory as others in the space—scale up, increase output, standardize process. That’s not the direction they’ve taken.		46
“We’ve always been intentional about controlled growth,” Randy explains. “For us, protecting quality and maintaining strong relationships matters more than scaling for the sake of scaling.		46
Rather than pushing for expansion, the company has built its model around consistency, experience, and craftsmanship.		46
That shows up not just in the finished product, but in how projects are handled from start to finish.		46
THE		46
MOVEMENT		46
It’s not really all about Elavate. It’s about protecting the modular industry as a whole.		46
Built Around the Experience, Not Just the Outcome		46
It comes back to people.		47
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		47
503-559-2762		48
berryplumbinginc@gmail.com		48
Trust.		49
A Boutique Approach in a Scaled Industry Just the Outcome		49
It’s important to us that our clients feel like they are the most important project at all times.		49
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		49
“Our goal is to always build as much in the factory as we absolutely possibly can”		51
Pushing the Limits of What Modular Can Do		51
Where Elavate separates itself most clearly is in how far they take the modular process.		51
CONTROLLED PROCESS. EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS.		51
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		51
Craftsmanship You Don’t Always See, But Always Feel		52
The difference isn’t just in what gets built. It’s in how it gets built.		52
“If something doesn’t quite get installed perfectly, we will tear it out and redo it before we ship,”		52
And when there’s any uncertainty, the team doesn’t guess.		52
“We take pictures of the layout and make sure the client is okay with it.”		52
That level of attention extends beyond finishes into structure, sequencing, and the elements that determine how a home performs over time. Even trade partners pick up on it. It’s not something easily measured, but it’s consistently recognized.		52
That standard applies across the board, down to the smallest details. “Every little bit of tile… is meticulously thought of.”		52
THE		52
MOVEMENT		52
Collaboration as a Core Discipline		53
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		53
The Partners Behind the Process		55
It’s not just about sourcing materials or completing scope. It’s about trust in the process.		55
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		55
With more than 35 years of experience in the modular construction industry, Bent Level brings a specialized understanding of the precision required once projects reach the field.		57
Based in Corvallis, Oregon, RJH specializes in custom steel fabrication, machining, welding, and industrial systems built for high-performance environments.		57
Precision at installation is just as critical as precision in fabrication.		57
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		57
Not worked around later.		58
THE		58
MOVEMENT		58
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		59
A Model That Doesn’t Fit Everyone By Design		60
There’s a reason not every company works this way.		60
It’s harder to scale. It requires more involvement and often means turning down opportunities.		60
“You cannot cut corners if you want to be successful in the residential modular building world,” Rothweiler says.		60
You cannot cut corners if you want to be successful in the residential modular building world.		60
That philosophy may limit volume, but it protects the outcome. And in a space where quality and experience can vary widely, that distinction matters.		60
THE		60
MOVEMENT		60
The Projects That Change Perception		61
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		61
What Actually Lasts		62
Elavate isn’t chasing rapid expansion. The focus remains on controlled growth. Maintaining the team. Maintaining the standard. Maintaining the experience.		62
The future would be to push the volume without sacrificing the business model and the experience for the clients.		62
It’s a measured approach, but one that aligns with how the company has been built so far.		62
THE		62
MOVEMENT		62
What the Future Looks Like		63
It’s in how consistently that standard is carried through—start to finish, whether anyone is watching—or long after they’ve stopped.		63
As modular construction continues to evolve,		63
the difference lies in execution.		63
THE ELAVATE ADVANTAGE		63
SOL HAUS DESIGN		64
Designing Smaller Spaces with a Greater Purpose		64
SMALLER SPACES. GREATER PURPOSE.		65
Vina Lustado was moving between worlds—geographically, culturally, and professionally. She immigrated from the Philippines to California at just seven years old, carrying with her an understanding of space that wasn’t taught in architecture school.		66
It was lived. In college, she pursued art at UCLA before transitioning into architecture at USC, eventually working for over a two decades in commercial interiors notable architecture firms. But something never fully aligned.		66
“I always felt kind of guilty in my profession,” she explains. “Because I felt like I was adding to the environmental degradation.”		66
A Different Starting Point		66
The first space she remembers calling her own wasn’t a room.		66
It was a closet she used as her own space. Twelve people living inside a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles, with a bathtub doubling as a bed when space ran out.		66
A childhood where limited space was a daily reality.		66
“I learned to live pretty small from a very young age”		66
That experience shaped how she would eventually design for others. Long before Sol Haus Design became a recognized name in small-scale residential design,		66
THE		66
MOVEMENT		66
The industry, as she experienced it, was built around scale, consumption, and excess—often disconnected from how people actually live.		69
“I really wanted to cater to those who didn’t have as much,” she says		69
Rethinking What a Home Should Be		69
When Lustado launched her firm in 2010, the vision was already clear, even if the market wasn’t.		69
Her focus wasn’t on larger homes or high-end custom builds. It centered on creating spaces that were functional, efficient, and accessible. At the time, the dominant trend leaned in the opposite direction.		69
“McMansions were popular,” she recalls		69
Her response was to move smaller—not as a limitation, but as a design philosophy grounded in efficiency and long-term livability. That thinking deepened during a research fellowship in Germany, where she studied how housing systems could deliver quality without inflating cost.		69
The way they do it isn’t necessarily by using lower-grade materials, It’s by making the construction process more efficient.		69
VINA LUSTADO | OWNER		69
Building the First Prototype		71
Designing for Efficiency, Not Just Size		72
THE		72
MOVEMENT		72
Scaling Without Losing Control		75
She chose a different path.		75
The Real Constraints of Building		76
THE		76
MOVEMENT		76
Overlapping jurisdictional requirements. “There are several departments involved, and they don’t always align,” she says.		77
For homeowners and developers alike, navigating those layers can significantly affect both timelines and project feasibility. In markets where permitting delays can define project timelines, that level of navigation becomes as valuable as the design itself.		77
Advocating for a New System		77
For more than a decade, Lustado has been involved in efforts to reshape how small-scale housing is regulated. Her focus is on creating a legal pathway for tiny homes, particularly those that exist between categories. “A tiny house on wheels is a hybrid,” she explains. “It should comply with residential code, but it’s treated like an RV.”		77
That gap creates limitations in safety standards, permitting, and long-term usability.		77
To address it, she and her collaborators are working with the International Code Council to propose a new classification for tiny homes on wheels —one that recognizes the structural reality of these homes while maintaining accessibility.		77
“If we can create a model building code here, it can apply anywhere,” she says. Her thinking extends beyond local impact.		77
“A lot of countries look to U.S. code as a reference. If it exists here, it gives them something to build from.”		77
Design as a System, Not a Project		77
Looking ahead, Lustado’s focus isn’t on scaling her firm in the traditional sense.		77
It’s on creating systems.		77
Standardized designs, modular compatibility, and scalable solutions that allow projects to move forward without starting from zero each time.		77
“The idea is to create something replicable,” she says.		79
For developers, that kind of approach creates opportunities for repeatable housing models that can be deployed more efficiently across multiple sites.		79
“It’s similar to buying a car,” she explains. “You choose a model, then customize the details.”		79
That structure reduces design redundancy, simplifies decision-making, and supports more consistent outcomes.		79
AT A GLANCE		79
A refined approach to design and delivery that prioritizes clarity, coordination, and consistency at every stage.		79
What Stays with People		81
At its core, Vina Lustado’s work is shaped by something simple: a desire to make space work better for the people living inside it.		81
It’s a principle that connects everything she’s built—from a single tiny home to a broader push for systemic change in the housing industry.		81
“Quality of living should be accessible to all,”		81
The goal was never to make spaces larger or more elaborate, but to make them more intentional.		81
In a housing market defined by cost, regulation, and limited supply, the conversation is already shifting. The question is no longer whether smaller, more efficient housing has a place, it’s how quickly it can be delivered at scale.		81
That shift is reflected not only in how homes are designed, but in how they are delivered—and it’s teams businesses like Sol Haus Design who are willing to rethink the system to make that possible.		81
For homeowners, developers, and municipalities exploring efficient residential design, ADUs, and scalable small-footprint housing solutions, visit www.solhausdesign.com to learn more about their work and approach.		81
The Work Behind the Build		82
There’s a difference between learning construction and growing up inside it.		82
What Came First		83
“I’ve been in the trades my whole life since grade school. Our family built our own house. I’ve worked for GCs, all different areas of construction trades.”		83
— TRAVIS PYKE FOUNDER WIND RIVER BUILT		83
Building Before Scaling		84
THE		84
MOVEMENT		84
BECKMAN COULTER, BREA CA		85
The Shift into Modular		85
In 2023, Wind River completed a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Cleveland, Tennessee, designed to support between 150 and 250 units annually.		86
Holding the Line on Quality		86
THE		86
MOVEMENT		86
“Our people come first. We’ve created a working environment that people love and are proud to be a part of.”		87
— PYKE		87
Where the Work is Focused		88
THE		88
MOVEMENT		88
“We’ve always been passionate about providing housing in our own backyard.”		89
That work sits within what is often referred to as ‘the missing middle’. A range of housing types between single-family homes and large-scale multifamily development, including duplexes, townhomes, cottage clusters, and small community-driven projects.		91
It represents one of the most critical gaps in housing today—where demand for attainable, well-designed housing far exceeds what is currently being built.		91
“There’s that big chunk in the middle,” Pyke says. For developers, it remains one of the most in-demand—and most difficult—segments to deliver efficiently.		91
What Speed Actually Changes		93
Where Projects Get Lost		95
Working With Custom at Scale		97
Many modular builders rely on fixed designs. Wind River has taken a different approach.		97
Partners like Interior Trim & Supply play a role in that phase, working alongside builders and contractors to ensure interior components align with the overall design from the outset.		98
Projects That Reflect Direction		98
THE		98
MOVEMENT		98
“We just want to build, and show our local city what modular can really do,”		99
— PYKE		99
Scaling With Awareness		100
100		100
THE		100
MOVEMENT		100
What Hasn’t Changed		101
“I’m living out my dream job, still involved in the design, the product, the way things come together.”		101
— PYKE		101
For developers, hospitality operators, and partners exploring modular construction with a focus on execution, coordination, and long-term value, visit Wind River Built’ at www.windriverbuilt.com to learn more about their current projects and capabilities.		101
101		101
Expanding Homeownership with Innovation and Family Values.		102
Building a home is complicated. It can be scary. And doing it offsite can feel even scarier for people who haven’t seen it before. We focus on guiding them through it and making sure they know we’re in their corner.		103
LACY MORGAN | COO		103
an East Texas offsite home builder helping families secure something increasingly fragile in America: a home that feels attainable.		103
Because beneath conversations about interest rates, inventory shortages, and labor gaps lies a quieter question:		103
will everyday families still have a pathway to ownership, or will stability become a luxury few can afford?		103
For Morgan and Saddlebrooke’s founders, the answer is not theoretical. It is built every day on the factory floor.		103
“I didn’t have my own bedroom growing up,” says Lacy Morgan, Chief Operating Officer of Saddlebrooke Life. “Not until I was twelve. It’s a core memory — I can still see the light coming through the window. In that moment, I understood what it felt like to finally have a space of my own.”		103
Most housing stories begin with markets, materials, and metrics. Morgan’s begins with light through a window and the quiet weight of a door closing behind her for the first time. That moment, simple, personal, and lasting — helps shape the work of Saddlebrooke Life,		103
Inside the organization, one word defines the culture: care.		104
We ask ourselves, ‘How would we feel if this were our home?’ That question guides everything we do.		104
Rethinking How Homes Are Built		104
Morgan speaks about offsite construction with clarity and urgency. To her, the method is not an alternative. It is an overdue evolution.		104
She offers an analogy that reframes the discussion.		104
“If you bought a brand-new truck, how would it feel to watch crews build it in your driveway over six to eighteen months? You wouldn’t accept that. So why do we still build houses that way?”		104
Offsite construction reorganizes the sequence. While foundations, utilities, and infrastructure are completed on location, homes are built simultaneously in climate-controlled environments. The parallel workflow removes traditional bottlenecks.		104
“Those dependencies are unlocked,” Morgan explains. “We can work on multiple phases at the same time, and that’s what cuts timelines dramatically.” Speed translates directly into financial advantage. Construction loans convert faster. Interest burdens shrink. Investors reach occupancy sooner. Families move in earlier. “The amount of interest paid during construction can be cut in half. That’s meaningful savings.”		104
Morgan is also careful to correct a common misunderstanding.		104
“Offsite construction isn’t automatically cheaper. We’re using the same materials and skilled labor. The savings come from speed and efficiency, not cutting corners.”		104
The Families Caught in the Middle		104
America’s housing narrative often centers on luxury development or publicly subsidized housing. Morgan points to the families caught between those extremes. “There’s a whole segment we call the missing middle,” she says. “Families who five or six years ago would have been first-time homebuyers purchasing modest homes. That pathway is disappearing.”		104
104		104
THE		104
MOVEMENT		104
The company also draws lessons from history.		105
“Your past is your future,” she says. “During the high-interest era of the 1980s, homes became smaller and more efficient. We’re seeing that shift again.”		105
Morgan anticipates tighter-knit communities, smaller footprints, and more diverse housing formats emerging across both urban and rural landscapes.		105
Rising interest rates, land prices, and construction costs have squeezed these households out of traditional markets. They are not seeking excess. They are seeking entry.		105
“People are holding onto homes for dear life because they can’t afford to move, while growing families can’t afford to buy. So they begin looking for alternatives.”		105
Offsite construction offers a practical solution through right-sized housing, faster production cycles, and more attainable price points. Saddlebrooke’s average home leaves the factory at roughly $150,000.		105
“We’re proud to provide IRC-coded homes built with durable materials that carry long-term value. These are homes designed to last for decades.”		105
Clearing the Language Barrier		105
Despite its advantages, offsite construction faces persistent misconceptions, especially around terminology.		105
“The word modular has created confusion,” Morgan says. “In many parts of the country, people immediately think of mobile homes with chassis and VIN numbers.”		105
105		105
106		106
To avoid that association, Saddlebrooke emphasizes a different term.		107
“We focus on offsite construction because it starts the conversation on the right foot.”		107
The distinction is structural. Saddlebrooke homes are built to International Residential Code standards, assembled on permanent foundations, and designed for long-term appraisal value.		107
Morgan speaks respectfully about manufactured housing but stresses the need for clarity among officials unfamiliar with modern offsite processes.		107
“Code officials aren’t trying to block innovation. They want safe housing. Our responsibility is education and partnership.”		107
Engineering Choice at Scale		107
Customization remains one of the most complex challenges in factory-built housing. Buyers want personal expression. Factories require repeatability.		107
Saddlebrooke achieves that balance through engineering and process design. “We have teams asking where customers can have choices that won’t disrupt the assembly line,” Morgan explains.		107
Design flexibility is built intentionally. Window sizes may be standardized while color options vary. Floor plans may be modular while finishes remain customizable.		107
“It’s a balance between personalization and production efficiency. It really is a science.”		107
107		107
108		108
109		109
Founded in 2014, MRCOOL® has become a recognized name in heating and cooling innovation, driven by a mission to make comfort more accessible for homeowners and contractors alike.		110
110		110
THE		110
MOVEMENT		110
“Innovation comes down to people who are creative, capable, and willing to rethink how things are done.”		111
Innovation Driven by People		111
To Lacy Morgan, the industry’s transformation is driven less by machinery and more by mindset. “We’re seeing youthful innovation,” she says. “People willing to ask, ‘What would have to be true for this to work?’ instead of saying it can’t.”		111
Construction, she notes, has relied on many of the same processes for decades. Progress requires new thinking, new leadership, and teams willing to challenge assumptions.		111
A Personal Standard for Success		111
Morgan’s commitment to attainable housing is rooted in lived experience. Her husband grew up in a Habitat for Humanity home. Her own childhood included years in a mobile home before her family transitioned to a traditional house.		111
111		111
112		112
The emotional imprint remains vivid.		113
“How do we give that feeling to more people?” she asks.		113
She admires architectural grandeur but remains focused on access.		113
“Beautiful luxury homes are wonderful, but most families aren’t looking for extravagance. They’re looking for stability and a place to belong.”		113
Looking Ahead		113
Morgan envisions a future where offsite construction becomes mainstream through regional design centers and builder partnerships nationwide.		113
“Buyers will walk into showrooms, design their homes with experts, and watch modules delivered and assembled with precision.”		113
Traditional builders, she believes, will increasingly integrate offsite methods to offset labor shortages and accelerate production.		113
“We don’t have enough electricians or plumbers. That shortage isn’t going away. Offsite helps us build smarter with the workforce we have.”		113
Saddlebrooke’s leaders plan to serve as visible advocates, representing the broader movement rather than only their own factory. “More houses for more people is bigger than any single company.”		113
113		113
114		114
One Idea Worth Carrying Forward		115
It is defined by moments.		115
By the quiet turn of a doorknob. By sunlight stretching across a bedroom floor. By the moment someone realizes they are finally home.		115
In a housing market where certainty feels increasingly out of reach, that feeling may be the most valuable structure of all.		115
If readers take away one message, Morgan hopes it is simple.		115
Because for Saddlebrooke Life, this work is not defined by production targets or market share.		115
“Embrace alternative construction. Learn about it. Advocate for it. We want the entire industry to win.”		115
As the demand for faster, smarter housing solutions continues to grow, companies like Saddlebrooke Life are helping reshape how homes are built and delivered across the United States.		115
To learn more about Saddlebrooke Life’s offsite construction approach, current projects, and partnership opportunities, visit: www.saddlebrookelife.com		115
115		115
Built by Hand. Held by Purpose.		116
JT Collective Tiny Homes		117
It started in a weathered barn set back on family land in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas.		118
“Like most entrepreneurs, I had just lost my job and so we had to do something. I threw on a tool belt because that had kind of been my experience, always working in a variety of different trades. ”		118
118		118
THE		118
MOVEMENT		118
119		119
What Holds It Together		120
120		120
THE		120
MOVEMENT		120
121		121
122		122
123		123
A Standard That Doesn’t Bend		123
124		124
THE		124
MOVEMENT		124
Rethinking How Space Works		124
“Each home has always had something new. A new kind of flooring, heated floors, new siding,something that gives it a unique aesthetic.”		125
125		125
126		126
“There’s something sacred about getting to build a home for someone, and with them.”		127
The Work of Building with Someone		127
127		127
Why It’s Different		128
Where It’s Headed		128
128		128
THE		128
MOVEMENT		128
What Drives It		129
129		129
The Through Line		130
130		130
THE		130
MOVEMENT		130
“One of the things that was really helpful was just to		131
To dream big about what could be next, and not be set back by the obstacles in front of us.”		131
Dream Big.		131
131		131
Resilience		132
Engineered.		132
Coastal Homes Built for What Comes Next		132
RESILIENT BY DESIGN		132
ELEVATED LIVING		132
COASTAL HERITAGE		132
In coastal construction, resilience is often discussed only after disaster strikes.		133
For Chad Lubke and Mike Zehnder of Seasafe Homes, resilience began as something far more personal—a response not to theory, but to lived experience.		133
After hurricanes swept through their own Florida communities, flooding homes and displacing neighbors, the devastation revealed a hard truth: coastal living had evolved, but the way homes were being built had not kept pace with the risks surrounding them.		133
What followed was not a business plan written in a boardroom. It was a moment of conviction.		133
“I remember texting Mike that morning,” he says. “Something just hit me—I thought we could actually do something about this problem.”		133
That realization became Seasafe Homes: a purpose-driven builder focused on flood-resistant, hurricane-resilient coastal homes constructed through an advanced Two-Site Construction process.		133
“We probably averaged four feet of water inside most homes in our neighborhood. We were fortunate to be elevated, but more than ninety percent of our neighbors weren’t.”		133
Chad Lubke		133
Founder Business Development		133
Mike Zehnder		133
Founder Operations		133
134		134
From Mission Trip to Mission-Driven Company		135
135		135
“We’re using roughly thirty percent more material and significantly more fasteners than typical site-built homes,”		136
Rethinking the Construction Process		136
Engineering for the Reality of Coastal Living		136
That resilience begins below ground.		136
136		136
THE		136
MOVEMENT		136
• 2x12 floor systems • 2x6 exterior wall construction • 16-inch on-center framing systems • heavier wall and roof sheathing • additional strapping and fasteners • impact-rated windows and doors designed for 180 MPH wind zones • enhanced material specifications throughout		137
137		137
Industry Recognition in Action		138
138		138
THE		138
MOVEMENT		138
139		139
A Faster, More Coordinated Build Process		140
Seasafe’s internal goal is not defined by percentages, but by real-world timelines. While traditional coastal construction often takes 18 to 24 months, Seasafe Homes delivers completed projects in an average of 6 to 8 months. Rather than focusing solely on factory speed, the company addressed bottlenecks before construction even begins. “We mapped every step of the process and challenged anything that didn’t add value,” Chad says. “Some delays existed simply because that’s how things had always been done.”		140
We eliminated middlemen wherever possible. Decisions happen in real time instead of weeks later.		140
The company unified engineering teams, reduced redundant approvals, and aligned onsite and offsite construction into a single coordinated system.		140
140		140
THE		140
MOVEMENT		140
The Cost of Time		141
Designing Around the Homeowner Experience		141
141		141
142		142
Building for Tomorrow’s Standards Today		143
143		143
Features include: • higher insulation values • LED lighting throughout • high-efficiency HVAC systems • hybrid water heaters • solar readiness		144
Partnerships Built on Trust		144
144		144
THE		144
MOVEMENT		144
The Meaning of a Seasafe Home		145
145		145
Looking Ahead		146
“We’re focused on doing this right first,” Mike says. “Growth comes after consistency.”		146
We’re not trying to do something radically different. We’re just building stronger, faster, and creating a better experience.		146
146		146
THE		146
MOVEMENT		146
One Less Thing to Worry About		147
Comfort. Confidence. Security.		147
And along coastlines where uncertainty has become part of everyday life, that may be the most valuable feature a home can offer.		147
For those evaluating coastal construction from both a performance and financial perspective, explore Seasafe Homes to learn how their Two-Site Construction process reduces timelines, limits exposure to carrying costs, and delivers homes built for long-term resilience.		147
147		147
Where Affordability Meets Accountability,		148
and the Process Becomes the Product.		148
AFFORDABLE		149
ACCOUNTABLE		149
REPEATABLE		149
DELIVERABLE		149
“We built the company around a few non-negotiables—clear communication, operational integrity, and exceptional standards of service,”		150
150		150
THE		150
MOVEMENT		150
Homeownership used to follow a path people could understand. You worked, you saved, you planned, and eventually, you bought a home.		151
Today, that path feels far less certain.		151
“Affordable Homes was founded to solve a simple problem,” Holland explains. “Too many hardworking families were being priced out of homeownership, and the process to buy a home had become confusing, inconsistent, and stressful.”		151
151		151
152		152
BRANDON HOLLAND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER		153
RANDALL BRACEWELL CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER		153
Where Affordability Meets Execution		153
It’s the experience itself.		153
153		153
BRANDON HOLLAND | CEO		154
Building a Process People Can Rely On		154
154		154
Focused, Not Fragmented		154
THE		154
MOVEMENT		154
That focus shows up in how projects are delivered. Expectations are communicated upfront. Timelines are protected through well-defined processes. The experience remains guided from selection through to setup. Their specialty lies in factory-built residential homes, but more importantly, in the coordination required to deliver them successfully.		155
Because to them, the home isn’t the only thing being built.		155
Alongside every home they build, they’re building something far more important—trust. “Quality and client satisfaction don’t happen by accident—they’re built into the process,” he adds.		155
Where Innovation Actually Happens		155
In construction, innovation is often associated with materials or technology.		155
Affordable Homes approaches it differently.		155
Rather than chasing trends, the company has focused on refining how it operates—aligning teams, partners, and customers around clearly defined expectations.		155
“Our innovation lies in how we operate,” Holland says. They’ve implemented digital systems to track leads, manage projects, and maintain accountability. But technology alone isn’t what sets them apart.		155
“Technology supports the process—but the real innovation is consistency,” he explains.		155
That mindset extends to how they approach change.		155
“Quality and client satisfaction don’t happen by accident—they’re built into the process.”		155
155		155
A Culture Built on Clarity		156
156		156
Is it clear? Is it profitable? Is it sustainable?		156
Removing Friction from the Path to Ownership		156
“When structure is strong and communication is direct, clients feel confident”		156
THE		156
MOVEMENT		156
It’s measured by follow-through.		157
Building Communities, Not Just Homes		157
157		157
Steady in a Reactive Market		158
158		158
THE		158
MOVEMENT		158
What Comes Next		159
Affordable Homes is building something different. They’re building more than homes. They’re restoring something the process has lost—clarity, confidence, and the ability for families to move forward without second-guessing every step.		159
“The most important initiative for us is simple,” Holland says. “Build well, operate with discipline, and grow responsibly.” Because in the end, affordability alone isn’t enough.		159
What families are really searching for is something far more difficult to deliver, a process they can trust.		159
For many families, that difference is everything. And in a housing market that continues to shift, the companies that stand out won’t just be the ones that build homes. They’ll be the ones that make the entire journey feel dependable again.		159
Explore how Affordable Homes is redefining the path to homeownership by visiting their website and connecting with their team to start your journey. MyAffordableHomes.com		159
“The most important initiative for us is simple. Build well, operate with discipline, and grow responsibly.”		159
159		159
With Gratitude		160
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS & PARTICIPANTS		160
HONORING THOSE WHO MADE THIS EDITION POSSIBLE		161
ELAVATE MODULAR SOL HAUS DESIGN WIND RIVER BUILT SADDLEBROOKE LIFE JT COLLECTIVE TINY HOMES SEASAFE HOMES AFFORDABLE HOMES		161
In partnership with the Modular Building Institute and Modular Home Builders Association, we proudly recognize these companies for their contributions to the industry and for sharing their stories in this landmark edition.		161
We extend our sincere gratitude to the trusted suppliers and industry partners featured below for helping bring this special edition to life. Their continued commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and the advancement of modular construction plays an important role in shaping the future of the industry.		161
RJH		161
162		162
SHARE		163
YOUR STORY		163
CONNECT. ENGAGE. INSPIRE.		163
EDITORIAL		163
COMPETITIVE PRICING, EDITORIAL IMPACT, INFINITE REACH		163
ADVERTISING		163
MULTI-LEVEL PRICING, UNMATCHED VALUE, MAXIMUM EXPOSURE		163
For More Information :		163
editorials@builtamericamagazine.com		163
CONNECT. INSPIRE. CREATE		164

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