Harvard Real Estate Alumni Organization

Boston HREAO Innovation Series: Innovative Building Methods and Modular Construction

Dear Alumni:
The Boston Harvard Real Estate Alumni Organization (HREAO), invites you to a September 10, 2019 11:30 to 1 PM luncheon program on “Innovative Building Methods and Modular Construction”.  The program is hosted by Robinson & Cole, LLP at their offices in downtown Boston at One Boston Place, 26th floor  Boston, MA 02108.

As part of our Innovation in Real Estate series, we will hear from experienced affordable housing developer Bart Mitchell, (President & CEO of The Community Builders) and Peter LaBonte (the founder of Advanced Building Solutions, a startup focused on off-site construction) about the rapid innovation, and expanded use of off-site construction across the real estate industry.  Bart will discuss how The Community Builders incorporated modular construction in a recent affordable housing development. Peter will speak on modular construction in general, and how its new technologies and innovative approaches can create more energy efficient, greener and faster-to-build construction projects. Jerome Garciano, of Robinson & Cole, LLP, (our host) will moderate the panel and lead us in a discussion exploring the broader benefit of off-site construction in the real estate industry, as well as in affordable housing.  

In its recent report, Modular construction: From projects to products (June 2019) McKinsey & Company concluded that “Modular construction’s time may have finally come”. The report outlined how modular construction (also called off-site construction and prefabrication) has progressed technologically, improving construction timelines, reducing the requirements and cost of labor from on site to pre-fab and helping the industry control and anticipate increasing issues with weather, security and materials.  The report concluded that “Modular construction can speed construction by as much as 50%” and “In the right environment and trade-offs, it can cut costs by 20%.”  This HREAO session will explore actual developments and in-the-field applications representing the innovate features and potential benefits of off-site/modular construction.  

Bart Mitchell is President and CEO of The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB), the country's largest nonprofit developer of mixed-income housing, with regional hub offices in Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Mitchell leads the company's development, property management and community life operations with a reach of 10,000 apartments in 15 states. He was appointed to the post in 2012 and previously served as chief operating officer.  Peter LaBonte is the founder of Advanced Building Solutions (ABS), a start-up focused on off-site construction.  Prior to starting ABS he founded Modern Modular a designer and supplier of modern and contemporary prefab homes.  The original design won a competition sponsored by Dwell magazine and attracted architects throughout the world. He is also a member of Standard & Poor’s Advisory Board of Industry Experts on off-site construction.  Additionally Peter has also worked in the Gulf Coast, Post Katrina on behalf of the Ford Foundation developing strategies for replenishing the housing stock. 

Tuesday, September 10th. Registration begins at 11:15 AM, Program from 11:30 AM to 1 PM. Lunch will be provided.

Any questions? Contact Douglas P. Koch, MAI, AICP, Co-Chair Boston chapter Harvard Real Estate Alumni Organization at advisoryaffiliates@gmail.com or 617-512-6787