agchouston.org Winter 2025–2026 Cornerstone 23 on time,” Alavi said. “We did a project around 2018 in Houston that had some budget constraints and we helped them save $1 million by suggesting they use bathroom pods.” Winning Acceptance Winning the acceptance of general contractors also means overcoming the traditional build-on-site mindset. Historically, procurement and financ- ing structures haven’t been designed to accommodate prefab workflows, which require both earlier design finalization and earlier up-front payment for off-site manufacturing. However, technology is helping close that gap. Tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM) 3D modeling and digi- tal twins enable precise virtual coordina- tion between designers, manufacturers and installers before fabrication begins. Real-time collaboration ensures that every bolt, duct and doorframe lines up precisely as planned on-site to eliminate any costly surprises. “We’re starting to see more prefab and modular companies that are manufacturing with robotics, too, which is exciting,” Hruska said. Furthermore, education and transpar- ency are key to solidifying acceptance of the new, unconventional method. By demonstrating how modules meet or exceed code standards, and how they integrate seamlessly with site-built ele- ments, contractors can convert skeptics to see the lean and green benefits of modular. Houston’s commercial market offers tremendous natural opportunity for pre- fab growth. The city’s booming health- care sector demands fast, high-quality, precise and clean construction — a perfect fit for modular methods and pod-based construction. Similarly, data centers and industrial facilities, with their repetitive layouts and technical precision, are also great places to take advantage of the speed and scalability of modular construction methods. Unsurprisingly, developers are taking note of the techniques and incorporating prefabrication into their plans. As such, several new hotels and student housing projects near the Galleria and downtown areas have been built partially or entirely with modular units, impressively cutting delivery times by months. “The components themselves may not necessarily be lower-cost than building on-site, or they may cost less to build but more to transport, but the efficiency in how you build with prefabrication usually ends up costing less overall,” Alavi said. “You can cut timelines significantly with fewer people on a project, and there’s a lot less rework since mistakes are reduced.” At the same time, regional manufac- turing capacity is expanding. Fabrication facilities in the greater Houston and Gulf Coast regions are investing in automa- tion, robotics and lean manufacturing to meet growing demand from Texas builders. Some GCs have even launched their own in-house prefab divisions to capitalize on the benefits and ensure accessibility to installable units. Mean- while, local universities are beginning to introduce modular construction courses into their curriculums to prepare the next generation of builders. The Method of the Future For Houston’s contractors, prefabrica- tion isn’t just about speed — although Hruska said “Prefab typically saves half the time, and that can be an understate- ment depending on the project.” It’s about strategy and staying on track while working in remote locations, during material shortages or when hurricane season hits; that flexibility becomes essential in a city where weather can derail weeks of progress overnight. By moving more work off-site, and leveraging prefabrication and mod- ular suppliers as resources similar to super-subcontractors, GCs can control a multitude of variables that once made construction unpredictable. The result is a leaner, greener and ultimately more profitable business model. Simply put, prefab doesn’t replace craftsmanship — it refines it. And, it doesn’t take the work out of the field; it just moves it to a different location where sun, heat and wet weather no longer matter. “Prefab is enabled by culture, collabo- ration, innovation and early involvement. The more we talk about prefab, and the more management teams set standards, the more we inform people of benefits — from quality and financial to timeline and safety — and the more people will buy into prefabrication and push for it,” Alavi said. As Houston continues to grow, the demand for smarter, faster and more sustainable buildings will only intensify. “Prefab offers a great opportunity to innovate and get ahead of the curve,” Hruska said. Prefabrication offers a path forward that meets all three goals and proves that innovation and efficiency don’t have to come at the expense of quality or creativity. Within a decade, many experts predict, most large com- mercial projects will incorporate at least one off-site component. The city that built its skyline on oil and steel is now building its future on precision, sustainability and collabora- tion. And in that evolution, what was once a niche concept has moved from an option to an expectation in an intensely competitive market. Now, modular con- struction and prefabrication is more than a method — it’s a mindset. HOUSTON’S M O D U L A R MOMENTUM (Source: Dodge Construction Network, 2024) 30% Average reduction in project schedules using modular components 25% Reported reduction in material waste 40% Increase in safety performance when shifting high-risk tasks off-site
