Publications
2025 (Draft)
Designing the Rule Layer
(CfOC Whitepaper)
(CfOC Whitepaper)
This whitepaper proposes the missing digital substrate for a Configure-to-Order (CTO) construction marketplace: a rule-native, vendor-neutral file type that finally allows offsite products to describe themselves in machine-readable terms.
The paper outlines how a shared Configurator File Type (authored once during the product-design stage and consumed broadly downstream) would enable interoperable catalogs, multi-vendor configuration, trustworthy AI-assisted design, and automated validation.
The paper outlines how a shared Configurator File Type (authored once during the product-design stage and consumed broadly downstream) would enable interoperable catalogs, multi-vendor configuration, trustworthy AI-assisted design, and automated validation.
2025 (Draft)
This white paper contends that a significant barrier to
industrialized construction is common law-based standard forms of agreement. The
paper outlines how this legacy system, reinforced by AIA forms and CSI
divisions, must evolve to accommodate offsite manufacturing.
It proposes a hybrid legal framework — anchored in the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) for modular goods and in Common Law for site work — joined by an explicit legal “matelines” and “commisioning.” Building this interoperable framework would enable a national Configure-to-Order (CTO) marketplace, uniting contracts, data, and financing into the legal infrastructure of modern construction.
It proposes a hybrid legal framework — anchored in the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) for modular goods and in Common Law for site work — joined by an explicit legal “matelines” and “commisioning.” Building this interoperable framework would enable a national Configure-to-Order (CTO) marketplace, uniting contracts, data, and financing into the legal infrastructure of modern construction.
2025
The joint report by the Modular Building Institute and
NYIT’s Center for Offsite Construction documents the work of a 10-member task
force convened to explore how higher education might train the next generation
of offsite construction professionals.
The report outlines the rationale, governance, and financial model for creating that accreditor, including draft evaluation criteria, market analysis, and multi-year performance metrics.
The document captures the first coordinated step toward institutionalizing offsite education as a distinct academic field—laying the groundwork for the nation’s first accreditation body for offsite construction degrees.
The report outlines the rationale, governance, and financial model for creating that accreditor, including draft evaluation criteria, market analysis, and multi-year performance metrics.
The document captures the first coordinated step toward institutionalizing offsite education as a distinct academic field—laying the groundwork for the nation’s first accreditation body for offsite construction degrees.
2024
This whitepaper proposes a U.S. standard for connecting prefabricated building elements — a “USB for buildings” — to accelerate the adoption of offsite construction.
Such standards would diversify the supply chain, reduce risk, and unlock scalable catalogs of products. By establishing predictable interfaces, the U.S. can expand access to affordable housing, support office-to-residential conversions, and bring industrialized efficiency to construction.
Such standards would diversify the supply chain, reduce risk, and unlock scalable catalogs of products. By establishing predictable interfaces, the U.S. can expand access to affordable housing, support office-to-residential conversions, and bring industrialized efficiency to construction.
Featuring Logic Building Systems
“Brattleboro architect is designing modular kitchens and bathrooms for workforce housing” Brattleboro Reformer, October 23, 2023.
“Logic Building Systems opens storefront workshop in Brattleboro” Brattleboro Reformer, August 28, 2023.
“Logic Building Systems opens storefront workshop in Brattleboro” Brattleboro Reformer, August 28, 2023.
”LaunchVT’s latest 8-company cohort includes more startups from all over Vermont” VT Digger, By Fred Thys,
April 11, 2023.
“LaunchVT Demo Night celebrates entrepreneurs, awards cash and services” Vermont Business Magazine, June 24, 2023.
“LaunchVT Demo Night celebrates entrepreneurs, awards cash and services” Vermont Business Magazine, June 24, 2023.
Editor
Retrospecta 2003-2004, Yale School of Architecture. Chief Editor.
Retrospecta 2004-2005, Yale School of Architecture. Editorial Consultant.
Retrospecta 2004-2005, Yale School of Architecture. Editorial Consultant.
Interviews
Built: The BlueBeam blog “3D Printing in Construction Comes of Age” by Erik Sherman, October 18, 2021.
FAST Company (blog: FastCoExist) “Upcycled Disaster Housing Made Of Disaster Relief Water Bottles” by Adele Peters, November 22, 2013.
Triple Pundit “Plastic Bottles Turn to Roofing Materials in Disaster Zones” by Jan Lee, November 05, 2013
NYIT Magazine “Raising the Roof” by Elaine Iandoli, Volume 9, Number 4.
NYIT Magazine “Faculty Going Green” by Michael Schiavetta, Volume 9, Number 3.
Engineering News Record “Reorganize Divisions of Labor” by Nadine Post, November 04, 2013.
Engineering News Record “Process Change for the Paradigm Shift to Virtual Design & Construction”, enr.com, December 25, 2013.
FAST Company (blog: FastCoExist) “Upcycled Disaster Housing Made Of Disaster Relief Water Bottles” by Adele Peters, November 22, 2013.
Triple Pundit “Plastic Bottles Turn to Roofing Materials in Disaster Zones” by Jan Lee, November 05, 2013
NYIT Magazine “Raising the Roof” by Elaine Iandoli, Volume 9, Number 4.
NYIT Magazine “Faculty Going Green” by Michael Schiavetta, Volume 9, Number 3.
Engineering News Record “Reorganize Divisions of Labor” by Nadine Post, November 04, 2013.
Engineering News Record “Process Change for the Paradigm Shift to Virtual Design & Construction”, enr.com, December 25, 2013.
Featuring Patent Research
“This Disaster Housing Is Made From Upcycled Relief Water Bottles” by Jamie Condliffe, Gizmodo, Nember 25, 2013.
“This Prototype Turns a Pallet of Water Bottles into a Disaster Shelter” by Derek Markham, TreeHugger, November 25, 2013.
“Disaster Housing Made from Water Bottles Solves two Needs at Once” by Sarah Laskow, Grist, November 26, 2013.
“SodaBIB’s Jason Van Nest: Rethinking Roofing by Reusing” 1-800-RECYCLING October 25, 2012.
“Kickstarter Project Turns Soda Bottles, Shipping Pallets into Roofing” by Christina Caldwell, Earth 911 News November 02, 2012.
“This Prototype Turns a Pallet of Water Bottles into a Disaster Shelter” by Derek Markham, TreeHugger, November 25, 2013.
“Disaster Housing Made from Water Bottles Solves two Needs at Once” by Sarah Laskow, Grist, November 26, 2013.
“SodaBIB’s Jason Van Nest: Rethinking Roofing by Reusing” 1-800-RECYCLING October 25, 2012.
“Kickstarter Project Turns Soda Bottles, Shipping Pallets into Roofing” by Christina Caldwell, Earth 911 News November 02, 2012.
Featuring Professional Design:
New York Academy of Science
“7 World Trade Center” by Russell Fortmeyer, Architecture Record, August 2007.
“Never Forget” by Joseph Giovaninni, Interior Design (75th Anniversary Edition), March 2007. “Moving Up” (cover story/art) by Linda Miller, Oculus, Spring 2007.
“For Science Academy, Move to World Trade Center Is Like Going Home” by David Dunlap, The New York Times, New York Region Section, October 30, 2006.
“Science is First Full-Floor Tenant at 7 WTC” by Bill Millard, eOculus, November 2006.
“Never Forget” by Joseph Giovaninni, Interior Design (75th Anniversary Edition), March 2007. “Moving Up” (cover story/art) by Linda Miller, Oculus, Spring 2007.
“For Science Academy, Move to World Trade Center Is Like Going Home” by David Dunlap, The New York Times, New York Region Section, October 30, 2006.
“Science is First Full-Floor Tenant at 7 WTC” by Bill Millard, eOculus, November 2006.
Featuring Professional
Design:
Jackson Federal Courthouse
“Action Jackson” by C.J. Hughs, Architecture Record, August 2007.
“Tech Brief” by Alan Joch, Architecture Record, January 2005.
“GSA Goes Virtual With Courtroom Design” by Dave Barista Building Design and Construction, February 2007. “Technophobe Young Architects and Chicken Parmesan” by Richard Korman, Engineering News-Record, November 2006.
“Tech Brief” by Alan Joch, Architecture Record, January 2005.
“GSA Goes Virtual With Courtroom Design” by Dave Barista Building Design and Construction, February 2007. “Technophobe Young Architects and Chicken Parmesan” by Richard Korman, Engineering News-Record, November 2006.
Featuring Professional
Design:
Globe Theater
“Imagining, and Reimagining the Globe” by Jeremy Kahn, The New York Times, Arts Section (cover story/art),
January
13, 2007.
“All the World’s His Stage” by Philip Kennicott, The Washington Post, Style Section, 15 January 2007. “New Twists On a Famed Theater” by Tom Gottlieb, Roll Call, Around the Hill Section, January 11, 2007.
“Shakespeare’s Global Appeal” by Deborah Dietsch, The Washington Times, Arts & Culture Section, January 13, 2007.
“All the World’s His Stage” by Philip Kennicott, The Washington Post, Style Section, 15 January 2007. “New Twists On a Famed Theater” by Tom Gottlieb, Roll Call, Around the Hill Section, January 11, 2007.
“Shakespeare’s Global Appeal” by Deborah Dietsch, The Washington Times, Arts & Culture Section, January 13, 2007.
Featuring Professional
Design:
Pier A
“Pier A Renovation Work Approved” by Julie Shapiro, Downtown Express,
January
29, 2010.
“City Backs Long-Delayed Plan to Restore Historic Pier A” by Matt Dunning, The Tribeca Trib, February 05, 2010.
“City Backs Long-Delayed Plan to Restore Historic Pier A” by Matt Dunning, The Tribeca Trib, February 05, 2010.
Featuring Professional
Design:
Other
“Sketch Pad: Reinventing A Stable As an Essay In Light” by Tracie Rozhon, The New York Times, Real Estate Section,
March
12, 2006.