Building Smarter: AIA St. Louis Panel Explores Offsite Construction and Code Innovation 

Speakers: 

• Tom Finan - Construction Forum (Moderator)
• David Koster - Good Developments Group
• Matt Belcher - Verdatek Solutions LLC
• Jason van Nest -  Center for Offsite Construction
  
  

As St. Louis looks forward, the development of the south Mississippi Riverfront into an innovation district and prefab hub for the building industry, Gateway South, is happening! How to address affordable housing, disaster recovery, and workforce challenges, the tools for change may lie in how we build.

This program will explore how evolving building standards and offsite construction methods can shape the future of housing, resilience, and affordability across the St. Louis region and beyond.

Post-Tornado Needs, Regional Housing Shortage
The panel will examine how offsite construction, code flexibility, and standardized design can streamline project delivery, reduce cost, and strengthen community recovery – particularly in the wake of the May 16 tornado and amid growing regional demand for attainable housing.

David Koster will share where Gateway South, the St. Louis building industry innovation district, is today – the progress that has been made, what is happening now, and what is to come. 

Matt Belcher was part of the process in developing the ICC/MBI 1200 Off-Site Construction Standards and led the process to make it NAHB policy Matt will examine the role of the Standards and the Codes and where and how they intersect in offsite construction. These Standards are a clear national framework for modular and panelized construction – integrating offsite methods more fully into mainstream building practice.

Jason Van Nest, who directs the Center for Offsite Construction at New York Institute of Technology, will discuss how academic research and technology development are driving advances in digital design, robotics, and modular fabrication.

Locally those same concepts are finding footing through initiatives such as Gateway South, where the developer is exploring industrialized construction technologies that could help make affordable and resilient housing a scalable reality in the St. Louis region and beyond.

“This is the kind of forward-thinking dialogue our region needs—bridging design, construction, and policy to create a smarter, more adaptable built environment,” —Tom Finan, Executive Director, Construction Forum

The event underscores AIA St. Louis’ commitment to advancing education and innovation within the architectural community – aligning with the region’s broader efforts to modernize construction practice, codes, and workforce development. The St. Louis Professional Chapter of ICC And AIA St. Louis Building Code Committee is the only joint combination of its kind in the nation.

Credit: 2.00 LU|HSW (pending approval)

In person Reception - 5:00 PM

Hybrid Program - 6:00 PM

Use the button above to purchase your tickets. 

Series Sponsored by: