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Built Different

Built Different

Written by: Spring Street Management Group
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 Built Different is a daily podcast for developers, general contractors, and capital partners working in modular, volumetric, and off-site construction. No hype. No futurism. Just execution reality. Each episode breaks down what actually determines success or failure in factory-built projects: coordination gaps, design freeze timing, transportation risks, sequencing failures, financing mismatches, and the hidden costs no one models. This isn't a show about the promise of modular. It's about what happens when modules hit the jobsite—and what you need to get right before they do. Topics include: Why modular projects fail (and it's not the factory) Design freeze and its hidden costs Transportation as construction risk Site work that still controls the timeline Where modular actually saves money—and where it doesn't Sequencing, coordination, and the gaps between systems 3-4 minutes daily. Built for people who build. Brought to you by Spring Street Management Group.© 2026 Spring Street Management Group Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • The Finish Package Trade-Off: Factory vs. Field

    The Finish Package Trade-Off: Factory vs. Field
    Feb 27 2026
    Should you ship modules 100% complete—or leave some finishes for the field? The answer is more nuanced than the modular industry admits.

    This episode examines the factory-to-field finish ratio and why optimal total project delivery isn't the same as maximum factory completion.

    Topics covered:

    • The case for maximum factory finish—and where it breaks down
    • Transportation damage: why shipping perfect modules creates rework
    • Connection-dependent finishes that can't be factory-complete
    • High-end projects: when field-installed finishes actually improve quality
    • How to find the optimal ratio for your finish spec, transport distance, and labor market

    The goal isn't maximum factory completion—it's optimal total project delivery. This episode shows you how to find the balance.

    Built Different is brought to you by Spring Street Management Group. New episodes drop weekdays at 6 AM Pacific.
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    4 mins
  • Corridor and Core Strategy: Where Modular Gets Complicated

    Corridor and Core Strategy: Where Modular Gets Complicated
    Feb 26 2026
    How do you connect modular units into a functional building? The corridor and core strategy is where projects succeed or fail.

    This episode tackles one of modular's trickiest design decisions—how to handle horizontal and vertical circulation when your dwelling units ship as complete modules.

    Topics covered:

    • Corridor modules vs. field-built corridors: the trade-offs
    • Why shipping corridor modules means shipping air—and when that's still worth it
    • Fire-rating challenges at module-to-module connections
    • Core strategy: modular cores vs. site-built elevator shafts and stair towers
    • How labor market costs should drive your corridor and core decisions

    There's no single right answer—but there is a wrong one: assuming this strategy will figure itself out. It won't.

    Built Different is brought to you by Spring Street Management Group. New episodes drop weekdays at 6 AM Pacific.
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    5 mins
  • Bathroom Pods: The Module Within the Module

    Bathroom Pods: The Module Within the Module
    Feb 25 2026
    What if you could prefabricate the most labor-intensive room in any building? That's exactly what bathroom pods deliver.

    This episode explores bathroom pods as a sub-assembly strategy—complete units with fixtures, tile, plumbing, and electrical that drop into modules at the factory.

    Topics covered:

    • Why bathrooms are the biggest labor sink in residential construction
    • How pod production improves waterproofing quality and reduces warranty claims
    • Schedule compression: from two weeks of trades to a single drop-in
    • The economics of scale—why pods work at 200 units but not 20
    • Build vs. buy: in-house pods versus specialized manufacturers

    Bathroom pods represent nested prefabrication that pushes modular economics further than modules alone. Learn when they make sense for your project.

    Built Different is brought to you by Spring Street Management Group. New episodes drop weekdays at 6 AM Pacific.
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    4 mins
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