Coming in the Fall of 2025 — The Future of Design & Delivery Podcast explores the ideas shaping the future of US offsite construction. Across nine episodes, we unpack the intellectual foundations of the CTO Marketplace and the Center for Offsite Construction’s Research Roadmap.

Each episode blends big-picture concepts from technology and economics with practical insights for the built environment. We cover everything from the difference between physical and social technologies, to why federated growth matters more than size, to how interface standards are transforming construction.

The series is designed for builders, developers, policymakers, and anyone curious about how modular thinking can reshape housing and infrastructure. Episodes run 20-30 minutes and will be available here and on SoundCloud.

Episode 1 – Orientation to The Future of Design & Delivery and CTO Marketplace Vision

  • Sets the stage for the series.
  • Introduces the CfOC, its mission, and why The CTO Marketplace matters.
  • Frames the transition from Engineer-to-Order (ETO) to Configure-to-Order (CTO).

Episode 2 – Essay 1: Mated Physical and Social Technologies

  • Explores the concept of physical vs. social technologies.
  • Uses examples like the power loom to illustrate the framework.
  • Connects to how construction needs paired innovations in both realms.

Episode 3 – Essay 2: Smarter Infrastructure as the Root of Innovation

  • Examines how infrastructure itself accelerates innovation.
  • Draws on historical and contemporary analogies.
  • Applies the logic to offsite building systems.

Episode 4 – Essay 3: Scaling Without Size

  • Introduces Herbert Simon’s concepts of hierarchy and near-decomposability.
  • Discusses federated growth vs. conventional growth.
  • Translates into modular construction’s potential to expand capacity without centralization.

Episode 5 – Essay 4: Handshake vs. Interface

  • Analyzes the limits of handshake agreements.
  • Shows how interfaces standardize cooperation and reduce friction.
  • Frames CfOC’s work on interface standards.

Episode 6 – Essay 5: Operating Philosophy

  • Describes the rules and norms that drive Modular 2.0 thinking.
  • Links philosophy to operating practices in construction.

Episode 7 – Essay 6: Degrees of Possibility vs. Degrees of Freedom

  • Explains Beinhocker’s framing in The Origin of Wealth and Mitchell’s network theory.
  • Contrasts openness of design possibilities with practical levers for execution.
  • Connects to modular design and procurement.

Episode 8 – Essay 7: Firm-Level Shift to CTO

  • Still in development.
  • Co-authored by Sara Torrelko and Jason Van Nest.
  • Will describe how firms reorganize themselves to thrive in a Configure-to-Order ecosystem.

Episode 9 – Conclusion: Research Roadmap & Future of Design and Delivery

  • Walks through the Modes of Delivery (ETO → CTO).
  • Presents an overview of the CfOC’s research roadmap.
  • Invites listeners to contribute, collaborate, or launch CfOC-like efforts elsewhere.