VOICEThe The official magazine of The Construction Users Roundtable Register For Upcoming CURT Events https://www.curtevents.com Issue 3, 2025 Owner Early Decision Process for a Modularization FEL1 Conceptual StrategyThe Construction Users Roundtable 3 VOICE The The official magazine of The Construction Users Roundtable :M OQ[\MZ. WZ=XKWUQVO +=: <-^ MV\[ P\\X["___ K]Z\M^ MV\[ KWU Issue 3, 2025 7_VMZ-IZTa ,MKQ[QWV8ZWKM[[ NWZI5WL]TIZQbI\QWV .-4+WVKMX\]IT;\ZI\MOa LEADERSHIP 5 This Issue’s Experts 7 A Message from CURT’s Chairman of the Board THE COVER 8 Implementing Modularization Strategies: Owner Early Decision Process for a Modularization Strategy 12 CURT Women’s Initiative: Empowering Women Construction Leaders 15 iSPAI and CURT Shape AI Transformation: Building the Future with the Wisdom of the Workforce 18 Index to Advertisers LEADERSHIP Your Subscription Your Way! Scan this QR code or email distribution@matrixgroupinc.net to subscribe or update your existing subscription information. Note, The VOICE is free for representatives of CURT member companies. FEATURES ON THE COVER: The biggest advantage of modularization and prefabrication is moving work hours offsite to a more productive controlled environment that utilizes an assembly line manufacturing mindset. These assemblies can be built where it makes the most sense and then transported to the project site when required – by rail, ship, or truck! Learn more in this issue’s cover story, starting on page 8. Thank you to Mammoet for providing the cover images.RenaissanceOrlando atSeaWorld FEB02,–FEB04,2026 Prepareforaseismicshiftatthe 2026CURTNationalConference. Thisisn'tjustanotherindustry event;it'salaunchpadfor groundbreakingstrategies, unparalleledconnections,anda revolutioninperformance. DON’TJUSTWATCH THEFUTUREUNFOLD- BUILDIT. REGISTERTODAY! Orlando,Florida JohnMoehnke GregSizemoreAnirbanBasuKevinSellAngelaSkow PeteDumont MattGierkle KarenKeniffKennSullivan BrianLine Disclaimer:Theinformationprovidedwasaccurateatthetimeofprintingandissubjecttochangewithoutnotice. IgnitetheFutureofConstruction!The Construction Users Roundtable 5 Bill Lewis has 47 years of experience as a project/ construction management professional. He has proven proficiency in front-end loading, detail design, construction and modularization execution, and the turnover and commissioning of chemical, power, and datacenter projects. His key strengths are in FEL planning, project construction strategy development, and field execution. Savannah Sloan is a Project Engineer at Toyota North America with degrees in Electrical and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University of Kentucky. She brings a mix of technical skill and creative energy to each problem she tackles, whether in the office, field, or at the farm in her personal time. Thank You to the Contributors who Shared Their Expertise This Issue. THIS ISSUE’S EXPERTS With over 30 years of global experience in the construction industry, Pete Dumont is a passionate and visionary leader who delivers innovative solutions for capital projects and operations. Pete is President, Threecore LLC, and he is also the CEO of PrairieDog, a digital commerce platform for the engineering and construction sector. Jim Ellis is the current Chair of CURT. He is retired from Microsoft Corporation and he has over 40 years of experience in business, operations, project management, and more. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of Ellisian, a global consulting and technology company dedicated to helping organizations develop safe, sustainable, and efficient capital projects. Trey Fleming founded iSPAI in 2024 and is the architect behind the company›s vision. He has nearly 30 years of experience working in technology consulting, systems integration, outsourcing, research, and advisory services. He›s worked with a variety of companies throughout his career with an industry focus on oil and gas, energy, and utilities. Trey is a certified expert in NFTs (via the Blockchain Council) and began his career in politics and government. Gretchen Gagel has dedicated her career to helping leaders, teams, and organizations achieve greatness. Her consulting clients, including General Motors, Procter & Gamble, Questar Gas, Black & Veatch, and Miller Pipeline, achieve measurable and sustainable change that drives higher levels of performance. Gretchen is passionate about leveraging her success in the construction industry to help all women and underrepresented communities thrive. The VOICE Write for If you’re interested, please send a short abstract and your contact information to: editor@matrixgroupinc.net Please note: Articles must be educational in nature. Submissions that promote a specific product or service will not be considered. All content is subject to editorial review and final approval by CURT. Share your expertise and help shape the future of construction through The VOICE. Do you have insights or ideas that would benefit construction owners across the United States? The VOICE, CURT’s official publication, is looking for industry experts to contribute articles for upcoming issues. • Sustainability • Technology & Productivity • Procurement & Contracting • Lean Project Delivery • Talent Solutions • Offsite Construction/ Modularization • Construction Research • Safety We welcome original content that explores topics important to CURT members, including:The Construction Users Roundtable 7 WORDS OF WISDOM A Message from the CURT Chairman of the Board. CURT’s Superpower: Connections O n behalf of the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT), I hope you’re in the midst of a wonderful, restful summer and that you’re finding time to recharge with family, friends, and fresh air. As the seasons shift and autumn soon settles in, I am excited to share that CURT has a full slate of events and resources lined up for the months ahead. There’s a lot to look forward to, and we’re glad to have you with us as we dive into a productive and inspiring fall season. I’d like to personally invite you to our Summer CURT Solutions Summit – Members Only – September 16 and the (open-to-all) Owner Early Decision Process for a Modularization Strategy FEL1 Conceptual Design Workshop, September 17. These are must-attend events. Modularization is important for the success of large construction projects because it improves efficiency, reduces risk, and helps control costs and timelines. By fabricating components offsite in a controlled environment, modular construction minimizes weather delays, enhances quality, and increases worker safety. It also allows for parallel workstreams – site preparation and module fabrication can happen at the same time – significantly accelerating project schedules and reducing cost while enabling delivery predictability with a higher degree of assured quality! This is especially important on complex or remote projects, because modularization reduces on-site labor requirements and logistical challenges. Ultimately, it supports more predictable outcomes, making it a valuable strategy for delivering large-scale projects safe, on time and on budget. But… the question is… where do owners even begin? If you’re aware of modularization but haven’t yet used it as a strategy to improve outcomes on your projects; this summit is designed to eliminate the question marks. Are you currently employing modularization, but it’s not being embraced throughout your organization? We’re covering best practices and the business case that can boost your strategy. Plot planning, permitting, labor, long- lead equipment, sequencing, transportation and logics, start-up, and a value-proposition for the doubters will all be shared. Get ready for a jam-packed day! Further out, make sure to mark your calendar for the November 10-12 events in Naples, FL, (a Members-Only summit, the open-to-all CURT Awards of Excellence dinner, and a Workshop on building safe workplaces); and our 2026 National Conference, February 2-4, in Orlando. We’ll dive into Building Tomorrow: Innovative & Collaborative Solutions. Most importantly, join us as we celebrate CURT’s 25 th anniversary! I have said it before – I truly believe that one of CURT’s strongest powers is that of connection and since joining CURT in 2008, I have experienced first-hand how valuable it is to bring together people and ideas. Whenever we come together, we concentrate on tackling shared challenges and working collaboratively to create meaningful solutions for our industry and members. That spirit of unity is uncommon, and it stands as one of CURT’s most powerful strengths. I’d like to end my message with a teaser for something CURT is working on and very excited about – the CURT Solutions Portal! Information is shared in this issue of The VOICE and even more will be announced at the Summer CURT Solutions Summit on September 16. Stay tuned as we unveil the latest tool for CURT members! Until next time, please be safe, keep your teams safe, and take care of yourselves. Whenever we come together, we concentrate on tackling shared challenges and working collaboratively to create meaningful solutions for our industry and members. That spirit of unity is uncommon, and it stands as one of CURT’s most powerful strengths. ‘ ‘8 Helping owners achieve the most productive use of every capital dollar. FEATURE Owner Early Decision Process for a Modularization Strategy. M odularization has been a proven strategy since the early 20th century, when Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing with the assembly line. It also played a critical role in the United States’ Second World War efforts, enabling rapid pre-assembly of equipment that kept military forces well supplied and combat ready. Today, modularization – along with offsite construction and pre-assembly techniques – is gaining momentum in the construction sector, where the potential benefits are substantial. Compared to a traditional stick-built approach, modularization introduces key shifts across a project’s lifecycle: • Engineering moves earlier in the schedule to accommodate advanced procurement specifications and architectural or structural planning. • Procurement is accelerated to align with the needs of the module yard. • Cash flow is redistributed earlier to support a faster, parallel build schedule. In practice, modularization functions like two projects running in tandem: while site preparation and civil work are underway, module fabrication or pre-assembly begins offsite. “With these parallel workflows and by optimizing the module fabrication yard (MFY) commissioning, we tend to see a significant improvement in critical path schedule,” said Bill Lewis. Now retired, Lewis was Microsoft’s Director of Global Modularization. “Most MFYs also incorporate assembly line manufacturing processes that are significantly more productive and cost effective compared to traditional stick-built projects.” An important part of any modularization strategy, front-end loading (FEL) takes the idiom, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’ to a whole new level. Sometimes referred to as front-end planning (FEP), front-end engineering design (FEED), or pre-project planning (PPP), FEL is a valuable, multi-step process in the capital project lifecycle that allows owners to By Paul Adair, Staff Writer Implementing Modularization Strategiesaddress risk and make better informed decisions on resources allocation, as well as maximize the potential for success on a project. The Construction Users Roundtable’s (CURT) Offsite Construction / Modularization Sprint Team is focused on equipping CURT members with the tools and resources needed to implement modularization and prefabrication strategies that help reduce costs, maintain quality and schedule, and support a safer work environment. Led by Lewis, the Sprint Team – through 2024 – focused on giving owners a step-by-step evaluation process when considering offsite construction, going from FEL0 through to FEL1 and up to FEL3, which is the point where construction begins. “You start the process with FEL0, which is a feasibility study that’s usually carried out by the owner. Then, when you move to FEL1 – or conceptual design – you’re bringing in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and you start looking at what you could do and what you need to do, as well as identifying opportunities, discussing lessons learned from previous projects, and exploring the different essential variables that support your project.” Integrating FEL into a modularization or offsite construction strategy has proven to deliver significant value for project owners. It enhances schedule reliability, improves cost predictability, boosts operational performance, and reduces the likelihood of scope changes. Together, these advantages contribute to stronger project outcomes across the entire lifecycle and lower the risk of project failure. “We are seeing more owner companies acknowledge that the risk with the traditional stick-build execution method is too high – it’s an old dog that doesn’t hunt anymore,” said Lewis. “The guidelines going forward should call for the maximum use of offsite fabrication and modulization, which delivers the most efficient and cost-effective projects as possible.” In its work, the Sprint Team has identified 13 critical FEL1 deliverables that need to be completed to position a modularization strategy for success: 1. Preliminary plot plan to determine what aspects can be modularized and module concepts. 2. Local sensitive receptors (permitting) and community engagement. 3. Commercial strategy and interfaces for module integration. 4. Site specific labor study. 5. Long lead equipment strategy. 6. Development of BIM model, drawing maturity, and data requirements. 7. Constructability and path of construction. 8. Level two schedule, sequencing, and net present value (NPV). 9. Estimating (E4 level) for project definitions. 10. Commissioning and start up. 11. Greenfield vs. retrofit: Opportunities and limitations. 12. Transportation logistics. 13. Determine the value proposition of your modularization strategy. Because FEL1 is the stage where much of the directional scope is developed, it is critical that construction owners make themselves fully aware and comfortable with the front-end loading process, as well as on how completing the 13 critical FEL1 deliverables affects the outcomes of their offsite or modular project. “It is important to understand the essential variables that need to be completed in the conceptual stage in order to have an enhanced strategy that can be communicated to all project stakeholders,” explains Lewis. “In doing so, owners will gain a greater understanding of their project overall and have the tasks in place to ensure a more successful project.” While a modularization strategy does mitigate many of the risks that projects face in execution, taking a project offsite should not be seen as a panacea for all the challenges project owners may face. That is why it’s essential to follow all 13 critical FEL1 deliverables and gather all the data needed to truly understand where the sweet spot is for any given project. While there are many challenges that come with implementing an offsite or modularization strategy, the most challenging is the cultural changes that the project teams must accept. A Next >