Events

Jim Gabriel (Welcoming/Closing)

President & CEO of MODLOGIQ & DESIGNLOGIQ

Jim is a seasoned leader and industry pioneer in modular construction. As the President and CEO of MODLOGIQ, Inc. and DESIGNLOGIQ, Jim has been instrumental in shaping the future of off-site construction. With more than 30 years of experience, he has guided MODLOGIQ to the forefront of the industry. Headquartered in New Holland, PA, with additional locations in Pittsburgh, PA, and Seville, OH, MODLOGIQ is renowned for its high-quality panelization and full volumetric modularization solutions. His team recently completed the first permanent modular hospital in North America for Memorial Health in Athens, OH.

Jim's innovative approach drives the company’s commitment to sustainability, efficiency, and groundbreaking building practices. His leadership has positioned MODLOGIQ as a trailblazer in design and development. Recently highlighted in Building Design + Construction’s (BD+C) Annual Report for the largest modular hospital and also completed various government facilities, educational institutions, all housing types, retail, and hospitality projects. His deep understanding of evolving construction demands underscores MODLOGIQ’s role as a leader in revolutionizing the modular construction sector.

 

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Elena Bresciani, RA, LEED AP BD+C (Moderator)

Principal, Perkins Eastman

“Architecture defines who we are to future generations. It exemplifies what we think and care about. As architects we have the responsibility to deploy our resources – time, effort, money, materials – wisely so we can positively influence the built environment for everyone around us.”

Elena designs places for people to live, work, and play, with an emphasis on creating unique spaces that offer an element of surprise to provoke new perspectives of our surroundings. Growing up between Taiwan and Italy, she was inspired by the spirit of human ingenuity that she saw crafting a fast-changing urban environment and honing a slow-evolving historic landscape. She understood the role of architecture as a place-making and culture-defining force, and as a way for people and communities to write their stories in wood, concrete, steel, and stone.

Since starting her career in 2003, Elena has focused on solving complex design problems in equally thoughtful and creative ways. Her work spans a wide range of building types, from high-rise and mixed-use to higher education and cultural projects, both domestic and international. She also contributes specific expertise in custom façade design. Combining her skills in project management and fostering trust in collaboration, Elena aims to celebrate people and communities through rigorous attention to design reinforced by commercial viability and environmental sustainability. Elena is dedicated to promoting design excellence by sharing her expertise, supporting her team in pushing boundaries on every project from concept to completion, and strengthening the technical and communication skills that coax projects from imagination into reality.

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José Pinto Duarte (Panelist)

Director, Penn State University, College of Arts and Architecture

José is the Stuckeman Chair in Design Innovation and director of the Stuckeman Center for Design Computing (SCDC). An accomplished scholar with a record of innovative leadership, Duarte guides the ongoing research and direction of the SCDC.

After obtaining his doctoral degree from MIT, Duarte returned to Portugal where he helped launch groundbreaking, technology-oriented architecture degrees and programs at two different universities, as well as a digital prototyping and fabrication lab. Most recently, he served as dean of the Technical University of Lisbon School of Architecture.

Duarte has an impressive record of uniting academic research and industry, as well as fostering multi-national partnerships. He has served as president of eCAADe, a European association devoted to education and research in computer-aided architectural design. He also helped establish the MIT–Portugal program, and created the Design and Computation research group, which boasts a strong record of interdisciplinary and collaborative research efforts funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and private companies.

Duarte’s scholarly work in his area of expertise, shape grammars, is considered to be among the most highly recognized in this field internationally. His dossier includes a remarkable 40 manuscripts in national and international peer-reviewed journals, nearly a third of which are sole authored. He has also authored 16 book chapters, 13 exhibitions, nine patents, and one software registration, among many other accomplishments. Duarte has been called, “a scholar and researcher of the highest distinction” by peers.

 

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Stuart Emmons, AIA (Panelist)

Principal, Emmons Modular, Portland, OR

Stuart has been innovating in housing since 2008 - with a focus on modular housing, components and panelization. His unique background in manufacturing and architecture along with extensive research in the US modular housing sector, have given him the tools to help make a significant impact on our housing crisis. He is doing this directly through his projects: standardized units and factory designs, and tangentially as a Modular Building Institute Board Member, working with architects and modular manufacturers, and giving talks and writing articles nationwide. Emmons recently came in first place, with Blazer Industries, on the State of Oregon Modular Housing Development Fund Grant - winning $5m to expand modular housing capacity in Oregon and contributing to the Governor's goals for housing. Emmons has 35 years’ experience as an architect and holds architectural degrees from Pratt Institute and Harvard University. 

 

 

Matt Hansen (Panelist)

Asst. Vice Chancellor for Design Stewardship, University of Pittsburgh

Matt is a licensed architect who has spent his entire career practicing in Pittsburgh. Originally from Western Canada, Matt studied architecture at Washington State University in Pullman Washington.  His career has encompassed several different market sectors while focusing primarily on the design of learning environments at the institutional scale. Matt is a skilled designer and thought leader who employs an energetic, collaborative approach that places research-driven concepts at the forefront of his work.

 

As Assistant Vice Chancellor for Design Stewardship at the University of Pittsburgh, Matt is responsible for design guidance over the built environment, creating places that enhance the Pitt community experience. He leads a team that ensures responsible stewardship pf campus assets through appropriate sighting, massing, performance criteria, and aesthetics of buildings and open spaces. Additional responsibilities include authorship of institutional design standards, interior design, furniture selection, campus wayfinding, and building signage.

 

 

Russell Mills (Panelist)

Esquire, Executive Vice President and Counsel, Modlogiq, Inc.

Russell has spent his career in and around construction and development. Mr. Mills graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in the rhetoric of science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1992. He attained his law degree at the Duquesne University school of law in 1998. He is an attorney licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He has concentrated his work in the areas of construction, construction law, finance, business structuring, and valuation.  He has been a developer/owner of real estate in various product types and markets. He has concentrated significantly in multifamily and single-family housing, student housing, retail, commercial and land development.

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Chris Mortensen, PE (Panelist)

Chief Innovation Officer, MODLOGIQ

Chris is a visionary product leader with over 20 years of experience in transformative design & construction and housing initiatives. Specializing in sustainable design, offsite construction, and affordable housing solutions, Chris brings a global perspective shaped by 16 years in the UK, where he led projects ranging from tech headquarters to city-scale masterplans. 

During his time in the UK, Chris spearheaded the development of an innovative offsite construction product for affordable housing, complemented by a cutting-edge generative design software platform. His expertise in leveraging technology and sustainable practices to address both housing affordability and climate challenges positions him as a key voice in discussions about the future of housing. 

Known for leading cross-functional teams and driving data-driven innovation, Chris is passionate about customer-centric approaches and fostering a culture of experimentation. He is eager to share insights into innovative construction methods and collaborate with industry leaders to shape the future of affordable, sustainable housing.