The housing crisis isn’t just a policy problem—it’s a production problem hiding in plain sight.

In this episode of Activating Curiosity™, Ryan Ware sits down with Ryan Smith, Co-Founder of ModX, to explore how construction leadership and change management in the AEC industry must evolve to address housing affordability at scale.

This conversation challenges a common assumption: that better policy alone will solve the housing crisis. Instead, Ryan Smith breaks down why housing affordability is fundamentally a supply issue—and how industrialized construction offers a path forward by rethinking how we design, manufacture, and deliver housing.

But this isn’t just about technology. It’s about mindset.

From fragmented project delivery to outdated regulatory frameworks, the real barriers are systemic. Together, Ryan and Ryan unpack what it takes for construction leaders, architects, developers, and manufacturers to shift from siloed thinking to integrated, curiosity-driven approaches that enable real change.

What you’ll learn:

•  Why housing affordability is fundamentally a supply and production challenge 
•  The internal (competency, capacity, capability) and external barriers slowing adoption 
•  How industrialized construction requires a shift in design, delivery, and business models 
•  Why “systems integrators” and repeatable teams are critical to scaling innovation 
•  How regional knowledge-sharing and performance-based codes can unlock faster progress 

Who this is for:
Construction leaders, architects, developers, and AEC professionals navigating change, uncertainty, and the future of housing delivery.

Chapters
0:00 - Introduction to Industrialized Housing
1:06 - Ryan Smith's Career Journey
5:15 - Internal and External Barriers
12:31 - Lessons from Global Precedents
29:30 - The Role of Design and Manufacturing
47:04 - Future of Housing and Industrialized Construction

Guest
Ryan E. Smith is Professor and Director of the School of Architecture at the University of Arizona and Co-Founder of ModX. He is a leading researcher in industrialized and offsite construction, with nearly two decades of experience advancing scalable housing solutions through research, advising, and industry collaboration.

https://www.modx.network/

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

Overcast Innovations
Helping project teams coordinate building systems earlier for more predictable outcomes.

Connective Consulting Group
Helping construction leaders simplify change, strengthen trust, and move forward with clarity.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Follow Ryan at the following: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankware/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/connective-consulting-group-llc

https://connectiveconsultinggrp.com/

https://connective-coaching.com/

https://ryanware.me/

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