Q & A with a Thought Leader
Earlier this month we had the opportunity to speak with Chris Hill.
Chris is a Chartered Professional Accountant and industry leader in offsite construction, with over 25 years of experience in sustainable building and manufacturing innovation. He advises governments, developers, and Indigenous partners on how to scale prefabrication to meet housing, climate, and economic development goals.
It was great connecting with Chris and it helped reconfirm that the path Good Way Homes has chosen is the right one.
Here is our Q & A with Chris:
Q: What do you see as the biggest misconception developers have about prefab?
Chris: The biggest misconception is that prefab costs more. While the upfront cost can be higher, prefab saves money over the full project lifecycle—especially when designs are repeated and the system is used as intended. But to unlock those savings, everyone involved needs to be aligned early.
Q: What would be your top three reasons developers should consider prefab?
Chris: Speed, quality, and cost certainty. These three factors work together to reduce risk and increase predictability across the entire project.
Q: Why aren’t there more prefab homes in BC, and do you see this changing in 2025 or is this a longer-term shift?
Chris: British Columbia's construction market is currently fragmented, with most development occurring on an individual project basis. Scaling prefabricated construction requires volume and consistent demand, achievable through bundled procurement, standardized product platforms, and an industry-wide change in perspective. While progress is underway, 2025 is anticipated to mark the initial phase of a more extensive transition.
Q: What is the profile of the perfect residential prefab homebuilder?
Chris: An Indigenous-owned, vertically integrated builder that delivers housing aligned with its community values—driven by purpose as much as profit, and generating demand through its own impact-oriented developments.
Thank you Chris!
You can follow Chris on LinkedIn.
