What Advancing Prefabrication 2026 Reveals About the Industry’s Next Chapter 

As the MEP industry moves deeper into prefabrication and industrialized delivery, it’s becoming clear that the conversation is shifting. We’re no longer debating whether prefab works... we’re grappling with how to make it repeatable, scalable, and sustainable under growing pressure. 

Based on “Day One” of the Advancing Prefabrication agenda, a few clear industry priorities are emerging that will likely define how contractors operate heading into 2026. 

1. Connecting BIM to Real Prefabrication Outcomes 

One of the strongest themes is the need to tighten the handoff between BIM and the shop floor. 

The industry has matured past simply saying, “we modeled it.” What contractors want now are practical answers to questions like: 

• How do you standardize content without slowing projects down? 

• How do you keep data clean as models evolve? 

• How do you reduce the constant back-and-forth between detailing teams and fabrication shops? 

The real opportunity lies in shaving time off that BIM-to-prefab transition, not by adding more tools, but by improving how teams structure information and workflows from the start. 

2. Making Models Truly Buildable 

A clean model on screen does not automatically translate to a smooth install in the field. 

There’s growing recognition that constructability must be embedded earlier and more consistently in the modeling process. That means: 

• Clear standards and modeling expectations 

• Review habits that go beyond clash detection 

• Checklists that reflect how work is actually installed, not just how it looks digitally 

As prefab becomes more central to delivery strategies, models need to function as instructions for building, not just documentation. 

Why the Speaker Mix Matters 

What stands out about the speaker lineup isn’t just the experience level, it’s the range of perspectives. 

Attendees can expect to learn: 

• How owners and GCs are thinking, especially around prefab expectations, BIM requirements, and delivery models that increasingly show up in contracts and RFQs. 

• What leading trade contractors are actually doing in their shops, including what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what they’d do differently if starting today. 

• How technology partners see the road ahead, which helps contractors decide where to invest time, training, and resources amid rapidly changing tools. 

The most valuable insights often come from honest stories: what’s still messy, where teams struggled, and what they wish they had standardized earlier. 

A First-Time Perspective on Advancing Prefabrication 

This year marks my first time attending Advancing Prefabrication, and that fresh perspective comes with a clear set of expectations. 

What we're look forward to: 

• Seeing BIM-to-prefab workflows that hold up in real-world conditions—not just on slides 

• Talking with teams facing familiar constraints: tight schedules, limited staff, and rising expectations 

• Learning how different organizations structure responsibilities so prefab becomes part of normal operations, not a “special project” 

Those operational details (how teams are organized, how decisions are made, how standards are enforced) often make the difference between prefab success and frustration. 

Can Events Like This Actually Drive Innovation? 

Right now, the industry doesn’t have a perfect playbook, and that’s exactly why focused events like this matter. 

MEP contractors are being pushed toward more industrialized delivery, more data, and more automation all at once. That combination is powerful, but it can also be overwhelming. 

Prefabrication-focused events create space to: 

• Compare notes on what’s truly moving the needle 

• Learn how different organizations structure their shops, BIM teams, and workflows 

• Build relationships so teams aren’t solving the same problems in isolation 

  
  

If attendees are willing to share the real story (not just the polished version) these conversations can absolutely accelerate practical, job-site-ready innovation. 

The Hot Topics Likely to Dominate the Conversation 

Looking ahead, a few themes are almost certain to come up repeatedly:

• Data center work 
  Managing demand while balancing labor, and material realities. 

• Model-to-machine workflows 
  Turning standardized models into cuts, bends, spools, and kits with minimal manual intervention. 

• Standardization with flexibility 
  Finding the line between repeatable assemblies and the nuance each project still requires. 

• BIM as the connective tissue 
  Using BIM to link design, prefab planning, and field installation—not as a checkbox, but as a way to reduce rework and surprises. 

• People and skills 
  Growing teams that understand both how to build and how to use the software. Tools only create value when the people behind them are equipped to use them well. 

Will you be at the Advancing Prefab 2026 conference? Come visit EVOLVE at Booth 9! 

About the Author: Jared Sutliff is the co-founder of our partner, BIMTM. Founded in 2021, BIM Technology Management (BIMTM) was born from a need for better BIM solutions. As industry professionals, they experienced firsthand the frustrations of dealing with unbuildable models, wasted time, and a lack of practical understanding from service providers. Partnering with companies in the AEC industry to improve the building process through technology. BIMTM makes BIM work for you.