MCRE, LLC - Henry McClure -

Deep Dive: Steel Engineered Panelized Wall Systems (Buildforce Modz “Pallet Panels”) vs. Traditional Stick-Built Construction Buildforce Modz’s “pallet panels” (engineered panelized wall systems) are factory-prefabricated, hybrid cold-formed steel (CFS) + structural steel wall panels, trusses, and related components. They are built upright in a controlled factory environment using precision machinery, finished with sheathing, wrap, blocking, weatherproofing, or even pre-installed windows as needed, then custom-stacked (“palletized”) on trailers for direct crane setting in exact installation sequence. This is advanced panelized prefabrication —not full volumetric modular construction—optimized for restaurants, hotels, multifamily, condominiums, industrial, and commercial projects. Traditional stick-built construction (whether wood or loose CFS/metal studs) involves cutting, framing, and assembling every piece on-site, fully exposed to weather and variable labor conditions. Here is a...

  Topeka Should Follow Kansas City's Lead: Prioritize People, Not Parking Minimums Kansas City just took a bold step toward smarter growth, and Topeka ought to pay attention. On Thursday, KC's City Council approved an ordinance scrapping parking minimums for new developments in much of its urban core. No longer will builders be forced to provide a set number of parking spaces that drive up costs and eat up valuable land with seas of asphalt. Instead, the focus shifts to walkability, housing, and economic opportunity—putting residents and businesses first. Mayor Quinton Lucas put it plainly: parking minimums have made housing more expensive and hindered the creation of vibrant, connected neighborhoods. Councilmember Eric Bunch echoed that sentiment, noting how the old rules blocked redevelopment of smaller commercial buildings into restaurants and shops. This isn't radical experimentation; it's practical urban planning that recognizes cars don't need to dominate ev...