Our Laboratory

The Logic Building Systems Laboratory on Main Street in Brattleboro, Vermont is where Logic’s vision becomes tangible and real. It is here that we iterate on our first prototypes, and also here that we meet stakeholders in the community. Taking the Center for Offsite Construction’s research findings, we are applying what a standard coupling should be to a real, evolving modular kitchen and bath. It is only by taking concepts to real life applications that a truly universal solution will be integrated. 

“Opening our main street laboratory was the smartest thing we ever did, because every week a new collaborator sees the vision and walks through the door to find out how they can participate.”

~ Jason Van Nest

New Kinds of Customers

The Logic Laboratory has helped us discover and better understand four new kinds of customers:

First, most people who walk through the front door are looking for an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to allow them to move themselves out of their big house and into their backyard so that they can allow the next generation to take over their family’s most precious asset, their home. Helping multi-generational families have the dignity to share a home is one of the most important humanitarian applications of this work.

Second, we meet a lot of small-scale real estate developers. There are many community members who maybe don’t have the means to create dozens of apartments, but might take a single home and divide it into three apartments. They want to be part of the solution. And this laboratory gives them a place to come and talk about their ambitions, discuss the technical constraints around their plans, and connect with others to find resources and support.

Third, another customer is the curious architect. The promise of industrialized or modular construction has been around for a decade, and architects are nervous about explaining the benefits to their clients. They come here to play out various what-if scenarios and ask charged technical questions to pressure test and validate the claims they see in the media.

Fourth, we see small to medium scale general contractors who are tired and frustrated of being behind schedule and over budget. They typically love building houses, not managing the teams that must be marshaled to complete the job. When general contractors come here, they’re asking about a new way to do business, not just a new kind of product to bring to their customers.

You’re invited!

Our local politicians, who are working to build legislation to ease the housing crisis, also come by to talk. They bring up things like land use regulations, means of production, and the role of public-private partnerships. They ask important questions and share challenges they are wrestling with. 

The Laboratory is open by appointment to customers, collaborators, and investors interested in seeing prototypes and designs based on the Center for Offsite Construction’s developing open-source standard.

Make an appointment to come by to say hello, check out our prototypes, and ask us questions!