Prefab1 positions modular construction as an adaptable building methodology

In conversation with Built Offsite Publisher Michael Dolphin, Prefab1 Managing Director Jason Sceberras reflected on more than twenty years in modular construction. Operating from a seven-acre site in Seaford, Victoria, Prefab1 reflects the view Jason Sceberras has developed over more than two decades in modular construction, where its building methodology is applied as adaptable rather than prescribed. (main image: Modular station building at Glenroy, Melbourne by Prefab1, delivered as a 16-module assembly with integrated cladding systems to meet premium station functional requirements.)

“I trained as a draughtsman and my first role happened to be in modular construction. The sector was still relatively niche at the time, but it became the environment I developed in professionally,” he said.

“I’ve seen the sector evolve and I’ve seen who has come into the market. I’ve tended to fly under the radar, but we just love how the industry is evolving and growing at a rapid rate.”

From perception to capability
When Sceberras entered the field, modular construction was still widely associated with temporary and relocatable buildings. “The biggest issue was perception. Modular was still associated with temporary classrooms and site accommodation, and seen as a cheaper, compromised alternative to traditional construction,” he said.

Firms such as Modscape and Prebuilt helped shift expectations. “Those two companies opened the eyes of clients and architects to what you could do. It showed that modular did not have to be generic.”

These observations informed the establishment of Prefab1, now operating for around seven years. “The intention was always to take what I had learned from both sides of the industry and combine it,” he said.

Methodology that follows design intent
Prefab1 does not rely on a single modular system. Instead, the construction methodology is selected according to the purpose, performance requirements and architectural direction of each project.

“We’re not welded to any single way of building,” Sceberras said. “There are several ways to structure a modular building. The right method depends on how the building will be used, what the client values, and what the architectural intent requires.”

Summarised simply:
“The methodology follows the design intent — not the other way around.”

Prefab1 predominantly delivers steel-framed volumetric construction, supported by several steel configuration systems depending on spans and floor performance. Where appropriate, the company also integrates precast elements and hybrid offsite–onsite assembly sequences when these approaches support programme, cost or site conditions.

“We might deliver a fully volumetric building, or we may combine offsite elements with onsite construction. It depends on the project,” he said.

This flexibility is often applied in collaboration with architects. “We often hear from architects who say they’ve been told modular has fixed constraints. We don’t approach it that way. Flexibility can be applied where it’s needed.”

Examples across civic, rail, heritage and education
Prefab1 has delivered buildings across rail infrastructure, education, and public facility environments, where programme certainty and reduced on-site duration are important.

A recent Metro facility in Sunshine is one such example. “They were originally expecting a very basic compound building,” Sceberras said. “But based on previous rail projects and their standards, we provided options that elevated the specification without losing sight of budget constraints.”

The company has also supported multiple level crossing removal projects, where predictable staging is essential. “Those projects often come with tight timeframes and access constraints, so the sequencing of offsite and onsite work becomes critical,” he said.

The same adaptable approach is visible in heritage contexts. The Schramms Cottage Visitor Centre in Doncaster required modular construction to respond to a pre-existing architectural character. “That project was around 40 per cent modular and 60 per cent onsite construction,” he said. “It required tying new elements into a heritage environment, and it meant we had to think differently about how the modular component interfaced with the existing form.”

As Sceberras noted:
“Modular is not fixed to one formula. It adapts when design integrity requires it.”

Residential opportunity linked to structured finance
While Prefab1’s pipeline remains primarily commercial and civic, the company remains open to residential delivery where the conditions support consistent outcomes.

“If the financing is stable, the builder can deliver with confidence and the client is protected. That opens the door to delivering housing at repeatable scale,” Sceberras said.

“We are open to residential work, but only where the typologies are repeatable and the financing is secure. We like to keep as many doors open as possible, while maintaining control over quality.”

“I’ve always believed that modular has many ways to be done well,” he said. “The key is selecting the approach that suits the project, not forcing every project to suit the approach.”

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