Building smarter. Certified right. Delivered faster.
Up Modular guides developers and landowners through the complete volumetric modular journey — from design through factory oversight, certification, and final delivery.
50%Faster than traditional build
30%Less on-site waste
AU ✓Certified & compliant
A proven global method — now properly certified in Australia.
Volumetric modular is used at scale across Sweden, Japan, Singapore, the UK and the USA. We bring that global expertise to Australian developers and landowners.
Our team has navigated Australia's complex certification landscape — the barrier that has kept modular marginal here — and built repeatable pathways that work.
We manage factory selection, run quality control on the floor, and oversee every stage of logistics, construction and certification.
What we do
End-to-end advisory and delivery.
From first feasibility conversation to final handover, Up Modular is the single expert partner across every discipline your project needs.
01
Design & Engineering
Architecture, structural, and MEP — all coordinated for factory-first delivery and Australian certification. We manage factory selection both local and international.
02
Certification Management
We own the complete Australian NCC and state certification pathway.
03
Factory Selection & QC
We audit, select, and oversee local and international manufacturing partners, with technical specialists on the factory floor throughout production.
04
Logistics & Construction
Shipping, customs, site delivery, crane management, and final completion — one team, all the way through.
What modular can build
From apartments to hotels, townhouses to student accommodation and co-living.
Residential
Multi-storey apartments
3 to 20+ storeys. Each module pre-fitted with joinery, MEP, and finishes before placement on site.
Hospitality
Hotels & serviced apartments
Repetitive room layouts make hotels ideal for modular. Consistent quality, faster programme, lower cost per key.
Student Accommodation & Co-living
Student accommodation & co-living
Fast program demands, tight cost budgets and repetitive layouts make student accommodation a natural fit for volumetric modular delivery.
Why Australia — why now
Not new. Just new here.
Sweden builds 45% of its homes in factories. Japan, Singapore, the UK, and the US each have mature, scaled modular markets. Australia remains at less than 1%.
The reason isn't suitability — it's certification complexity. Getting volumetric modules manufactured offshore approved to Australian building codes requires deep, multidisciplinary expertise that simply hasn't existed here at scale.
Up Modular has built the team and the processes to change that. We've done the hard work to enable a smooth pathway for your project through design, delivery and certification.
A landmark high-rise residential development designed from the ground up for volumetric modular delivery. Every module pre-fitted with joinery, MEP, and full finishes before leaving the factory — craned into position floor by floor above a concrete podium.
22Storeys
220+Modules
QLDLocation
Renders — Up Modular design team · Surfers Paradise, Queensland
We exist because the gap was real. Volumetric modular is proven, efficient, and sustainable — yet barely present in Australia. The reason isn't the method. It's the certification.
Volumetric modules — craned into position on site
Our story
We resolved what others couldn't.
Volumetric modular — where apartment-sized modules are built off-site in a controlled factory environment, then craned into position — is a dominant construction method globally.
Australia has lagged, not because the method doesn't work here, but because the pathway to certification is genuinely complex. Getting volumetric modules manufactured and approved to Australian building codes requires deep, multidisciplinary expertise that simply hasn't existed in a cohesive form.
Up Modular was built to close that gap. Our team has built relationships with modular-experienced consultants, certifiers, engineers and manufacturers, and established repeatable pathways that work.
1stFull-service volumetric modular advisory in Australia
50%Faster delivery vs traditional construction
NCCCertified under Australian building frameworks
AUAll States and Territories
Our team
Deep expertise across every discipline.
The Up Modular team brings together architects, structural engineers, certifiers, logistics specialists, and quality assurance professionals with direct volumetric modular delivery experience.
Architecture & Design
Volumetric spatial design, module integration, and factory-first constraints from day one.
Structural Engineering
Full structural and MEP engineering for modular systems, calibrated to Australian code compliance.
Certification & Compliance
In-house navigation of NCC requirements, state approvals, and third-party certifier relationships.
Factory Oversight
On-the-ground QA presence across our vetted manufacturing partners.
Logistics & Transport
Specialist shipping, customs, and last-mile delivery coordination to bring modules to site safely.
Construction Management
Experienced team managing the installation program, connections, and project completion.
Services
Everything your project needs. One team.
Developers and landowners come to Up Modular because they want a single expert to own the full process — not a fragmented group of consultants who've never done this before.
Advisory & Design
Feasibility & Advisory
Honest early-stage assessment of whether volumetric modular is right for your site, program, and budget. We'll tell you clearly.
Architectural Design
Module-first architecture that works with factory constraints — while delivering the aesthetic and functional outcomes your project demands.
Structural Engineering
Full structural design, connection details, and documentation for volumetric modular systems, prepared for Australian certification.
MEP Engineering
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems coordinated for factory installation — a discipline most consultants underestimate.
Certification Management
We manage the complete certification pathway — NCC compliance, third-party certifiers, and state authority engagement. This is our speciality.
Procurement Strategy
Factory selection, contracting, and pricing strategy across our network of vetted manufacturers.
Manufacturing & Delivery
Factory Selection & Audit
We know the factories. We've walked the floors, reviewed their QMS, and built relationships. We match your project to the right manufacturer.
Quality Control & Inspection
Our team conducts in-process and hold-point inspections throughout production — not just at the end. Every module is documented.
Logistics & Shipping
Container loading, port of export, shipping, Australian customs, and last-mile delivery — every module tracked from factory to site.
Site & Crane Management
Detailed sequencing of module delivery and placement — crane schedules, site preparation, and final connection supervision.
Completion & Handover
Fit-out coordination, authority inspections, and handover documentation to bring your project to practical completion.
Project Management
Program, budget, and risk management across the full project lifecycle — so you always know where things stand.
Modular Around the World
A global construction revolution. Already proven. Already scaled.
Volumetric modular isn't new or experimental. Across Scandinavia, East Asia, the UK, and North America, it is a mainstream, trusted, and growing method. Australia is simply the last major developed nation to scale it — and we're here to make that happen.
AU Certified
The Australian certification challenge is solved. The reason modular has remained marginal in Australia isn't the method — it's the complexity of getting manufactured volumetric modules certified to Australian standards. Our team has resolved this. Every project we deliver is fully certified under the NCC and relevant state frameworks.
Modular & Prefab Share of Construction by Country
Percentage of new builds using volumetric modular or prefabricated construction methods — 2024 estimates
🇸🇪 Sweden
World leader — 45%
45%
🇯🇵 Japan
~18%
~18%
🇸🇬 Singapore
~15%
~15%
🇩🇰 Denmark
~14%
~14%
🇩🇪 Germany
~12%
~12%
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~8%
🇨🇳 China
~8%
🇺🇸 United States
5.1%
🇨🇦 Canada
~4%
🇦🇺 Australia
<1%
Sources: Modular Building Institute 2024; Mordor Intelligence; Grand View Research. Australia figure reflects established volumetric modular certification pathway completions.
Country by country
Where modular is already mainstream.
🇸🇪Sweden
45% of new builds
% of new builds45%
Units/yr (est.)~30,000+
Market size 2024USD ~$8B
Cold climate and high labour costs drove early adoption of factory-built housing. Today Sweden is the world's leading example of industrialised construction at national scale.
🇯🇵Japan
~18% of new builds
% of new builds~18%
Units/yr (est.)~150,000+
Market size 2024USD ~$35B
Japan developed one of the world's most sophisticated modular ecosystems, driven by seismic engineering requirements and precision manufacturing culture.
🇸🇬Singapore
~15% of new builds
% of new builds~15%
Units/yr (est.)~8,000+
Market size 2024USD ~$3B
Singapore's BCA mandates Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) on government land sales — exactly the model Up Modular delivers for Australian clients.
🇬🇧United Kingdom
~8% of new builds
% of new builds~8%
Units/yr (est.)~25,000+
Market size 2024USD ~$6B
The UK has embraced modular as its answer to a chronic housing shortage. Tide Construction's 44-storey towers in Croydon demonstrated what's possible at full urban scale.
🇺🇸United States
5.1% of new builds
% of new builds5.1%
Units/yr (est.)~103,000+
Market size 2024USD $20.3B
The US modular market is large and growing — driven by a 7-million home supply deficit and rising labour costs. California, New York, and Boston are leading markets.
🇨🇳China
~8% of new builds
% of new builds~8%
Units/yr (est.)~500,000+
Market size 2024USD ~$27B
China is both the world's fastest-growing domestic modular market and the primary manufacturing source for modules used in Australia, Singapore, and the UK.
Why Australia has lagged — and why that's changing.
Volumetric modular is not unsuited to Australia. The climate, the housing shortage, the skilled labour gap — all point toward it. What held the industry back was the certification pathway.
Up Modular has built the team and the processes to solve this. We work within the Australian certification system — not around it. Every project we deliver meets full NCC and state building framework requirements.
<1%Australia's current modular share
45%Sweden's modular share
The global modular market is projected to reach USD $207 billion by 2033. Australia is one of the last developed nations without a scaled modular sector. That gap is the opportunity — and Up Modular is positioned to lead it.
Our Process
From concept to completion — one team, every stage.
Volumetric modular is a different way of building, which means it requires a different way of managing. Our process is disciplined, transparent, and built from real project experience.
01
Feasibility & Initial Advisory
An honest early assessment. Is volumetric modular right for your site, program, and budget? We look at numbers, site constraints, the likely certification pathway, and manufacturing options before committing you to anything.
Site AnalysisCost ModellingMethod Assessment
02
Design & Documentation
Architecture and engineering developed specifically for the volumetric modular process. Module layouts, structural connections, MEP integration, and facade strategy — all coordinated for factory production from day one.
ArchitectureStructuralMEP CoordinationBIM
03
Certification Strategy & Approval
We develop and manage the certification pathway — third-party certification, NCC compliance documentation, and state authority engagement. This is where our experience sets us apart. We've done this before; others haven't.
Based on your project requirements, we select the right manufacturer from our vetted network in China and Vietnam. We negotiate contracts, set production standards, and establish the quality hold points that govern production.
Factory AuditProcurementContract Management
05
Manufacturing & Quality Control
Our team is present throughout production — not just at final inspection. We conduct in-process checks, hold-point inspections, and sign-off reviews. Every module is documented before it leaves the factory.
Container loading, port of export, shipping, Australian customs clearance, and last-mile delivery — including specialist transport for oversized modules. Every module tracked from factory to site.
Container LogisticsCustomsLast-Mile Transport
07
Site Construction & Handover
Crane program management, module placement, structural connections, facade completion, and services fit-off. We manage the site phase with the same rigour as the factory phase — and hand over a completed, certified building.
No one else in Australia has assembled a team like this.
Every discipline required to design, certify, manufacture, deliver, and build a volumetric modular project in Australia — in one team.
Co-CEO
Marshall Cobb
A diverse professional with deep experience in accounting, capital raising and over 20 years leading Australian property development and project marketing businesses. Marshall understands the systemic construction issues first hand and drives Up Modular’s strategic direction, funding, and developer relationships across all markets.
Co-CEO
Carl Heath
36 years in Australian property with direct modular housing distribution experience through KiT eHOUSE. International operator across Vietnam and SE Asia. Global No. 1 Salesperson recognition from a leading international franchisor.
JN
Co-CEO
Johnny Nassif
Developer-builder with proven end-to-end delivery through Northland Group — complex multi-storey residential in Western Sydney. Johnny brings the rare perspective of a developer who is also the builder, directly informing how Up Modular controls quality from factory to handover.
AF
Group CFO
Alberto Furger
25+ years in international banking, asset management, and venture finance across 50+ countries. Swiss banking background, Big 4 advisory, and founder of Trident Treehouse — a business consultancy operating across Indonesia and SE Asia. Structures complex project financing across Asia-Pacific capital markets.
Head of Design
Jason Marriott
Co-founder of a business that developed patented modular building technologies. Chief Foreign Architect for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Village. Director of Architecture for North China at AECOM. Lead Architect for Apple across Greater China. 28 years of modular-specific design expertise.
Head of Engineering
Simon McCarthy
Chartered Structural Engineer and Board Director of Prefab Australia. Specialises in DfMA — Design for Manufacturing and Assembly — the engineering discipline that makes volumetric modular certifiable to Australian code. 20+ years delivering offsite construction solutions.
Head of Construction — Australia
David Risbey
30 years in Tier 1 construction and development including direct modular project delivery. Over $1 billion in completed projects across residential, student accommodation and co-living, and modular sectors. Brings site delivery experience that means he understands crane sequencing and authority sign-off from personal experience, not theory.
Head of Quality Control
Terry Gordon
Founder of MCM Co. (Modular Construction Masters). Former Business Development Manager at a modular manufacturer. Up Modular's factory-floor QC specialist — vetting, auditing, and overseeing manufacturing partners in China and Vietnam. 25+ years operational experience across 14 countries.
Head of Construction — New Zealand
Jeremy Wagon
One of the few construction professionals in Australasia with direct senior-level experience running a modular construction company — General Manager at TLC Modular. 25 years spanning civil engineering and major project delivery through Lend Lease and BMD Constructions.
Head of Logistics
Tim Polson
MBA in Supply Chain Management. 20 years moving large complex cargo through maritime and land supply chains including Sydney Convention Centre, Gladstone LNG, and major coal terminal projects. Oversees the full modular logistics chain from Asian factories to Australian sites.
Technical Consultant — Asia
Sidney Tong
Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. Registered Professional Engineer (Civil). Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Provides engineering oversight and technical due diligence across Up Modular's Asian manufacturing partners — ensuring factory output meets Australian certification standards.
Contact
Start the conversation.
Whether you have a site and a vision, or just a question about whether modular is right for your project, we'd like to hear from you.
Based in Australia. International reach.
Our advisory, design, and certification team is Australian-based, and works with developers and landowners across all Australian states and territories.
LocationAustralia — projects nationwide
Emailhello@upmodular.com.au
Response timeWe respond to all enquiries within 1 business day
Not sure if modular is right for your project yet? That's exactly the kind of conversation we enjoy. Get in touch and we'll give you an honest answer.
