BuildSmart Housing Innovation TechHub Summit
The BuildSmart TechHub hosted its Housing Innovation Summit on April 29, 2026. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special event which convened leaders from industry, academia, government, and community organizations to share best practices, generate solutions to key challenges and discuss opportunities for collaboration.
The event focused on advancing affordable and sustainable housing in Massachusetts, highlighting innovations in research, workforce development, finance, zoning/policy and municipal orchestration.
Thank you to our speakers and sponsors who made this event possible. To continue to be involved with BuildSmart, please email BuildSmart@uml.edu.
Check out some event highlights below, including a recording of the Fireside Chat, the topics discussed, and the roster of speakers who presented.
Fireside Chat
Fireside Chat: Building the Future of Housing, with:
- Kei Hayashi, Principal, BJH Advisors
- Anne Maglia, Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Tim Rowe, Founder and Executive Chair, Cambridge Innovation Center
Agenda
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8 - 9 a.m. | Registration and Networking Breakfast |
| 9 - 9:45 a.m. | Welcome Remarks |
| 10 - 10:45 a.m. | Session 1: Solutions for Energy-Efficient, Climate-Ready Housing |
| 11 a.m. - noon | Session 2: Aligning Policy, Zoning, and Finance to Accelerate Housing |
| Noon - 1 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1 - 1:45 p.m. | Session 3: Advanced Materials and Modular Housing Innovations |
| 2 - 2:35 p.m. | Session 4: Building the Workforce: Preparing the Next Generation of Talent |
| 2:45 - 3:45 p.m. | Fireside Chat: Building the Future of Housing |
| 3:45 - 6 p.m. | Closing Remarks and Networking Reception |
