The final placement was a move of faith. Balanced by 5 pairs of hands, 12 feet off the ground, the prefabricated first corner panel was precariously perched on the edge of the modular concrete base. Standing upright, the corner swayed gently as it balanced on two stacks of wooden blocks. The final interface between the precisely pre-fabricated assembly and its in-situ modular concrete foundation was a small wooden cleat fastened to the concrete, designed to hook into to the bottom sill-plate of the corner assembly. With a count to three the corner was lifted off the edge. Momentarily catching on one of the swept surface timber facade panels, the unit swung alarmingly to one side. The corner hovered over the edge of the floor, caught in the gap between the precision of design and the manual labor of building. With a last effort, the assembly was lifted over the edge of the concrete and dropped, settling into position with a solid thud. The first corner, the element of reference for the remaining prefabricated assemblies, was in place.

— Alexander Kobald [Wood Assembly Volunteer, Research Associate at Cornell University]