When you think of prefab architecture, the word “custom” might not immediately spring to mind. But for sagemodern, a Lake Tahoe-based architecture and design-build firm, the fusion of prefab and high-end custom design is their signature move — and it’s transforming how homes are built in one of the West’s most scenic, challenging environments.
At the heart of sagemodern is Joseph Remick, a principal of the firm and a seasoned prefab specialist since 2006. Alongside a compact but powerful team of three architects, sagemodern has carved out a unique niche in the architectural world — designing and building breathtaking mountain homes that are equal parts efficient and elegant.
A Strategic Embrace of Prefab
Why prefab in Lake Tahoe? One word: time. With a short building season — excavation is only permitted from May through October to protect the watershed — traditional site-built construction often stretches far longer than ideal. Prefabrication, on the other hand, allows sagemodern to compress timelines by 6–8 months for large custom homes. Their hybrid approach mixes prefab modules for dense, intricate sections like kitchens, bathrooms, offices, and bedrooms, while reserving site-build techniques for open, expansive spaces like great rooms and garages.
The Power of Archicad in Prefab Design
sagemodern uses a hybrid prefab/site-build strategy to optimize time and space.
sagemodern isn’t just building homes — they’re orchestrating highly coordinated architectural symphonies. The firm switched to Archicad in 2012, recognizing the need for a more integrated modeling platform that could bridge the gap between factory-built modules and on-site construction.
Over the years, they’ve taken Archicad modeling to new heights. From detailed foundation and framing models to MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) coordination, sagemodern produces comprehensive 3D models that act as a single source of truth for everyone involved — the factory, subcontractors, and site teams alike.
A standout partner in this process is David Fulton of Plan North, a structural engineer who also works within Archicad. Their collaboration results in pinpoint-accurate construction documents that include everything from structural strapping and steel to sprinkler pipe locations and ductwork. These documents are then pushed to BIMx, allowing contractors to view models on-site via iPads — streamlining communication and reducing costly field errors.
The Hybrid Build Process in Action
During a recent Archicad user group, Joseph walked through two recent projects that illustrate how sagemodern integrates prefab and custom design:
1. A private Nevada-side Lake Tahoe residence used prefab modules for critical areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms. While the modules were built and finished in the factory — cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, tile, and all — the team simultaneously prepared the site: building foundations, installing structural steel, and constructing garages and great rooms.
2. A home near Northstar Ski Resort in California went even deeper into modeling precision. This project showcased full MEP modeling, advanced structural coordination, and live detailing of wall sections within the Archicad environment. The goal? Virtual construction before a single nail hits the real site.
For both projects, this meticulous planning translated into smoother set days (when modules are craned into place), cleaner finish alignments, and consistently high-quality results.
A Factory Partnership with Method Homes
Shop drawings are an additional deliverable — detailed and essential to prefab success.
sagemodern’s commitment to quality extends to their manufacturing partners. Their go-to prefab factory is Method Homes, based near Seattle. Despite the distance — a two-day truck ride to Tahoe — Method Homes remains the only prefab partner that consistently delivers on sagemodern’s exacting standards. Other factories, like Plant Prefab, have been tested, but Method has become their trusted collaborator for the level of craftsmanship they demand.
Billing, Modeling, and the Business of Design
sagemodern’s billing structure is just as thoughtfully architected. They charge hourly for schematic design, then shift to a fixed fee for design development and construction documents. Notably, they also charge separately for their shop drawings — detailed documents typically handled by factories — because of the significant time and precision they invest into them.
Their Archicad models evolve from simple massing concepts to intricate, highly detailed construction documents, usually over a 4–6 month timeline. Clash detection isn’t automated — instead, the team performs visual quality control, using their robust modeling skills to anticipate and mitigate real-world issues.
The Bottom Line: Custom, Coordinated, and Cutting-Edge
At sagemodern, prefab isn’t about shortcuts — it’s about “smart” building. With a deep understanding of the region’s constraints, a mastery of digital tools like Archicad and BIMx, and a commitment to detail that borders on obsessive (in the best way), they’ve redefined what modular architecture can be.
Their homes are modern, luxurious, and finely crafted — but beneath the stunning exteriors lies a system of coordination, collaboration, and thoughtful innovation that’s setting new standards in the world of custom prefab construction.