In the middle of the largest residential construction show in the world, wedged between estimating software and the kitchen and bath aisle, our small booth was focused on one question: where do structural components truly fit in the future of homebuilding?
The International Builders Show (IBS) brings together builders, architects, developers, component manufacturers, LBM dealers, software providers, and industry associations under one roof. It was a concentrated snapshot of the entire residential supply chain, and component systems were not on the sidelines, but rather embedded in several conversations about efficiency, cost, and buildability.
There is a meaningful difference between walking the floor and standing in a booth for three days having back-to-back conversations. Exhibiting forces you to articulate your position in the market, listen carefully to what customers are asking for, and engage directly in the conversations shaping how components are sourced. [For image, See PDF or View in Full Issue.]
What We Observed on the Show Floor
If there was one dominant theme across the show floor, it was estimation. From AI-driven takeoff platforms to predictive cost tools, there were several solutions promising faster answers and better numbers. Builders are clearly under pressure to provide earlier pricing details and faster commitments to owners and lenders. What became apparent in our conversations is that while many parts of the project lifecycle are becoming increasingly digitized and streamlined, there is still a noticeable gap in the efficiency between conceptual design and structural confirmation. For truss manufacturers, that gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity: the faster structural feasibility can be understood upstream, the more intentionally components can be specified downstream.
The Practical Pain Points Builders Shared
From the builder’s side of the aisle, the request sounds simple: can we get this turned around faster? From the component manufacturer’s side, the answer is rarely that simple. Structural design is only as clear as the plans it is built on. When layouts are still shifting, loads are incomplete, or architectural details remain fluid, acceleration often means iteration rather than execution. Manufacturers are navigating a constant balancing act: being responsive and relationship-driven while also managing their designer’s time, plant capacity, and profitability. The market’s demand for speed is intensifying, but the complexity behind component design makes that a formidable challenge. At Paragon, we are working towards a vision where truss design is more accessible and transparent, so that more people understand how it works and where it adds value.
Connecting with SBCA and Industry Leaders
One of the strengths of IBS is the education that the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) facilitates throughout the week, with sessions taking place across multiple rooms focused on everything from building science to business strategy. We enjoyed spending time in the Building Systems Council room, where the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA) had a table and participated in ongoing discussions and sessions centered on building systems.
The conversations were less about individual products and more about how homes are built and how systems thinking can bring practical benefits to builders and suppliers alike. We also hosted several conversations with industry leaders for our show, “The Common Chord,” so be on the lookout for these episodes to publish soon. Much of the real work in our industry happens through relationships. It helps to have national organizations investing time, resources, and leadership to support component manufacturers and strengthen their connections through the entire building community.
Access and Transparency: Builders’ Interest in Structural Exploration
Builders want to understand whether a concept is reasonable, whether the structure is feasible, and whether small changes could have an outsized effect on the project’s cost and cycle time. The earlier these insights are available, the more they build trust and position the component supplier as a proactive partner rather than a reactive problem-solver.
Walking the show floor is a reminder of how competitive and dynamic the housing supply chain truly is. Every aisle features companies promising faster solutions, tighter budgets, smarter software, better materials, or a different approach. From equipment manufacturers to specialty product suppliers, the underlying message is consistent: the industry is under pressure to improve efficiency at every stage. In that environment, components cannot afford to operate in isolation. If the broader housing conversation is centered on speed, clarity, and risk reduction, structural systems must be clearly positioned as part of that solution. Paragon is focused on ensuring that component design plays a critical role in those larger market forces rather than reacting to them from the sidelines.
What This Means for Component Manufacturers
For component manufacturers, the takeaway from IBS is not to change who you are, but to consider how you engage earlier and more visibly in the process. Builders are actively searching for partners who help them with speed and clarity, and many are open to deeper conversations about how structural decisions impact cost and schedule. Education remains critical, whether through local relationships, industry associations, or national events. The more components are understood as strategic systems rather than line items, the stronger the entire segment becomes.
Our 10x10 booth may have been small, but the conversations we had reinforced that components belong at the center of the housing efficiency conversation. Showing up in spaces like IBS shows that our industry is engaged, collaborative, and invested in the future of homebuilding. Relationships are what ultimately expand adoption. If we want more components in the world, then we have to continue participating in the broader dialogue shaping how homes are designed and delivered.