MDL 601 - Managing the Construction of Middle Housing Projects

Course Description

What is mddl U?

mddl U is Canada’s first professional education program dedicated exclusively to small-scale and missing middle housing development. The program is intended as a practical, skills-based training program for early to mid-career development professionals, emerging small scale developers, municipal planners, and community builders who want to understand how to move middle housing projects from concept to construction. 

How is the course structured? 

mddl U is an online, self-paced course. It is open for registration across Canada, and students currently enrolled in a post-secondary program anywhere in the country are eligible for a small discount by emailing hello@mddl.co.

The full course is a 100-hour professional education program with six courses. Participants have 6 weeks to complete each course. 

• Course 1 (pre-requisite for all following courses) serves as the foundational prerequisite and introduces the middle housing ecosystem, policy context, and development process.
• Courses 2–6 explore specialized topics such as feasibility, financing, approvals, and project delivery. 

Courses can be taken individually or completed together to earn the full certificate. Participants have up to four years to complete the full certificate. 

Who is the program designed for?

mddl U is designed to help build development expertise and capacity among those who are in the middle housing ecosystem. The intent of the program is to train individuals to help ease the delivery of middle housing - ranging from construction and financing of projects, to streamlining the regulatory and permitting processes. Participants do not need prior development experience.

Course Description 

This course focuses on the construction phase of middle housing projects, from contractor selection through to project completion and handover. Learners will explore how to engage contractors, leverage early contractor involvement, and prepare for pre-construction planning and sequencing. The course breaks down key construction stages, site logistics, and milestone management, with particular attention to the challenges of infill and small-scale projects. Participants will build skills in cost control, scheduling, risk management, inspections, and quality assurance, and will conclude by learning the requirements for project close-out, warranties, and post-occupancy review to ensure a smooth transition from construction to occupancy.

Course Details

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe and sequence the major stages of construction by identifying critical milestones, dependencies, and site-specific logistics associated with infill and small-scale development.
• Navigate construction-phase regulatory requirements by coordinating inspections, understanding applicable codes and regulations, and implementing site safety and quality assurance practices.
• Apply basic cost control and scheduling principles by tracking construction progress, monitoring budget variance, and identifying common construction risks along with practical mitigation strategies.
• Manage project close-out and turnover by completing final inspections, meeting new home warranty requirements, and conducting post-occupancy reviews and client handoffs.
• Select and engage appropriate contractors for middle housing projects by evaluating delivery models, understanding the benefits of early contractor involvement (ECI), and preparing key pre-construction deliverables and timelines.