Open-Built concept?

re: the OpenBuilt concept as described on the Bensonwood Homes website
(for info: http://www.bensonwood.com/innovation/openbuilt.cfm )

Questions and Comments

first, the obvious highlights:
o Six “S” concept - seemingly obvious, but the idea that these categories have different life spans, and are therefore best thought of as separate parts of the overall structure needs to be more widely adopted.
o Idea that even top quality ‘custom’ homes can benefit from component standardization and factory quality consistency; may meet strong resistance, but it will win out over time
o MEP systems should take advantage of modern technology to improve efficiency, flexibility and quality. (this is not a race to lowest possible cost). Fully designed systems, installed so as to be easily accessible and re-configurable (connectorized electrical wiring systems, versus “wire nuts” – the existing ‘standard’ in USA)

now, my concern(s):
o The ‘second floor system’ concept and related components –
§ If one (or more in larger homes) ‘mechanical core walls’ (MEP chase walls) are part of the basic design, is this ‘system’ even necessary? [I don’t think so…]
§ How is this raised floor anchored against lateral forces? What do inspectors in seismically active areas have to say about setting the upper half of house on 13” stilts?
§ From an efficiency point of view, even a large mechanical chase wall (12ft long, by 18ft (two stories) high, by 2ft deep) is just a small fraction of the volume taken up by raised floor method. (moderate sized home – 30ft by 40ft by 1ft; and to be consistent, the top of floor to bottom of ceiling dim is probably closer to the 2ft used in the chase wall method). So, we are looking at +/- 400 cubic ft versus +/- 2,400 cubic ft!
§ Having spent most of my adult life in office buildings with ‘lay-in’ acoustic ceiling panels, I can’t imagine any owners of custom homes being satisfied with removeable ceiling panels; even if they are made out of naturally finished hardwood.

Big picture – I’m a strong advocate for the ideas behind the OpenBuilt concept. I can’t imagine building a new home that is not a timber frame structure and I believe that flexible discrete systems, standardization, consistency and modern technology will all become standard features of modern homebuilding. (and any resistance to these ideas will fade over time). But I will still have my doubts about the need for the ‘second floor system’ and it makes even less sense in a building with one or more well situated mechanical chase walls. (sized large enough to include send and return air ducts feeding areas on either side of the wall, in addition to all plumbing lines, drains and vents.)

Interested in the thoughts of others, both on OpenBuilt in general, and the specifics of Benson’s ‘second floor system’.