A confluence of issues are coming together to increase acceptance of modular housing, says Bob Koch, AIA, chairman of Fugleberg Koch Architects, headquartered in Winter Park, Fla. Koch has been involved in designing modular buildings for over 20 years, and also has modular housing manufactured to his firm’s specifications. “I see an aligning of the stars that is creating credibility for manufactured housing in the building and lending community,” Koch reports. The adoption of national, rather than regional, building codes, centralized permitting and the declining influence of labor unions, among other factors, open up a whole new world of opportunity for manufactured housing approaches.
“By and large, manufactured housing offers a higher quality than site-built housing,” Koch believes, because it uses specialized labor as well as robotics and heavier fastening equipment, all working indoors without weather challenges. Given today’s shrinking labor pool and rising construction costs, Koch points out, manufactured housing can be a cost-effective, three-shift industry if needed to quickly meet deadlines and demand. He says modular housing can be built up to 60 percent faster than site-built units. This speed and efficiency can also reduce carrying costs and open up revenue streams sooner.
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