The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in partnership with the National Institute of Building Sciences and MOD X, has released the Offsite Construction for Housing: Research Roadmap, a strategic report that presents the key knowledge gaps and research needs to overcome the barriers and challenges to offsite construction.
High prices for buyers and renters are forcing Americans out of their homes and making housing unattainable. This crisis is to a large extent driven by supply constraints.
Offsite construction has the potential to deliver more affordable and accessible single and multifamily housing at scale. However, offsite construction for housing in the U.S. faces several challenges to increase uptake and adoption. This stands in considerable contrast to more mature international offsite construction industries, such as those in the UK, Japan, and Sweden.
“We need an all-of-the-above approach to housing, and offsite construction represents a unique and underused opportunity to help meet the needs of America’s working families,” said AC Powell, JD, CPS, President and CEO of NIBS. “We applaud HUD for undertaking this research effort to overcome barriers and level the playing field for all construction methods to help alleviate the housing crisis.”
What’s in The Offsite Construction for Housing: Research Roadmap
The Research Roadmap was developed by a Project Technical Committee chaired by MOD X and composed of national and international stakeholders and cross-sector experts. It is intended as a roadmap for HUD to align its programs and partnerships, while simultaneously offering an industry-wide roadmap for governments, universities, and offsite companies to come together to advance offsite construction for housing.
The Research Roadmap covers six topical areas in need of coordinated research efforts, with sub-topics and specific research questions listed to help answer the knowledge gaps:
- Research Topic 1: Regulatory and Policy Framework.
- Research Topic 2: Standards and System Performance.
- Research Topic 3: Capital, Finance, and Insurance.
- Research Topic 4: Project Delivery and Contracts.
- Research Topic 5: Labor and Workforce Training and Management.
- Research Topic 6: Business Models and Economic Performance.
The NIBS Off-Site Construction Council
In 2013, the National Institute of Building Sciences established the Off-Site Construction Council (OSCC) to serve as a research, education, and outreach center for relevant and current information on off-site design and construction for commercial, institutional, and multifamily facilities. NIBS staff and members of the OSCC have supported federal and private off-site construction research projects, including toolkits, roadmaps, and reports for the off-site industry. NIBS and the OSCC encourage OSCC members and other off-site stakeholders to submit reports or projects of interest that can help in the furthering of the council's goals. For more information, visit the OSCC.
About NIBS
National Institute of Building Sciences brings together labor and consumer interests, government representatives, regulatory agencies, and members of the building industry to identify and resolve problems and potential issues in the built environment. NIBS is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization. It was established by Congress in 1974. For more information, visit nibs.org or follow @bldgsciences on Twitter and Facebook.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Nov 14, 2021
How to build better parking for multifamily housing projects
In designing and building multifamily projects, parking determines everything from site suitability to the building’s footprint to revenue optimization.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 9, 2021
MAD Architects unveils One River North design
The project is set to rise in Denver.
Hotel Facilities | Nov 3, 2021
California’s Hotel del Coronado is finishing up the final piece to its Master Plan
A 75-residence Shore House will be family oriented and meeting commodious.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 3, 2021
Courthouse becomes mixed-income housing development
The project is located in Worcester, Mass.
Adaptive Reuse | Nov 1, 2021
CallisonRTKL explores converting decommissioned cruise ships for housing
The rapid increase in cruise ship decommissioning during the last 18 months has created a unique opportunity to innovate and adapt these large ships.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 31, 2021
Developer chooses ductless HVAC system for the Lofts at Empire Yards
Georgia developer chooses ductless systems for their performance, quiet operation, and efficiency 'in a nice, sleek package.'
Multifamily Housing | Oct 31, 2021
Propane tankless water heaters conserve water and energy
Propane tankless water heaters offer efficient, on-demand hot water for multifamily buildings.
Cladding and Facade Systems | Oct 26, 2021
14 projects recognized by DOE for high-performance building envelope design
The inaugural class of DOE’s Better Buildings Building Envelope Campaign includes a medical office building that uses hybrid vacuum-insulated glass and a net-zero concrete-and-timber community center.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 22, 2021
A plan to solve California's housing crisis
A framework for workforce housing, environmental repair and economic balance.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 21, 2021
Chicago’s historic Lathrop public housing complex gets new life as mixed-income community
A revitalized New Deal–era public housing community in Chicago brings the Garden City movement of yesteryear into the 21st century.
