#Modern Prefab Luxury Homes in New York
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Exploring Modern Prefab Luxury Homes and Custom Residences in New York
In the dynamic real estate landscape of New York, the demand for innovative and luxurious housing solutions is on the rise. Whether youâre captivated by the idea of a modern prefab home or envisioning a bespoke custom residence, this guide delves into the best options available to bring your dream home to life in the Empire State.
Modern Prefab Luxury Homes in New York:
Discover the epitome of contemporary living with modern prefab luxury homes in New York. These cutting-edge residences seamlessly blend sophistication with efficiency, offering a quicker and more sustainable path to your dream home. Also, explore the latest designs and technologies that redefine the concept of luxury living in the heart of the city that never sleeps.
Custom Homes in New York:
Tailor your living space to match your unique vision with custom homes in New York. From Tribeca to the Upper West Side, delve into the world of personalized architecture and design that caters to your every need. Additionally, uncover the process of collaborating with skilled architects and builders to create a home that reflects your lifestyle and complements the diverse urban fabric of New York.
The Best Modern Prefab Homes:
Navigate the landscape of modern prefab homes to find the best-suited design for your taste and requirements. Explore the fusion of sleek aesthetics and eco-friendly construction methods that characterize these dwellings. Whether youâre drawn to minimalist designs or homes with panoramic views, discover the top contenders in the realm of modern prefab architecture.
Luxury Living Redefined:
Elevate your living experience with a focus on luxury and innovation. Additionally, uncovers the latest trends in modern prefab homes that redefine the concept of upscale living. However, from high-end finishes to state-of-the-art amenities, explore how these residences in New York set a new standard for opulence in the urban jungle.
Crafting Your Vision:
Embrace the opportunity to bring your dream home to fruition by combining the benefits of prefab efficiency with custom design elements. Learn how you can customize modern prefab homes to suit your personal style and preferences. Additionally, this hybrid approach ensures that you get the best of both worlds â a streamlined construction process without compromising on the unique features that make your home distinctly yours.
Conclusion:
As you embark on the journey of creating your ideal living space in New York, consider the fusion of modern prefab luxury homes and custom residences. By exploring the best options available, you can elevate your lifestyle and find a home that not only meets but exceeds your expectations in the vibrant and dynamic landscape of New York.
Ready to work with the best panelized home kit builders in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut?
#luxurious housing solutions#Modern Prefab Luxury Homes in New York#Modern Prefab Homes#Best Modern Prefab Homes#Custom Residences in New York
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The next frontier in real estate technology
Patricia Nakache Contributor
Patricia Nakache is a general partner at Trinity Ventures.
More posts by this contributor
How Startups Are Making Real Estate Businesses More Efficient
Fighting Sexism In Silicon Valley
John Lin Contributor
John Lin is an associate partner at Trinity Ventures supporting investments in developer tools, artificial intelligence and real estate.
From entertainment to transportation, technology has upended nearly every major industry â with one notable exception: real estate. Instead of disrupting the sector, the last generation of real estate technology companies primarily improved efficiencies of existing processes. Industry leaders Zillow/Trulia and LoopNet* helped us search for homes and commercial real estate better and faster, but they didnât significantly change what we buy or lease or from whom or how.
The next generation of real estate technology companies is taking a more expansive approach, dismantling existing systems and reimagining entirely new ones that address our growing demand for affordability, community and flexibility.
The increasing need for affordability
Home ownership has long been integral to the American dream, but for many young Americans today itâs an unattainable dream. A third of millennials live at home, and as a cohort, they spend a greater share of their income on rent than previous generations did â about 45 percent during their first decade of work. This leaves little money left over for savings, much less for home ownership, the largest financial expenditure of most peopleâs lifetimes.
The increasing need for affordable housing is driving some creative tech-enabled solutions. One segment of startups is focused on making existing homes more affordable, especially in high-cost markets like New York and the Bay Area. Divvy helps consumers, many of them with low credit scores, rent-to-own homes, which are assessed for viability by a combination of contractors and machine learning. Landed, funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, helps educators afford homes in the communities in which they teach. Homeshare divides luxury apartments into multiple more-affordable units, and Bungalow takes a similar approach with houses. Both companies have built technology platforms to manage their tenant listings and to allocate tenant expenses and streamline payments.
Consumers arenât just craving affordability, theyâre also seeking company.
Another segment of startups is aiming to reduce the costs of building new homes, such as with modular, prefab housing to reduce construction costs. Katerra, which just raised $865 million, is aiming to create a seamless, one-stop shop for commercial and residential development, managing the entire building process from design and sourcing through the completion of construction. Taking a âfull stackâ approach to every step of the building process should enable them to find efficiencies and reduce costs.
If the economy weakens, the need for more affordable housing will only grow, making these startups not only recession-proof but even recession-strong. Collectively, theyâre helping Americans right-size their dreams to something more broadly attainable.
In search of community
Consumers arenât just craving affordability, theyâre also seeking company. More than half of Americans feel lonely, and the youngest cohort in their late teens and early-to-mid-twenties are the loneliest of the bunch (followed closely by millennials). Millennials are the first generation to enter the workforce in the era of smartphones and laptops. While 24/7 connectivity enables us to work anywhere, anytime, it also creates expectations of working anywhere, anytime â and so many people do, bleeding the lines between work life and personal life. Longer work hours make community harder to build organically, so many millennials place value on employers and landlords who facilitate it for them.
Airbnb and WeWork were early to capitalize on the demand for community, with one changing how we travel and the other redefining the modern office space. Co-working companies like WeWork, as well more targeted providers like The Assembly*, The Wing and The Riveter, offer speaker series, classes and other free member events aimed at building connections. Airbnb, once focused only on lodging, has broadened its platform to include community-building shared experiences.
Shared living and hospitality startups are also investing in community to attract and retain customers. StarCity provides dorms for adults, Common and HubHaus rent homes intended to be shared by roommates and Ollie offers luxury micro apartments in a co-living environment. These companies are leveraging technology to foster in-person connections. For example, Common uses Slack channels to communicate with and connect members, and HubHaus uses roommate matching algorithms.
Within the hospitality sector, Selina offers a blended travel lodge, wellness and co-working platform geared toward creating community for travelers and remote workers, complete with high-tech beachside and jungle-side office spaces. Meanwhile, experience-driven lifestyle hotel company Life House* connects guests through onsite locally rooted food and beverage destinations and direct app-based social introductions to other travelers.
Modern life requires flexibility
Life can be unpredictable, especially for young people who tend to change jobs frequently. Short job tenures are especially common within the growing gig economy workforce. People who donât know how long their jobs will last donât want to be burdened with long-term lease commitments or furniture thatâs nearly as expensive to move as it is to buy.
The next frontier in real estate technology is as boundless as it is exciting.
Companies like Feather, Fernish and CasaOne rent furniture to people seeking flexibility in their living environments. Among consumers ready to buy their homes but looking for some extra help, Knock, created by Trulia founding team members and which recently raised a $400 million Series B, provides an end-to-end platform to enable home buyers to buy a new home before selling their old one. Also emphasizing flexibility, OpenDoor, valued at more than $2 billion, pioneered âinstant offersâ for homeowners looking to sell their homes quickly, leveraging algorithms to determine how much specific houses are worth.
Itâs not just residents who seek flexible leases; many companies do as well, particularly those accommodating distributed employees or experiencing periods of uncertainty or rapid growth. To enable flexibility, several commercial real estate technology companies have developed platforms that balance pricing, capacity and demand.
Knotel, a âheadquarters as a serviceâ for companies with 100-300 employees, builds out and manages office spaces at lower risk and with more flexibility than is typically possible through commercial real estate leases, enabling tenants to quickly add or shrink office space as needed. WeWork allows members to pay only for the time periods when they come in to work. Taking flexibility to an even greater level, Breather lets workers rent rooms by the hour, day or month.
The next frontier in real estate technology is as boundless as it is exciting. A whole new generation of startups is designing innovative solutions from the ground up to address our growing demands for affordability, community and flexibility. In the process, theyâre fundamentally reimagining how we live, work and play by transforming the modern workplace, leisure space and even our definition of home. We look forward to seeing â and experiencing â what lies ahead.
*Trinity Ventures portfolio company.
source https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/14/the-next-frontier-in-real-estate-technology/
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The next frontier in real estate technology
Patricia Nakache Contributor
Patricia Nakache is a general partner at Trinity Ventures.
More posts by this contributor
How Startups Are Making Real Estate Businesses More Efficient
Fighting Sexism In Silicon Valley
John Lin Contributor
John Lin is an associate partner at Trinity Ventures supporting investments in developer tools, artificial intelligence and real estate.
From entertainment to transportation, technology has upended nearly every major industry â with one notable exception: real estate. Instead of disrupting the sector, the last generation of real estate technology companies primarily improved efficiencies of existing processes. Industry leaders Zillow/Trulia and LoopNet* helped us search for homes and commercial real estate better and faster, but they didnât significantly change what we buy or lease or from whom or how.
The next generation of real estate technology companies is taking a more expansive approach, dismantling existing systems and reimagining entirely new ones that address our growing demand for affordability, community and flexibility.
The increasing need for affordability
Home ownership has long been integral to the American dream, but for many young Americans today itâs an unattainable dream. A third of millennials live at home, and as a cohort, they spend a greater share of their income on rent than previous generations did â about 45 percent during their first decade of work. This leaves little money left over for savings, much less for home ownership, the largest financial expenditure of most peopleâs lifetimes.
The increasing need for affordable housing is driving some creative tech-enabled solutions. One segment of startups is focused on making existing homes more affordable, especially in high-cost markets like New York and the Bay Area. Divvy helps consumers, many of them with low credit scores, rent-to-own homes, which are assessed for viability by a combination of contractors and machine learning. Landed, funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, helps educators afford homes in the communities in which they teach. Homeshare divides luxury apartments into multiple more-affordable units, and Bungalow takes a similar approach with houses. Both companies have built technology platforms to manage their tenant listings and to allocate tenant expenses and streamline payments.
Consumers arenât just craving affordability, theyâre also seeking company.
Another segment of startups is aiming to reduce the costs of building new homes, such as with modular, prefab housing to reduce construction costs. Katerra, which just raised $865 million, is aiming to create a seamless, one-stop shop for commercial and residential development, managing the entire building process from design and sourcing through the completion of construction. Taking a âfull stackâ approach to every step of the building process should enable them to find efficiencies and reduce costs.
If the economy weakens, the need for more affordable housing will only grow, making these startups not only recession-proof but even recession-strong. Collectively, theyâre helping Americans right-size their dreams to something more broadly attainable.
In search of community
Consumers arenât just craving affordability, theyâre also seeking company. More than half of Americans feel lonely, and the youngest cohort in their late teens and early-to-mid-twenties are the loneliest of the bunch (followed closely by millennials). Millennials are the first generation to enter the workforce in the era of smartphones and laptops. While 24/7 connectivity enables us to work anywhere, anytime, it also creates expectations of working anywhere, anytime â and so many people do, bleeding the lines between work life and personal life. Longer work hours make community harder to build organically, so many millennials place value on employers and landlords who facilitate it for them.
Airbnb and WeWork were early to capitalize on the demand for community, with one changing how we travel and the other redefining the modern office space. Co-working companies like WeWork, as well more targeted providers like The Assembly*, The Wing and The Riveter, offer speaker series, classes and other free member events aimed at building connections. Airbnb, once focused only on lodging, has broadened its platform to include community-building shared experiences.
Shared living and hospitality startups are also investing in community to attract and retain customers. StarCity provides dorms for adults, Common and HubHaus rent homes intended to be shared by roommates and Ollie offers luxury micro apartments in a co-living environment. These companies are leveraging technology to foster in-person connections. For example, Common uses Slack channels to communicate with and connect members, and HubHaus uses roommate matching algorithms.
Within the hospitality sector, Selina offers a blended travel lodge, wellness and co-working platform geared toward creating community for travelers and remote workers, complete with high-tech beachside and jungle-side office spaces. Meanwhile, experience-driven lifestyle hotel company Life House* connects guests through onsite locally rooted food and beverage destinations and direct app-based social introductions to other travelers.
Modern life requires flexibility
Life can be unpredictable, especially for young people who tend to change jobs frequently. Short job tenures are especially common within the growing gig economy workforce. People who donât know how long their jobs will last donât want to be burdened with long-term lease commitments or furniture thatâs nearly as expensive to move as it is to buy.
The next frontier in real estate technology is as boundless as it is exciting.
Companies like Feather, Fernish and CasaOne rent furniture to people seeking flexibility in their living environments. Among consumers ready to buy their homes but looking for some extra help, Knock, created by Trulia founding team members and which recently raised a $400 million Series B, provides an end-to-end platform to enable home buyers to buy a new home before selling their old one. Also emphasizing flexibility, OpenDoor, valued at more than $2 billion, pioneered âinstant offersâ for homeowners looking to sell their homes quickly, leveraging algorithms to determine how much specific houses are worth.
Itâs not just residents who seek flexible leases; many companies do as well, particularly those accommodating distributed employees or experiencing periods of uncertainty or rapid growth. To enable flexibility, several commercial real estate technology companies have developed platforms that balance pricing, capacity and demand.
Knotel, a âheadquarters as a serviceâ for companies with 100-300 employees, builds out and manages office spaces at lower risk and with more flexibility than is typically possible through commercial real estate leases, enabling tenants to quickly add or shrink office space as needed. WeWork allows members to pay only for the time periods when they come in to work. Taking flexibility to an even greater level, Breather lets workers rent rooms by the hour, day or month.
The next frontier in real estate technology is as boundless as it is exciting. A whole new generation of startups is designing innovative solutions from the ground up to address our growing demands for affordability, community and flexibility. In the process, theyâre fundamentally reimagining how we live, work and play by transforming the modern workplace, leisure space and even our definition of home. We look forward to seeing â and experiencing â what lies ahead.
*Trinity Ventures portfolio company.
Via David Riggs https://techcrunch.com
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Opinion: Piece by piece, a factory-made answer for a housing squeeze
VALLEJO, Calif. â California is in the middle of an affordable-housing crisis that cities across the state are struggling to solve.
Here, in a football-field-size warehouse where workers used to make submarines, Holliday recently opened Factory OS, a factory that manufactures homes.
In one end go wood, pipes, tile, sinks and toilets; out another come individual apartments that can be trucked to a construction site and bolted together in months.
âIf we donât build housing differently, then no one can have any housing,â Holliday said during a recent tour as he passed assembly-line workstations and stacks of raw materials like windows, pipes and rolls of pink insulation.
Almost a decade after the recession flattened the housing industry, causing waves of contractors to go bankrupt and laid-off construction workers to leave the business for other jobs, builders have yet to regain their previous form. Today the pace of new apartment and housing construction sits at a little over half the 2006 peak.
The United States needs new housing, but its building industry isnât big enough to provide it. The number of residential construction workers is 23 percent lower than in 2006, while higher-skill trades like plumbers, carpenters and electricians are down close to 17 percent. With demand for housing high and the supply of workers short, builders are bidding up prices for the limited number of contractors.
Construction prices nationwide have risen about 5 percent a year for the past three years, according to the Turner Building Cost Index. Costs have gone up even faster in big cities and across California, according to RSMeans, a unit of Gordian, which compiles construction data. In the Bay Area, builders say construction prices are up 30 percent over the past three years â so much that even luxury projects are being stalled by rising costs.
âItâs reached the point where you cannot get enough rent or you cannot sell enough units to make it a viable deal,â said Lou Vasquez, a founding partner and managing director of Build, a real estate developer in San Francisco.
The surge in construction prices is coming at the worst possible time for booming cities like New York, Seattle and San Francisco, already dealing with an affordable-housing crunch that has increased the homeless populations and stoked acrimonious debates about growth and gentrification. City and state legislators have tried to tackle their housing problems with proposals to increase subsidized affordable housing, reduce building regulations and make it legal to build taller.
But even if every overpriced city suddenly overcame the thicket of zoning rules and neighborhood opposition that make it difficult to build new housing in the first place â which seems doubtful â todayâs diminished building industry would lack the capacity to build at the needed pace. This affects the rich as well as the poor, because it raises the cost of high-end condos and affordable housing alike.
This year, Californians will vote on a proposed $4 billion bond to build more subsidized affordable housing. In San Francisco, where developers say the per-unit construction cost is edging toward $800,000, that would buy about 5,000 units, a relative blip. âCosts have risen so much that it is not possible to build homes where people want to live at the prices and rents they can afford,â said John Burns, founder of John Burns Real Estate Consulting.
All this has prompted developers like Holliday to go scrambling for cheaper and less labor-intensive construction methods â and investors to pour money into startups that promise to do just that. Katerra, a 3-year-old prefabricated building company in the Silicon Valley city of Menlo Park, has raised $1.1 billion in venture capital. A number of other building startups including Blokable, based in Seattle; Kasita, based in Austin, Texas; and RAD Urban, based in Oakland, California, have all popped up over the past five years.
âThe current system canât meet demand and thatâs resulting in a lack of opportunity for some folks and a major hit to the economy,â said Stonly Baptiste, a co-founder of Urban Us, a Brooklyn-based venture capital firm that invested in Blokable. âThese arenât small problems, and they arenât small markets.â
The technologies vary but generally involve simplifying construction through prefabricated panels that can be assembled like Ikea furniture and modular apartments that can be stacked together like Lego bricks. A recent survey by FMI, a management-consulting and investment banking company focused on the engineering and construction industry, found a third of respondents said they were looking at some form of off-site construction, a steep rise from 2010. The interest extends from housing to hotels to medical facilities, industrial companies and even fast-food restaurants.
âItâs one of those things that looks like an overnight success but itâs taken 10 years and hundreds of people toiling,â said Chris Giattina, chief executive of BLOX, a Birmingham, Alabama, company that builds hospitals with modular components.
Brokers of Risk
The global construction industry is a $10 trillion behemoth whose structures determine where people live, how they get to work and what cities look like. It is also one of the worldâs least efficient businesses. The construction productivity rate â how much building workers do for each hour of labor they put in â has been flat since 1945, according to the McKinsey Global Institute. Over that period, sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and retail saw their productivity rates surge by as much as 1,500 percent. In other words, while the rest of the economy has been supercharged by machines, computers and robots, construction companies are about as efficient as they were in World War II.
To understand this, consider how buildings are actually built. It all starts with the developer, who doesnât actually build anything but instead secures a piece of land and a loan, and gets the project approved by the government. At that point the money is passed to the general contractor that made a successful bid to build the project, who passes it to subcontractors that won the bidding for things like plumbing and sheet metal work, which often pass it to even more subcontractors.
Contractors describe this handoff as âbrokering risk.â What they mean is that while everyone in the chain has agreed to build a certain piece of the project for a set amount of money and in a given amount of time, none of them are sure they can do so as cheaply or quickly as theyâve promised. They broker that risk by paying someone else to do it for them, minus a small fee.
âSay youâre a general contractor and your subcontractor agrees to do a job. Once we have a contract I donât care how many man hours you put into it because thatâs your problem now,â said Randy Miller, chief executive of RAD Urban, describing the thinking behind the process.
The goal of prefabricated building companies is to turn this model on its head. Instead of offloading risk, the contractor assumes all of it. Instead of sending jobs to subcontractors, they hire their own factory workers. âThe general contractor says, âOh my God, construction is scary, let me broker all that risk,'â Miller said. âIâm saying, âOh my God, construction is scary, let me plan and control it.â
The basic concept isnât new. In 1624, Massachusetts settlers built homes out of prefabricated materials shipped from England. The pattern was repeated in Australia, Africa and India as the British Empire shipped colonists and structures wide across the globe, according to âPrefab Architecture,â by Ryan E. Smith, a professor at the University of Utah.
Over the next few centuries, new versions of the idea seemed to pop up anywhere people needed to build lots of homes in a hurry â during the California Gold Rush, after the Chicago fire, and through Americaâs westward expansion. In the early part of the 20th century, Sears sold tens of thousands of kits for Sears Modern Homes, which consisted of prefabricated parts and panels that buyers assembled.
Along the way, the construction industry absorbed manufacturing concepts such as the assembly-line techniques that were utilized by Levitt & Sons, the pioneer of mass-built subdivisions. But the idea of factory-built housing was never adopted long enough or widely enough to make an impact, at least in the United States.
One reason the United States has lagged behind Europe, Australia and Asia â which all have well-established companies doing modular and prefabricated building â is that it is a predominantly suburban nation, and the vast supply of open land has kept the cost of single-family-home building relatively low. Another is that the construction industry has slim profit margins and invests little in research and development.
The chances of being burned are high, and each high-profile failure leads to a furlough of the concept. In the mid-2000s housing boom, Pulte Homes, one of the countryâs largest builders, opened a prefabrication plant that aimed to revolutionize how homes were built. The company closed it with the onset of the housing bust in 2007.
Now, instead of single-family homes, companies doing prefab building are focusing on higher-density condominiums and apartments. Thatâs because, while single-family home construction remains well below its level before the recession, multifamily condominium and apartment buildings have rebounded strongly. âOur goal is to be able to do a 40-story tower in 12 months, at half the cost of traditional construction,â said Randy Miller of RAD Urban.
Still, even if builders are able to reduce construction costs, that doesnât necessarily mean they will be successful. Behind each of these companies is a bet that they can build far more efficiently than current methods. That bet has yet to be proven, at least on a large scale.
Efficiency vs. Workers
Holliday of Factory OS started thinking about modular housing about four years ago, when he was struggling to build a project in Truckee, California. The idea was to build 800 to 1,000 high-density apartments and condominiums, but âthe numbers wouldnât work,â he said. âYou couldnât get the construction costs down enough.â
Holliday floated the idea of modular building to his longtime contractor, Larry Pace, from Cannon Constructors, who over the past four decades has built various projects from one-off homes to office towers. âI said âmodular jobs have been a fiasco â we donât need that in our lives,'â Pace recalled, adding an expletive for emphasis.
But Holliday persisted, and he and Pace used modular technology from two manufacturers to build four projects in the Bay Area. They are planning to do the same with the original Truckee development. Pace became so comfortable with modular that he suggested that they find some investors and build their own factory.
On a recent afternoon, Pace laid out the factoryâs process. At the first station, just past the door, four workers toiled above and below a raised platform to build what would eventually become the floor. The two men up top laid down flooring while a man and woman stood below simultaneously installing pipes.
From there the unit would move steadily down the line, and, over 21 additional stations, would acquire toilets, indoor walls, outdoor walls, a roof, electric outlets, windows, sinks, countertops and tiling. It takes about a week to finish a unit, Pace said. The goal is to churn out about 2,000 apartments a year, which would be turned into four- and five-story buildings with 80 to 150 units each.
For workers, factory building seems to mean lower wages but steadier work. Factory OS pays about $30 an hour with medical insurance and two weeks of vacation. Thatâs about half what workers can make on a construction site, but the work is more regular and, for many, requires less commuting.
Tony Vandewark, a 51-year-old foreman at Factory OS, is OK with the trade-off. He lives a few minutes from the factory in Vallejo, where homes cost less than half what they do closer to San Francisco. Contrast that with a job he once had in the Silicon Valley city of Sunnyvale. He drove two hours to work and three hours home before deciding to rent a room so he could stay closer to work on weekdays.
âOn a job site, you can go do piece work and make really big money, but then the job is gone,â he said.
In addition to not being rained on, one of the key differences between a construction site and Factory OS is that any worker can be trained to do any job. And for old-school trade unions, that is a declaration of war. âThe business model is âHooray for me,'â without regard for anyone else, said Larry Mazzola Jr., business manager of UA Local 38, a San Francisco plumbers union with about 2,500 members across Northern California.
Factory OS is not anti-union: It has a contract with the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, which has organized other modular factories and is banking on the technologyâs continued growth. The issue is that builders are laid out like a Detroit auto factory, where one union represents all of the workers, and workers can be trained to do any job within the company walls.
That is a huge departure from construction sites, where unions representing plumbers, electricians, carpenters and various other trades each control their piece of the building process. Last year Mazzola wrote a letter to San Franciscoâs mayor, Ed Lee, a month before he died, urging him to deny any city business â such as contracts for subsidized housing â to Factory OS.
âAny decision to use Factory OS shows a blatant disregard for the other craft unions,â he wrote. He asked the mayor to refrain from contracting with the company unless it allowed craft unions to do their pieces of the work. âWe realize modular is coming and we want to be part of it, but not at the expense of our workers, which is whatâs happening right now,â Mazzola said.
Jay Bradshaw, director of organizing for the carpenters council representing Factory OS workers, said that would be impractical. Think back to that first station, where four people worked above and below the floor. In Mazzolaâs world, a plumbers union would represent the workers installing pipes, while other unions would represent the workers up top.
âIt would never work to have upward of 10 or 15 labor organizations at a single employer in a factory setting,â Bradshaw said.
For Bradshaw, the real fight isnât defending job titles but making sure construction workers remain part of a union at all. A short drive from Factory OS, at a carpenters training center, the union is developing a program to train housing-factory workers â something that, it hopes, will prepare more people for an industry that it has come to see as inevitable.
âIt sure blows the hell out of building in China,â he said.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
CONOR DOUGHERTY Š 2018 The New York Times
source https://www.newssplashy.com/2018/06/opinion-piece-by-piece-factory-made.html
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In any probability in the future the architecture will evolve precisely in favor of the serial production, also leading to a significant decrease in the costs of realization, you are wondering what awaits us? Here we will answer presenting 12 examples of modern prefab homes that will leave you open-mouthed.
These beautiful house boast truly surprising projects, voted on the concept of eco-sustainability and therefore equipped with all the most modern innovations in the field of green architecture. The prefabricated houses that we are about to present can be built in very low times, we talk about the space of a few weeks, and with different materials: it goes from wood to cement passing through the metal.
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As already mentioned, we have selected modular dwellings made in a modern style and therefore have a refined design, in some cases of luxury, which contributes to create comfortable and welcoming atmospheres.
2 Plus Classic by Marek Ĺ tÄpĂĄn
Created by architect Marek Ĺ tÄpĂĄn, this splendid modern prefab house measures just 42.5 square meters but inside it contains all the amenities you could wish for. Cozy and elegant, the house has been designed according to the highest standards of energy efficiency and, wishing, can also be expanded simply by inserting new modules.
Amalia House by Grille Architekten
Made entirely of wood and capable of accommodating up to six people, this very House has been completely covered with artificial grass with the intention to put it better in the natural landscape that hosts it. Two levels designed according to a minimal and comfortable design, enriched by the presence of large windows.
BF House by OAB & Adi
Installed in Spain, the BF house is one of the most evocative examples of modern prefab homes made with a steel structure and inserted in a natural environment that leaves room for a garden that also becomes an inner courtyard. The aesthetic choices (for example the large windows) also become functional and transform it into a perfect ecological home.
Crossbox House by AG Architectes
Industrial modules that intersect: living area on the ground floor, three bedrooms on the first floor and from the intersection of the 2 modules here is the entrance and parking space covered. This innovative architectural solution makes it possible to reduce considerably the cost of making a house equipped with all possible comforts.
Easy dome by Kar Thomsen and Ole Vanggaard
The shape is reminiscent of an igloo and, thanks to a dome design, these cute wooden prefab houses offer low energy consumption and are an excellent example of sustainable construction. The easy home are available in different sizes and fit perfectly to any type of climate.
G House of Praise Architecture
Built on wood slabs that follow the slope of the ground, the G house is composed of foundations that favour the drainage of rainwater. It has been designed according to the principles of thermal insulation and boasts a warm and welcoming design: really everything you could want.
Loftcube of Aisslinger & Bracht
We could define it as a real example of futuristic architecture where technology, practicality, aesthetics and hospitality blend perfectly. This beautiful loft, with clean and luminous lines, has windows at 360 °, thermal insulation: A prefab house really dream.
Prefabricated Marble Radziner House
To see it is difficult to believe that it is a prefabricated house and, instead, those realized by the company Marmol Radziner are real examples of how architecture and design can coexist in the sign of low cost and energy saving. Everything you could want is at your fingertips, including a swimming pool with crystal clear waters.
PerrinePod by Jean-Mic Perrine
A perfect example of modern luxury and eco-sustainable architecture, the PERRINEPOD has a solar system, thermal insulation and many new green technologies. It can be developed in multiple sizes starting from complexes with a single bedroom and going up to 30 columns. The most surprising aspect? This House can be built in just 3 days.
Standard House by KwK Promes Architects Konieczny
The very circular shape makes this prefab house adaptable to any type of site, it has been conceived to meet the needs of families and to respect the environment: in fact, natural materials such as wood are used for its construction and it is equipped with all the necessary technologies for recycling and energy saving.
The Villa by Daniel Libeskind
If you want to meet all the highest standards of design, art and sustainability, the villa is certainly among the modern prefab houses that best center the goal. Made of high quality materials, such as zinc, this House has everything you could want in terms of comfort, energy saving and respect for the environment.
The Stack by Gluck +
Is it possible to erect a building using prefabricated modules? In New York, the challenge is open and, by breaking down production costs, you will be able to make several apartments available in the space of a few weeks.
Designing Prefab Modern Homes To Live In In any probability in the future the architecture will evolve precisely in favor of the serial production, also leading to a significant decrease in the costs of realization, you are wondering what awaits us?
#affordable modern prefab homes#modern prefab home kits#modern prefab homes#modern prefab homes colorado#prefab modern homes
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Prefab Luxury Homes in New Jersey and New York: Unveiling the Epitome of Elegance
In the ever-evolving realm of real estate, the concept of luxury has taken on new dimensions, especially in the vibrant state of New York. Enter the era of prefab luxury homes in New Jersey, where sophistication meets efficiency in a seamless blend of design and functionality.
Embracing Opulence in New Jerseyâs Prefab Luxury Home Scene
The Rise of Prefab Luxury Homes
Prefab, short for prefabricated, has become synonymous with innovative construction techniques that promise a quicker and more sustainable way to build. In the heart of New Jersey, this trend has extended its influence into the realm of luxury homes. As the demand for unique, high-end residences grows, so does the allure of prefab construction.
Crafting Elegance in Every Detail
These prefab luxury homes are not just buildings; they have meticulously crafted masterpieces that redefine opulence. Architects and designers collaborate to create residences that boast not only exquisite exteriors but also interiors that resonate with the discerning tastes of their inhabitants.
The Manhattan Mirage: Prefab Luxury Homes in the Heart of New York
While New Jersey embraces the prefab luxury home trend, its neighbor, New York, is not one to be left behind. In the city that never sleeps, a new era of architectural grandeur is emerging, and it comes in the form of prefab luxury homes.
Redefining Urban Living
New Yorkâs skyline is a testament to the cityâs architectural prowess, and the introduction of prefab luxury homes only adds to its allure. With an emphasis on sleek design and sustainable construction, these homes are redefining urban living by providing a luxurious haven amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.
Prefab Luxury Homes: A Fusion of Innovation and Elegance
The fusion of innovation and elegance is at the core of New Yorkâs prefab luxury homes. From state-of-the-art technology to cutting-edge design concepts, these residences epitomize the marriage of luxury and modernity.
Choosing Between the Best: Prefab Luxury Homes in New Jersey vs. New York
As the demand for prefab luxury homes grows on both sides of the Hudson River, potential homeowners find themselves faced with a delightful dilemma â choosing between the offerings of New Jersey and New York.
New Jerseyâs Suburban Charm vs. New Yorkâs Urban Sophistication
New Jerseyâs prefab luxury homes often embody a suburban charm, with spacious lots and proximity to nature. On the other hand, New Yorkâs counterparts boast urban sophistication, providing access to the cityâs cultural richness and vibrant lifestyle.
Factors to Consider
When deciding between a prefab luxury home in New Jersey or New York, factors such as lifestyle preferences, proximity to amenities, and architectural aesthetics come into play. Additionally, Each location has its unique appeal, making the decision a personal one based on individual priorities.
Conclusion: The Future of Luxury Living in Prefab Homes
As prefab luxury homes continue to redefine the residential landscape of both New Jersey and New York, one thing is clear â the future of luxury living has arrived. Whether nestled in the suburban tranquility of New Jersey or standing tall amidst the urban vibrancy of New York, these homes represent a harmonious blend of innovation and elegance, setting a new standard for opulent living in the 21st century. Ready to work with the best panelized home kit builders in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut?
#Luxury Living in Prefab Homes#Prefab Luxury Homes#prefab luxury homes in New Jersey#Luxury Homes#modern architecture#modular home construction in new york
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Exploring Modern Prefab Luxury Homes and Custom Residences in New York
Discover the epitome of contemporary living with modern prefab luxury homes in New York. These cutting-edge residences seamlessly blend sophistication with efficiency, offering a quicker and more sustainable path to your dream home. Also, explore the latest designs and technologies that redefine the concept of luxury living in the heart of the city that never sleeps.
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Green Origin Homes: Pioneering Sustainable Luxury in Prefabricated Housing!
In the world of modern prefabricated homes, Green Origin Homes stands out as a beacon of excellence. Operating in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, this company has redefined the standards of quality and sustainability in panelized home construction. Letâs delve into why Green Origin Homes should be your top choice for your dream eco-friendly abode.
There must be a better way to make the things we want, a way that doesnât spoil the sky, or the rain or the land. â Paul McCartney
Elevating Building Standards
At Green Origin Homes, the building isnât just about creating spaces; itâs about crafting living environments that seamlessly blend comfort, functionality, and sustainability. Their design-build processes transcend aesthetics, integrating cutting-edge green technology and amenities inspired by modern European living. This ensures that every home they construct is a testament to luxury and intelligent design.
Exceptional Quality and Durability
One of the hallmarks of a Green Origin Home is its unparalleled quality and durability. These structures are crafted using top-tier materials, ensuring structural integrity and remarkable longevity. Designed to withstand the most extreme weather conditions, from seismic activities to heavy snow loads and torrential rain, these homes are fortified and weatherproofed, promising enduring resilience against natureâs harshest elements.
Affordability Without Compromise
Green Origin Homes has mastered the art of providing high-quality builds without breaking the bank. Their efficient European Modular fabrication methods and streamlined construction processes significantly reduce labor costs without compromising on integrity. By using premium materials, maintenance costs, and future repairs are kept to a minimum. In addition, these homes feature state-of-the-art, energy-saving technology, and appliances, offering substantial savings on utility bills in the long run.
Limitless Customization Options
When it comes to designing your dream prefab luxury home, Green Origin Homes offers a plethora of options. From a selection of templates to complete customization, the possibilities are boundless. Their team of skilled architects and designers is on hand to guide you through the process, ensuring that your vision is brought to life in every detail.
Commitment to Sustainability
Green Origin Homes takes its commitment to the environment seriously. Leveraging advanced German technology, they design low-impact, energy-efficient prefab luxury homes that promote healthy living. These homes incorporate innovative designs, smart fixtures, eco-friendly manufacturing methods, and amenities that minimize environmental impact. By choosing a Green Origin Home, youâre not only investing in your own future but also contributing to the global fight against climate change.
Conclusion
With Green Origin Homes, your dream of a sustainable, luxury prefabricated home is closer than you think. Experience the epitome of quality, durability, affordability, and customization while making a positive impact on the environment. Move into your dream home in just three months from now â get a quote today and take the first step towards a greener, more luxurious future!
#panelized home construction#European Modular fabrication methods#luxury prefabricated home#Elevating Building Standards
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Guide to Finding & Evaluating Land for New Prefab & Modular Home Construction in New York
Embarking on the journey of building a new home in New York can be an exciting yet complex endeavor. With the increasing popularity of modular and panelized homes, itâs crucial to start with a solid foundation â literally and figuratively. This guide is designed to provide practical advice, examples, and answers to frequently asked questions for individuals considering modular, panelized, custom, or green home construction in New York.
Table of Contents
Understanding Your Needs
Defining Your Homeâs Purpose
Budget Considerations
Selecting the Right Location
Zoning Laws and Regulations
Environmental Considerations
Evaluating Land for Prefab Homes
Accessibility and Utilities
Soil and Foundation Considerations
Landscape and Site Characteristics
Customizing Your Home
Panelized vs. Modular vs. Custom Homes
Eco-Friendly and Green Options
FAQs
Can I build a prefab luxury home in New York?
How do I choose between panelized and modular homes?
What are the key benefits of building a modern prefab home?
Understanding Your Needs
Defining Your Homeâs Purpose
Before diving into the specifics of land selection, itâs crucial to clearly define the purpose of your new home. Consider factors such as family size, lifestyle, and future needs. This will help in determining the size, layout, and features of your new home.
Budget Considerations
Establishing a realistic budget is a cornerstone of any construction project. Beyond the cost of the modular or panelized home itself, factor in expenses for land acquisition, permits, site preparation, and additional features or upgrades.
Selecting the Right Location
Zoning Laws and Regulations
Understanding local zoning laws is paramount. Different areas may have restrictions on the type and size of homes that can be built. Ensure compliance with zoning regulations to avoid costly legal complications.
Environmental Considerations
New Yorkâs diverse landscape includes coastal areas, mountainous regions, and urban environments. Consider the environmental impact of your home and any potential risks, such as flooding or landslides.
Evaluating Land for Prefab Homes
Accessibility and Utilities
Ensure that the land you choose has access to essential utilities such as water, electricity, gas, and sewage. Consider the costs associated with connecting your home to these services.
Soil and Foundation Considerations
A soil test is essential to determine the type and stability of the soil. Certain soil types may require specific foundation designs. Consulting with a geotechnical engineer can provide valuable insights.
Landscape and Site Characteristics
Consider the natural features of the land, such as trees, slopes, and water bodies. These elements can impact the placement and design of your home, as well as influence landscaping decisions.
Customizing Your Home
Panelized vs. Modular vs. Custom Homes
Understanding the distinctions between panelized, modular, and custom, green home construction in New York is crucial. While panelized and modular homes offer efficient construction, custom homes provide maximum flexibility in design and layout.
Eco-Friendly and Green Options
New Yorkâs commitment to sustainability makes eco-friendly building options highly desirable. Explore green technologies, energy-efficient materials, and renewable energy sources for a more sustainable home.
FAQs
Can I build a prefab luxury home in New York?
Absolutely! New York offers a diverse range of options for prefab luxury homes, blending elegance with efficiency.
How do I choose between panelized and modular homes?
Consider your preferences for customization, budget, and construction speed. Panelized homes allow more customization, while modular homes are known for their efficiency.
What are the key benefits of building a modern prefab home?
Modern prefab homes offer speed of construction, and reduced waste, and often incorporate advanced technologies for energy efficiency and sustainability.
Conclusion
Building a modular or panelized home in New York involves careful planning and consideration. By understanding your needs, evaluating the land, and customizing your home, you can create a space that not only meets your requirements but also aligns with the unique characteristics of your chosen location. Keep in mind the environmental and legal aspects, and remember, the journey towards your dream home is an exciting one!
âA house is made of bricks and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.â â Unknown
Remember, this guide is meant to serve as a comprehensive resource, but itâs always advisable to consult with professionals and experts in your area for specific advice and guidance on your individual project. Happy building!
Ready to work with the best panelized home kit builders in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut?
Note: Always consult with local experts, contractors, and legal advisors for specific advice related to your building project in New York. This guide provides general information and should not be considered professional advice.
#Modular Home Construction in New York#new home in New York#Prefab Homes#Custom Homes#prefab luxury home in New York
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PREFAB CABINS REQUIRE ZERO ASSEMBLY AND UNFOLD INTO SHELTERS IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES!
The modern world is overwhelming with what feels like countless crisesâclimate change, human displacement. And global pandemics begins a list that barely scrapes the surface. Architects and designers alike have been taking notice and utilizing their learning disciplines to provide relief. Entering the conversation around structural relief projects, Hariri & Hariri. A New York-based architecture firm founded by Iranian sisters Gisue and Mojgan Hariri. Debuting their own solution. A prefabricated folding pod or prefab cabins that doesnât require hands-on assembly or the need for hardware or tools. Hariri & Hariri Modeled after the intricate paper folding art of Origami. The podâs initial folded form can fit onto flatbed trucks for efficient and manageable shipping. Once positioning for assembly, the pod from Hariri & Hariri readily expands and unfolds to create a prefabricated and modular, single-story housing unit. Born out of a need for emergency shelter across the globe, the architects behind the pod note. âIn the middle of a hurricane you donât have time for a screwdriver.â With this in mind, the pod was designed to instantaneously unfold and build itself with the push of a button. Structuring like a pop-up cardboard box. Hinges and hidden panels strewn across the podâs creases aid in the unitâs assembly process. Whether multiple emergency shelters are needing or if the pod is using as a luxury single home unit for a beach side vacation. The modular construction allows the pod to either be configuring together with multiple pods to form community shelters or stand alone as a single prefab cabin. Hariri & Hariri developing the prefab cabins into one that leans on an affordable, transportable. And efficient design by giving it a lightweight and thin exterior build. Constructing with accessible building materials like glass and Equitone panels. The pod can be acquiring and utilizing by most countries across the globe in need of emergency shelters. The prefab cabins boasts simple and speedy assembly and transportation processes. Making it an ideal modular unit for any event from beach side couple retreats to crowded music events or even extreme emergencies that call for immediate shelter units. Read the full article
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PREFAB CABINS REQUIRE ZERO ASSEMBLY AND UNFOLD INTO SHELTERS IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES!
The modern world is overwhelming with what feels like countless crisesâclimate change, human displacement. And global pandemics begins a list that barely scrapes the surface. Architects and designers alike have been taking notice and utilizing their learning disciplines to provide relief. Entering the conversation around structural relief projects, Hariri & Hariri. A New York-based architecture firm founded by Iranian sisters Gisue and Mojgan Hariri. Debuting their own solution. A prefabricated folding pod or prefab cabins that doesnât require hands-on assembly or the need for hardware or tools. Hariri & Hariri Modeled after the intricate paper folding art of Origami. The podâs initial folded form can fit onto flatbed trucks for efficient and manageable shipping. Once positioning for assembly, the pod from Hariri & Hariri readily expands and unfolds to create a prefabricated and modular, single-story housing unit. Born out of a need for emergency shelter across the globe, the architects behind the pod note. âIn the middle of a hurricane you donât have time for a screwdriver.â With this in mind, the pod was designed to instantaneously unfold and build itself with the push of a button. Structuring like a pop-up cardboard box. Hinges and hidden panels strewn across the podâs creases aid in the unitâs assembly process. Whether multiple emergency shelters are needing or if the pod is using as a luxury single home unit for a beach side vacation. The modular construction allows the pod to either be configuring together with multiple pods to form community shelters or stand alone as a single prefab cabin. Hariri & Hariri developing the prefab cabins into one that leans on an affordable, transportable. And efficient design by giving it a lightweight and thin exterior build. Constructing with accessible building materials like glass and Equitone panels. The pod can be acquiring and utilizing by most countries across the globe in need of emergency shelters. The prefab cabins boasts simple and speedy assembly and transportation processes. Making it an ideal modular unit for any event from beach side couple retreats to crowded music events or even extreme emergencies that call for immediate shelter units. Read the full article
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VALLEJO, Calif. â California is in the middle of an affordable-housing crisis that cities across the state are struggling to solve.
Here, in a football-field-size warehouse where workers used to make submarines, Holliday recently opened Factory OS, a factory that manufactures homes.
In one end go wood, pipes, tile, sinks and toilets; out another come individual apartments that can be trucked to a construction site and bolted together in months.
âIf we donât build housing differently, then no one can have any housing,â Holliday said during a recent tour as he passed assembly-line workstations and stacks of raw materials like windows, pipes and rolls of pink insulation.
Almost a decade after the recession flattened the housing industry, causing waves of contractors to go bankrupt and laid-off construction workers to leave the business for other jobs, builders have yet to regain their previous form. Today the pace of new apartment and housing construction sits at a little over half the 2006 peak.
The United States needs new housing, but its building industry isnât big enough to provide it. The number of residential construction workers is 23 percent lower than in 2006, while higher-skill trades like plumbers, carpenters and electricians are down close to 17 percent. With demand for housing high and the supply of workers short, builders are bidding up prices for the limited number of contractors.
Construction prices nationwide have risen about 5 percent a year for the past three years, according to the Turner Building Cost Index. Costs have gone up even faster in big cities and across California, according to RSMeans, a unit of Gordian, which compiles construction data. In the Bay Area, builders say construction prices are up 30 percent over the past three years â so much that even luxury projects are being stalled by rising costs.
âItâs reached the point where you cannot get enough rent or you cannot sell enough units to make it a viable deal,â said Lou Vasquez, a founding partner and managing director of Build, a real estate developer in San Francisco.
The surge in construction prices is coming at the worst possible time for booming cities like New York, Seattle and San Francisco, already dealing with an affordable-housing crunch that has increased the homeless populations and stoked acrimonious debates about growth and gentrification. City and state legislators have tried to tackle their housing problems with proposals to increase subsidized affordable housing, reduce building regulations and make it legal to build taller.
But even if every overpriced city suddenly overcame the thicket of zoning rules and neighborhood opposition that make it difficult to build new housing in the first place â which seems doubtful â todayâs diminished building industry would lack the capacity to build at the needed pace. This affects the rich as well as the poor, because it raises the cost of high-end condos and affordable housing alike.
This year, Californians will vote on a proposed $4 billion bond to build more subsidized affordable housing. In San Francisco, where developers say the per-unit construction cost is edging toward $800,000, that would buy about 5,000 units, a relative blip. âCosts have risen so much that it is not possible to build homes where people want to live at the prices and rents they can afford,â said John Burns, founder of John Burns Real Estate Consulting.
All this has prompted developers like Holliday to go scrambling for cheaper and less labor-intensive construction methods â and investors to pour money into startups that promise to do just that. Katerra, a 3-year-old prefabricated building company in the Silicon Valley city of Menlo Park, has raised $1.1 billion in venture capital. A number of other building startups including Blokable, based in Seattle; Kasita, based in Austin, Texas; and RAD Urban, based in Oakland, California, have all popped up over the past five years.
âThe current system canât meet demand and thatâs resulting in a lack of opportunity for some folks and a major hit to the economy,â said Stonly Baptiste, a co-founder of Urban Us, a Brooklyn-based venture capital firm that invested in Blokable. âThese arenât small problems, and they arenât small markets.â
The technologies vary but generally involve simplifying construction through prefabricated panels that can be assembled like Ikea furniture and modular apartments that can be stacked together like Lego bricks. A recent survey by FMI, a management-consulting and investment banking company focused on the engineering and construction industry, found a third of respondents said they were looking at some form of off-site construction, a steep rise from 2010. The interest extends from housing to hotels to medical facilities, industrial companies and even fast-food restaurants.
âItâs one of those things that looks like an overnight success but itâs taken 10 years and hundreds of people toiling,â said Chris Giattina, chief executive of BLOX, a Birmingham, Alabama, company that builds hospitals with modular components.
Brokers of Risk
The global construction industry is a $10 trillion behemoth whose structures determine where people live, how they get to work and what cities look like. It is also one of the worldâs least efficient businesses. The construction productivity rate â how much building workers do for each hour of labor they put in â has been flat since 1945, according to the McKinsey Global Institute. Over that period, sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and retail saw their productivity rates surge by as much as 1,500 percent. In other words, while the rest of the economy has been supercharged by machines, computers and robots, construction companies are about as efficient as they were in World War II.
To understand this, consider how buildings are actually built. It all starts with the developer, who doesnât actually build anything but instead secures a piece of land and a loan, and gets the project approved by the government. At that point the money is passed to the general contractor that made a successful bid to build the project, who passes it to subcontractors that won the bidding for things like plumbing and sheet metal work, which often pass it to even more subcontractors.
Contractors describe this handoff as âbrokering risk.â What they mean is that while everyone in the chain has agreed to build a certain piece of the project for a set amount of money and in a given amount of time, none of them are sure they can do so as cheaply or quickly as theyâve promised. They broker that risk by paying someone else to do it for them, minus a small fee.
âSay youâre a general contractor and your subcontractor agrees to do a job. Once we have a contract I donât care how many man hours you put into it because thatâs your problem now,â said Randy Miller, chief executive of RAD Urban, describing the thinking behind the process.
The goal of prefabricated building companies is to turn this model on its head. Instead of offloading risk, the contractor assumes all of it. Instead of sending jobs to subcontractors, they hire their own factory workers. âThe general contractor says, âOh my God, construction is scary, let me broker all that risk,'â Miller said. âIâm saying, âOh my God, construction is scary, let me plan and control it.â
The basic concept isnât new. In 1624, Massachusetts settlers built homes out of prefabricated materials shipped from England. The pattern was repeated in Australia, Africa and India as the British Empire shipped colonists and structures wide across the globe, according to âPrefab Architecture,â by Ryan E. Smith, a professor at the University of Utah.
Over the next few centuries, new versions of the idea seemed to pop up anywhere people needed to build lots of homes in a hurry â during the California Gold Rush, after the Chicago fire, and through Americaâs westward expansion. In the early part of the 20th century, Sears sold tens of thousands of kits for Sears Modern Homes, which consisted of prefabricated parts and panels that buyers assembled.
Along the way, the construction industry absorbed manufacturing concepts such as the assembly-line techniques that were utilized by Levitt & Sons, the pioneer of mass-built subdivisions. But the idea of factory-built housing was never adopted long enough or widely enough to make an impact, at least in the United States.
One reason the United States has lagged behind Europe, Australia and Asia â which all have well-established companies doing modular and prefabricated building â is that it is a predominantly suburban nation, and the vast supply of open land has kept the cost of single-family-home building relatively low. Another is that the construction industry has slim profit margins and invests little in research and development.
The chances of being burned are high, and each high-profile failure leads to a furlough of the concept. In the mid-2000s housing boom, Pulte Homes, one of the countryâs largest builders, opened a prefabrication plant that aimed to revolutionize how homes were built. The company closed it with the onset of the housing bust in 2007.
Now, instead of single-family homes, companies doing prefab building are focusing on higher-density condominiums and apartments. Thatâs because, while single-family home construction remains well below its level before the recession, multifamily condominium and apartment buildings have rebounded strongly. âOur goal is to be able to do a 40-story tower in 12 months, at half the cost of traditional construction,â said Randy Miller of RAD Urban.
Still, even if builders are able to reduce construction costs, that doesnât necessarily mean they will be successful. Behind each of these companies is a bet that they can build far more efficiently than current methods. That bet has yet to be proven, at least on a large scale.
Efficiency vs. Workers
Holliday of Factory OS started thinking about modular housing about four years ago, when he was struggling to build a project in Truckee, California. The idea was to build 800 to 1,000 high-density apartments and condominiums, but âthe numbers wouldnât work,â he said. âYou couldnât get the construction costs down enough.â
Holliday floated the idea of modular building to his longtime contractor, Larry Pace, from Cannon Constructors, who over the past four decades has built various projects from one-off homes to office towers. âI said âmodular jobs have been a fiasco â we donât need that in our lives,'â Pace recalled, adding an expletive for emphasis.
But Holliday persisted, and he and Pace used modular technology from two manufacturers to build four projects in the Bay Area. They are planning to do the same with the original Truckee development. Pace became so comfortable with modular that he suggested that they find some investors and build their own factory.
On a recent afternoon, Pace laid out the factoryâs process. At the first station, just past the door, four workers toiled above and below a raised platform to build what would eventually become the floor. The two men up top laid down flooring while a man and woman stood below simultaneously installing pipes.
From there the unit would move steadily down the line, and, over 21 additional stations, would acquire toilets, indoor walls, outdoor walls, a roof, electric outlets, windows, sinks, countertops and tiling. It takes about a week to finish a unit, Pace said. The goal is to churn out about 2,000 apartments a year, which would be turned into four- and five-story buildings with 80 to 150 units each.
For workers, factory building seems to mean lower wages but steadier work. Factory OS pays about $30 an hour with medical insurance and two weeks of vacation. Thatâs about half what workers can make on a construction site, but the work is more regular and, for many, requires less commuting.
Tony Vandewark, a 51-year-old foreman at Factory OS, is OK with the trade-off. He lives a few minutes from the factory in Vallejo, where homes cost less than half what they do closer to San Francisco. Contrast that with a job he once had in the Silicon Valley city of Sunnyvale. He drove two hours to work and three hours home before deciding to rent a room so he could stay closer to work on weekdays.
âOn a job site, you can go do piece work and make really big money, but then the job is gone,â he said.
In addition to not being rained on, one of the key differences between a construction site and Factory OS is that any worker can be trained to do any job. And for old-school trade unions, that is a declaration of war. âThe business model is âHooray for me,'â without regard for anyone else, said Larry Mazzola Jr., business manager of UA Local 38, a San Francisco plumbers union with about 2,500 members across Northern California.
Factory OS is not anti-union: It has a contract with the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, which has organized other modular factories and is banking on the technologyâs continued growth. The issue is that builders are laid out like a Detroit auto factory, where one union represents all of the workers, and workers can be trained to do any job within the company walls.
That is a huge departure from construction sites, where unions representing plumbers, electricians, carpenters and various other trades each control their piece of the building process. Last year Mazzola wrote a letter to San Franciscoâs mayor, Ed Lee, a month before he died, urging him to deny any city business â such as contracts for subsidized housing â to Factory OS.
âAny decision to use Factory OS shows a blatant disregard for the other craft unions,â he wrote. He asked the mayor to refrain from contracting with the company unless it allowed craft unions to do their pieces of the work. âWe realize modular is coming and we want to be part of it, but not at the expense of our workers, which is whatâs happening right now,â Mazzola said.
Jay Bradshaw, director of organizing for the carpenters council representing Factory OS workers, said that would be impractical. Think back to that first station, where four people worked above and below the floor. In Mazzolaâs world, a plumbers union would represent the workers installing pipes, while other unions would represent the workers up top.
âIt would never work to have upward of 10 or 15 labor organizations at a single employer in a factory setting,â Bradshaw said.
For Bradshaw, the real fight isnât defending job titles but making sure construction workers remain part of a union at all. A short drive from Factory OS, at a carpenters training center, the union is developing a program to train housing-factory workers â something that, it hopes, will prepare more people for an industry that it has come to see as inevitable.
âIt sure blows the hell out of building in China,â he said.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
CONOR DOUGHERTY Š 2018 The New York Times
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