With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the nation, parts of the country have seen an already dire housing crisis getting worse, creating an even greater need to develop more multifamily projects—especially affordable housing and housing for those experiencing homelessness. The pandemic also has complicated an already arduous construction process by delaying land use and planning applications, slowing down construction and inspection timelines and bringing forth new safety protocols. Modular design and construction have the potential to alleviate housing shortages and deliver efficiencies that address some of today’s biggest challenges facing the multifamily sector.

Measuring Speed, Efficiency and Risk

The top three benefits of modular construction include speed to market, build efficiency and reduced risk, all of which can amount to considerable time and cost savings. While modular construction is a great solution for transit-oriented and market-rate developments in particular, affordable and high-density multifamily developments are well positioned to reap the benefits of efficiencies resulting from the replication of smaller-size units that are inherent in multifamily projects. Further, modular has become an increasingly more affordable delivery method as costs continue to skyrocket for conventional construction. Due to COVID-19, the added cost of providing personal protective equipment and additional workplace safety measures are negatively affecting more and more conventionally constructed projects, affect the modular manufacturing process to a lesser degree.

While traditional construction is a linear process, modular allows for various building components to be constructed in parallel. Modular automation has further enhanced quality control and worker safety, helping to alleviate construction delays and shorten construction timelines to about half the time of traditional development. The predictability and speed of the modular construction process that is afforded by a controlled, factory-built environment are two additional key advantages. With 65% of modular construction currently constructed in factories, risks inherent in onsite construction, such as weather and workforce disruption, can be reduced.

Currently on-the-boards, this affordable modular project provides 625 units in two six-level buildings in northern California. The podium, TOD project is located adjacent to a BART station and is an example of how modular construction is solving the affordable housing crisis by helping developers reduce costs, increase efficiency, and shorten construction timelines.

Another area in which modular is being explored is housing for people experiencing homelessness. An architecture firm recently developed a case study for an affordable, temporary modular solution that provides an option between temporary tensioned-fabric structures and traditionally built housing. The solution is a permanent affordable housing structure for temporary sites that is relatively quick to construct and install, while also providing an elevated quality of life for residents and the greater community. This building solution has been successfully implemented for homeless housing in Canada and is a promising option in California.

The study reviewed a homeless housing site in Los Angeles using a temporary, rapid response modular solution for homeless and transitional housing that has successfully been implemented in Vancouver, Canada.

Currently underway, Virginia Studio in San Jose, Calif., is a 301-unit affordable multifamily modular project.

While modular construction is still considered an alternative delivery method to traditional, it has enormous potential to change the way multifamily is developed. While not a fit for every project, disruptor that the nation needs to help solve the housing shortage.