The Timber Revolution
Although the age of concrete is far from over, there seems to be little doubt that timber is the building material of the future—and that it may help to save the planet.
Tag: offsite wood conference
The Digital Revolution Encourages Change in the Construction Industry
While the way in which houses are built hasn’t changed much in the last five decades, its about to. Smart home technology, renewable energy sources and the automation of off-site construction are combining to create the perfect storm for major change. Throw the current construction labor shortage into the mix and you have these new… Read more »
Prefab Housing on the Brink of a Comeback
During the 1970s, prefab was huge. Designers and builders recognized that they could save time and build cheaper and more accurately if they produced homes in factories. According to the US Census bureau, only 2% of single-family homes were prefab or modular in 2016. So why are there so few prefab houses today? From movie… Read more »
Off-site Construction Revolutionizes the Building Game
Labor shortages and increased demand through urbanization has led to a global housing shortage. The construction industry hasn’t changed much in the last 50 years but to meet this growing challenge, it must evolve to build houses in a way that’s faster, cheaper and more environmentally friendly. To meet this challenge, Metsä Wood’s Mikko Saavalainen,… Read more »
Millennials Drive up Home Ownership Rate
There is a pervasive myth that millennials will be a generation of renters. While they are off to a late start, millennials are investing in starter homes faster than the construction industry can build them. The perception that younger home seekers would rather rent than buy may have been true during the housing recession years,… Read more »
Construction is Moving up in the World… Are you Coming?
Construction hasn’t changed much in the last few decades. In fact, labor productivity actually declined by 19% between 1995 and 2015 . While innovation has improved equipment and technology, the process of building hasn’t undergone a major change for some time. Severe shortages of skilled onsite labor, rising labor costs and a lack of affordable housing are… Read more »