Building Better, Cheaper, Faster: Highlights from HUD’s 2025 Innovative Housing Showcase

Building Better, Cheaper, Faster: Highlights from HUD's 2025 Innovative Housing Showcase

From September 6 to September 10, 2025, thousands of visitors gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the seventh annual Innovative Housing Showcase (IHS), hosted by HUD. 

This year's IHS featured 30 exhibits, drawing policymakers, industry leaders, students, and families eager to explore the latest in affordable, resilient housing technologies. Since launching in 2018, IHS has been a platform for HUD to present cutting-edge ideas in housing design, construction, and materials. The goal of the showcase has remained consistent: to show policymakers and the public firsthand how innovation can make housing more affordable, resilient, and robust. The showcase highlighted how both new concepts and proven approaches can help us build high-quality homes quickly and efficiently.

Innovation in Action

The 2025 IHS presented a wide range of exhibits, from full-sized homes to tabletop demonstrations. Some displays, such as those featuring manufactured housing and panelized construction, reflected decades of proven affordability, whereas others highlighted early prototypes still seeking market entry. One of the most visible displays, from the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA) and 84 Lumber, was a duplex built in just under 12 hours as a demonstration of the efficiency of panelized construction. The builders will donate the duplex to two families through Habitat for Humanity. HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) currently is funding a study with Clemson University and SBCA to compare panelized stick-built homes with traditional site-built homes.

Manufactured housing, a longstanding focus of PD&R research, featured prominently this year at IHS. The showcase displayed four homes: Clayton's CrossMod single-wide unit, the first model approved for conventional financing under Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Federal Housing Administration standards; Skyline Homes by Champion's traditional single-wide unit; Ritz-Craft's double-wide unit with integrated solar shingles and backup battery systems; and Cavco's Virginia-built model with durable siding and video demonstrations of factory construction. UMH Homes brought three of these homes to the National Mall.

Modular builders offered several prototypes designed for disaster recovery and emergency housing. Guardian Shield Panels displayed cold-formed steel housing with solar roofs, a material that PD&R-supported research helped integrate into building codes. Origami Home by Compact Cottages offered a foldable, flat-pack design aimed at rapid deployment after disasters. BRIX Modular, based in Florida, displayed hurricane-resistant, steel-frame homes engineered to withstand winds up to180 miles per hour. Aevolve Green Solutions showcased fire-, water-, and mold-resistant panels already deployed abroad, and Azure Homes highlighted its 3D-printed homes made from recycled plastic. PD&R has ongoing research projects and a portfolio of cooperative agreements that explore 3D printing, including research into seismic performance and guidance for integrating utilities into printed walls.

Other innovators demonstrated advanced construction technologies. Fornidos Component Construction Systems presented a panelized system for fast builds in disaster recovery areas. X-Hab3D introduced methods for 3D-printing homes in remote areas using locally sourced materials, part of a current PD&R research partnership in Nome, Alaska. GAF Energy displayed its roof-integrated solar shingles, linking to PD&R's exploration of factory-installed renewable energy systems. Walls of Troy, from Georgia, showcased composite wall systems that currently are being tested in collaboration with the Muscogee Tribe, reflecting PD&R's broader interest in tribal housing resilience.

Exhibitors also focused on multifamily housing. Connect Housing Blocks displayed stackable modular units fabricated with robotics in their Ohio facility. With the ability to reduce typical construction timelines from 2 years to 10 months, their system resonates with PD&R's long-term focus on scaling multifamily innovation to address housing supply shortages. 

Filling out the showcase were smaller exhibits featuring diverse solutions, many of which had direct ties to PD&R research priorities. The International Code Council, an IHS cosponsor, highlighted its role in model code development and inspections. ePipe Pipe Restoration demonstrated its epoxy lining to prevent leaks and lead leaching, an approach relevant to PD&R's research on housing health and safety. Ferguson Fire & Fabrication introduced sensor-based fire suppression, a modern alternative to a century-old technology that links with PD&R's interest in building resilience. Adept Materials showcased Lilypad Paint, which captures and slowly releases moisture to address mold, which is a recurring concern in PD&R-supported housing studies.

Events and Engagement

IHS also has built a reputation for being a platform for dialogue and education. Educational sessions linked the exhibits to PD&R research, featuring presentations on panelized construction, manufactured housing, and 3D printing. These sessions reflected PD&R's broader mission to test, document, and scale innovation in real-world contexts.

A congressional reception brought together policymakers and industry leaders, emphasizing the showcase's role as a bridge between research and adoption. In addition, HUD Secretary Scott Turner personally led guided tours of the exhibits for members of Congress, federal leaders, and other dignitaries, offering them opportunities to engage with innovators and reflect on the policy implications of these technologies. For most visitors, the ability to walk through prototypes, speak directly with builders, and imagine the homes of the future made housing innovation tangible.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 IHS demonstrated the accelerating momentum surrounding housing innovation. From panelized construction to 3D printing, from manufactured homes to modular multifamily developments, the showcase highlighted solutions capable of reducing costs, increasing resilience, and expanding supply. Equally important, the showcase reinforced the value of PD&R research in turning innovation into adoption. Exhibits highlighted the potential of manufactured housing installation, panelized systems, and 3D printing to help overcome barriers and bring these technologies to scale. As HUD looks toward the 2026 IHS, it remains committed to ensuring that every community has access to affordable, resilient, and innovative housing. 

For more information on the 2025 IHS and its exhibitors, visit HUD's Innovative Housing Showcase website.