Global Similarities

By Peter Kahn, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy Development

Peter Kahn, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy Development.

Recently, I had the privilege of representing the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) in two international engagements.

In June, PD&R and HUD hosted the fourth Innovative Housing Showcase. The showcase was created to raise awareness of innovative and affordable housing designs and technologies with the potential to increase housing supply, lower the cost of construction, increase energy efficiency and resilience, and reduce housing expenses for owners and renters.

One way to achieve these goals is through the expansion of offsite construction. Offsite construction, also known as prefabrication or modular construction, involves manufacturing building components in a factory and then transporting them to the construction site for assembly.

A recent PD&R Edge article examined offsite construction through an International lens. Fortunately, the Innovative Housing Showcase offered us another opportunity to compare U.S. offsite construction efforts with an international counterpart.

The Republic of Korea sent a delegation to Washington, DC, to attend the Innovative Housing Showcase. The delegation consisted of officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport; an academic; and a member of the Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy. The delegation benefited from attending the showcase's educational events, the showcase itself, and a bilateral discussion with HUD staff on the challenges and opportunities that offsite construction presents.

PD&R's Dr. Regina Gray led the presentation for HUD. Gray shared the United States' current research gaps and needs, how HUD helps fill these gaps, and what the potential impacts of addressing these research priorities are.

Both South Korea and the United States face similar issues with offsite construction despite differences in their construction industries and market dynamics. Some key similarities between the two nations include quality control and standardization, logistics and transportation, regulatory and code compliance, skilled labor shortages, cost considerations, market acceptance and perception, technological integration, and environmental and sustainability concerns.

Both South Korea and the United States are addressing these issues through innovation, policy changes, and industry collaboration. By learning from each other's experiences and adopting best practices, both countries can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of offsite construction.

One way that South Korea is addressing these issues is through the use of precast concrete as a leading technology in their offsite construction industry. Using precast concrete helps shorten construction times, reduce costs, and increase sustainability. The discussion about using precast concrete was particularly apt considering that it was held in HUD's Weaver Building, which was the first federal building constructed with precast concrete.

In July, PD&R participated in a research roundtable discussion hosted by UK Research and Innovation North America and the UK Science and Innovation Network. The theme for the roundtable centered on place-based innovation and the role of existing ecosystems. U.S. practitioners from academia, philanthropy, and government joined in the discussion.

The lively roundtable covered numerous topics, including the importance of creating an innovative platform that unites stakeholders from local, state, and federal governments; private industry; and academia. The group also discussed how to diversify innovation, connect key actors, and foster collaboration. The participants acknowledged that such multifaceted groupings have been successful in strengthening communities, but they were also concerned about possible unintended consequences, such as increased housing costs or unwanted development in certain areas of communities. The participants considered what policymakers could do to mitigate these unintended consequences.

The roundtable also discussed strategies to foster the next generation of researchers to carry on future research into place-based innovation. Participants shared their concern that promoting diversity within these training grounds is important to provide equitable opportunities for career mobility.

Admittedly, the session generated more questions than answers, but the stimulating dialogue offered significant food for thought.

Both the exchange with South Korea concerning offsite construction and the UK exchange concerning place-based research reinforced the idea that, although oceans may separate the United States from its counterparts, shared learning demonstrates that similar challenges have similar solutions, no matter where those opportunities may be.