McNair Summer Research Program
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Daniel Lopez-Perez
Publication Date
Summer 8-8-2026
Description, Abstract, or Artist's Statement
This research looks at more than a hundred years of prefabricated housing to show how standardized housing production has changed and shaped today’s housing. By studying old records and current pre-approved housing plans, the study shows how housing design has shifted over time. Comparing examples from the past and present reveals common strategies to boost efficiency, speed up construction, and make housing more accessible. With the ongoing housing shortage in the United States, this research is timely, especially given the recent 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which encourages faster, more efficient housing development. The study creates a timeline that sorts housing projects by material and era, underscoring key changes in materials and the development of prefabricated and modular housing. It also includes a map showing which cities across the country offer free, downloadable, pre-approved housing plans. These visuals help track how materials in prefabricated and modular housing have changed and show current strategies for tackling the housing crisis. Working with San Diego’s Policy and Innovation Center, this research explores how lessons from the past can help solve today’s housing issues.