Clayton Unveils First Look at "Built," a Documentary Exploring the Past, Present and Future of Factory-Built Housing in America

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Oct 28, 2026, 16:30 ET

New teaser offers an early look at a documentary-short examining how affordable housing innovations are shaping the future of homeownership in America

MARYVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, a leading factory-built housing company, released the teaser for "Built: A Story of Factory-Built Housing in America", a documentary short film exploring the origins, evolution and future impact of factory-built construction through expert voices in housing, including the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Oak Ridge History Museum and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Watch the documentary short teaser for "Built: A Story of Factory-Built Housing in America," presented by Clayton and directed by Barrett Burgin.

The official poster for "Built: A Story of Factory-Built Housing in America," a documentary short film exploring the origins, evolution and future of factory-built housing.

Behind the scenes of "Built," a documentary examining manufactured housing, an often-overlooked part of America’s housing history and its potential to help expand pathways to attainable homeownership.

"Built" brings together historians, researchers, policy experts, builders and housing advocates to explore factory-built housing’s role in America’s housing story.

The production of "Built" traces factory-built housing from its early role in towns like Oak Ridge, Tennessee, through the innovations shaping housing today.

Through expert interviews and historical perspectives, "Built" explores how factory-built construction has evolved to meet the changing needs of individuals and families across generations.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/clayton_home_builders/9373153-en-clayton-documentary-built-a-story-of-factory-built-housing-in-america

Presented by Clayton, directed by Barrett Burgin and produced by Big Slate Media, the documentary examines how factory-built housing has evolved to fit the needs of individuals and families across generations. Through interviews with historians, policy experts, researchers, builders and housing advocates, "Built" traces a story of manufactured housing innovation from the World War II era in Oak Ridge, TN, through today, exploring how factory-built housing has continued to respond to the nation's attainable housing supply challenges while creating new pathways to homeownership for more families.

Developed during two significant milestones for the industry, the 50th anniversary of the HUD Code's Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards and Clayton's 70th anniversary, "Built" seeks to provide expert perspectives on a category of housing that is often overlooked or misunderstood despite its longstanding role in American housing.

"One of the most fascinating things I've learned while making 'Built' is how factory-built housing has played a role in some of the most innovative periods in our nation's history," said Barrett Burgin, Director of "Built." "And yet, despite being around for generations, we continue to overlook its potential. I hope this film helps us reconsider manufactured housing as a forward-thinking solution to today's housing crisis, and challenges some of our assumptions about what a house is, and what it ought to be."

Through insights from industry experts, the documentary explores how affordable housing challenges have shaped hometowns and cities over time, how innovation often emerges in response to real needs and how the story of housing in America continues to be written for future generations of homeowners.

"Housing plays such a fundamental role in people's lives, yet the path to homeownership has become increasingly difficult for so many," said Dr. Chris Herbert, Managing Director of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. "Modern manufactured housing, with the efficiencies of factory construction, offers an affordable solution that can help expand that path, and it deserves a more prominent place in the national conversation about how we address housing supply and affordability."

"Built" aims to serve as a long-term educational resource that encourages thoughtful conversations about housing while helping audiences better understand an important part of America's factory-built housing story.

The teaser and additional information about the documentary can be found here.

About Clayton
Founded in 1956, Clayton is a factory-built housing and financial services company committed to delivering a world-class experience for customers and team members. The company's purpose is "opening doors to a better life" by providing attainable, sustainably-built homes with a lower cost of homeownership. Its portfolio includes a comprehensive range of modern manufactured, Tiny, CrossMod^®, and modular housing. In 2025, Clayton built more than 59,000 homes nationwide. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.

CrossMod is a registered certification mark of the Manufactured Housing Institute.

SOURCE Clayton