National Institute of Building Sciences and MOD X Announce Publication of HUD Report on Accelerating Offsite Construction for Housing
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and MOD X announce the release of HUD's new report, HUD's Past, Present, and Future Role in Accelerating U.S. Offsite Construction for Housing: A Comparative Study and Action Plan. The report reviews international and U.S. case studies to identify opportunities to expand industrialized construction to help meet the nation's housing needs. Its findings conclude that offsite construction can improve quality and reduce costs when institutional barriers are addressed, helping protect taxpayer dollars through more efficient and predictable building processes.
The report emphasizes that HUD's role is to enable innovation by removing outdated constraints and fostering private sector leadership and growth. It also stresses that government alone cannot achieve success in this area and that a healthy, competitive market is essential to scaling off-site methods.
HUD's Action Plan outlines immediate, intermediate, and long-term strategies, including standard award criteria, housing system certification, and performance-based building codes. By focusing on proven lessons and working closely with housing partners, the report highlights how HUD can strengthen a resilient and market-driven housing sector that benefits American families and communities.
Key findings from the study include:
- Accelerating off-site construction can quickly boost housing supply, affordability, and accessibility, while also enhancing housing quality cost-effectively.
- Regulatory reform and demand aggregation are essential for scaling off-site construction across the housing sector.
- A high-tech housing industry supported by a national innovation system allows an off-site construction sector to operate effectively without ongoing government intervention once the ecosystem is in place.
- Education and knowledge exchange must be maintained consistently throughout efforts to speed up off-site construction adoption.
The report presents a U.S. Offsite Action Plan that structures the recommended way forward around three interconnected strategies aimed at speeding up offsite housing production:
- Standard award criteria as an immediate method to gather demand.
- Housing system certification as a midpoint mechanism for regulatory reform.
- Performance-based building codes as the long-term foundation for a national housing innovation system.
The research reflects a wide collaborative effort involving over 200 domestic and international experts who participated through workshops, research exchanges, and cross-sector partnerships across government, industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations over several years.
"Our nation's housing challenge is reaching a critical level that demands innovative, collaborative, and practical policy solutions that increase access to quality housing at every stage of life," said George Guszcza, President and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences. "This report provides a roadmap for how the United States can responsibly expand offsite construction to significantly improve housing affordability, safety, and resilience for all communities across America."
"Traveling and working closely with such a diverse global network of leading experts in industrialized construction has been insightful and inspiring for our entire team," said Ivan Rupnik, Founding Partner of MOD X. "This kind of collaborative effort and shared learning is not peripheral to the work – it's fundamental to how institutional change occurs – and is required to expand housing innovation in the United States." The new report expands on the previously published Offsite Construction for Housing: Research Roadmap, which identified six major obstacles to scaling offsite construction:
- Regulatory Framework
- Standards and System Performance
- Capital, Finance, and Insurance
- Project Delivery and Contracts
- Labor and Workforce Training and Management
- Business Models and Economic Performance
MOD X and NIBS are currently applying the report's findings at the regional level across the United States, in collaboration with key partners, to create a Housing System Certification Program Standard. The program aims to simplify approvals and support early project pilots with forward-thinking Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and system providers.
The full report is available from HUD USER:
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/HUDs-Role-Accelerating-Offsite-Construction-For-Housing.html
About the National Institute of Building Sciences
Created by an act of Congress in 1974 to be the nation's authoritative source of findings and recommendations on the impact and improvement of the built environment for the American people. At the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), we connect research, policy, and practical application to advance innovation in the built environment. Our mission is to create a safer, more resilient, and technologically advanced infrastructure that serves American communities and strengthens our nation's future.
From shaping industry standards to guiding digital transformation, we empower building professionals, policymakers, and owners to make informed decisions that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. We convene experts across sectors to develop solutions that ensure construction, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness keep pace with evolving challenges.
Building American Innovation isn't just our tagline—it's our commitment. We foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia to drive forward-thinking strategies for resilient communities. Because at NIBS, we don't just build structures, we build solutions.
About MOD X
MOD X is a research-based advisory group and international knowledge exchange network integrating academic, industry, government, and related non-profit sectors (quadruple helix) in the prefabricated and volumetric modular offsite construction industry. The organization fosters a global network of industry leaders and organizations focused on advancing scalable offsite construction through specialized knowledge exchanges, factory/site tours, custom research, and strategic advisory services.
For more information, visit nibs.org or follow @bldgsciences on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
For more information, visit modx.world or follow LinkedIn.
SOURCE National Institute of Building Sciences
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