Affordable Housing

University of Arkansas tackles housing crisis with innovative ‘Workforce 16’ prototype

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

To address the growing housing crisis in Arkansas and the U.S., students and faculty in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas are exploring innovative solutions.

John Folan, a professor and head of the architecture department, is working with students on a new project focused on creating affordable homes for workers earning $16 to $18 an hour.

The prototype, named Workforce 16, is on the lawn of Vol Walker Hall on the UA campus. It showcases core design features developed over four semesters of research. It incorporates a nucleus of 500 square feet with expandable bays, allowing for a 700-square-foot expansion in an orderly manner as income or family size grows. The home utilizes wave layered timber (WLT), a new form of mass timber, accelerating construction time and facilitating future reuse.

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University of Arkansas tackles housing crisis with innovative ‘Workforce 16’ prototype