Innovative Housing Showcase tests new design and construction methods in Fort Wayne

This year four new housing types are being constructed in Fort Wayne’s East Central Neighborhood as part of the Innovative Housing Showcase project from the City of Fort Wayne. The project will test new approaches to how houses are built and used in the Fort Wayne housing market.

According to the City’s website, the project is also a chance for the builders to “navigate zoning regulations, building codes, and permit requirements to evaluate the feasibility and scalability of each construction type in real-world applications.”

Jessica MontalvoInnovative Housing Showcase features four types of builds.The homes are scheduled to be completed by the fall, after which the community will be invited to explore the homes during an open house event.

Each of the four housing prototypes are distinct, but will integrate innovative designs, sustainable materials, and unique construction methods all while potentially make homeownership possible for people who once thought it to be unattainable.

The New Energy Model is primarily focused on building more efficient structures. New Energy Homes, the Indiana-based company behind the New Energy Model combines over 55 years of experience in the construction field with principles of energy conservation to create a structure built from precision and research. Their completed home in the showcase will be 1,200 square feet and includes three bedrooms and two full bathrooms on East Berry Street.

According to their website, New Energy Homes uses a post-frame building technique that features wood columns on the exterior and emphasizes the use of insulation. Traditionally, houses have always been built with studs, often called “stick-frame homes,” which prevent an even distribution of insulation and result in having more gaps where the outside elements can get in. This approach is said to significantly reduce the heating and cooling bills, which are a significant part of energy efficiency. 

Jessica MontalvoNew Energy Housing ModelVolumod Modular Solutions, another Indiana-based company, is building the Volumod Model, on East Wayne Street. According to their website, this building method uses prefabricated modules that are crafted in their factory headquarters, delivered to the construction site, and then assembled on-site which allows for speed and lower costs. This completed home will be 1,488 square feet and includes four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Jessica MontalvoThe house by Volumod Modular Solutions in the Innovative Housing Showcase.Another house in the showcase is a home made from shipping containers. Three Squared, the Detroit-based company behind the container home, opts for steel shipping containers rather than wood when it comes to the main structural elements of housing construction. 

The completed home on East Berry Street will be 1,600 square feet. The two-story home is made from five shipping containers and is designed with four bedrooms and two and a half baths, an open kitchen, living and dining space. Three Squared has developments around the county, but this is their first in Fort Wayne. 

Jessica MontalvoThe home made from shipping containers by Three Squared. In partnership with Three Squared, Houm will also be featured in the housing showcase. Their innovative method uses digital fabrication and industrial-scale production to eliminate inefficiencies in the housing construction process. Their completed home will be 1,800 square feet with four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Scott Shall, one of the innovators behind Houm, says they also select their building materials carefully.

“We use sustainable materials that are manufactured using processes that guarantee a high-quality product,” he says. “From the natural cedar boards used on our porches to the durable metal panels used as our siding, each material used is chosen for its value, durability, and low environmental footprint.”

Located on the corner of East Berry Street and Harmar Street, this is only the second Houm model house to ever exist. The first is in Detroit.

“By building one of our first models on display, Fort Wayne not only allows one lucky family to realize the full value of these innovations, but the city places itself at the cutting edge of housing design,” he says.

Part of their model includes a quicker build time. Shall says their project will be complete by September, making the total build time four months. In comparison, a traditional build typically takes 11 to 12 months.

Jessica MontalvoThe Houm Model“Houm is leveraging several promising technologies in order to develop a more efficient and effective process of housing design and construction which significantly brings down the cost of homeownership for families and the planet,” Shall says.
J.T. King, CEO of Royal Development, the showcase’s developer, says that each of the models in this project could position Fort Wayne as a leader in sustainable urban development.

“This innovative model promises significant benefits for residents and the broader community, positioning Fort Wayne as a leader in sustainable urban development,” King says.

Additionally, this project could help address housing problems within Fort Wayne.
Kelly Lundberg, Deputy Director of the Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services for the City of Fort Wayne says projects focused on housing innovation are crucial because of the growing disconnect between housing supply and demand.

“As populations increase and change, the demand for affordable, adequate, and accessible housing outpaces the available supply,” she explains. “Traditional housing models and construction methods often fail to meet the needs of diverse and changing demographics, leading to shortages, rising prices, and increased pressure on the market.”

The goal is to find new ways to increase housing stock within the city– especially affordable housing stock. Fort Wayne, while consistently noted as having one of the best housing markets across the nation, lacks affordable housing options. 

Jessica MontalvoThe house by Volumod Modular Solutions in the Innovative Housing Showcase.As George Guy, CEO of the Fort Wayne Housing Authority, told Input Fort Wayne in early 2024, the demand for housing drives up the price, but wages here don’t align with that price, which creates a challenging situation to address. (Fort Wayne’s median income sits around $16,000 less than the national median income.)

Breck Crandell and Scott Shall, the innovators behind the Houm Model, explain on their website that homes have been built the same way for over 450 years.

“We’re still smacking sticks together with rocks piece by piece to build homes when we have the machines and industries to scale production at mass without needing to sacrifice efficiency or beauty,” Crandell says in an interview.

The cost of that traditional building model keeps many from achieving homeownership.

“Costs have rendered home ownership an impossibility for many, forcing huge swaths of the country into rentership – a situation which has driven up rental costs, making it nearly impossible for those who rent to save enough funds to stop doing so,” Shall explains.

Lundberg says that finding ways to build housing stock through affordable and effective methods could significantly improve housing affordability and stability. Thus making the process better for home buyers and the environment.

Jessica MontalvoThe home being built by Three Squared. “When there is a sufficient supply of homes at all price points, it can help reduce the pressure on housing prices, making it easier for families with limited incomes to find places they can afford,” Lundberg says. “We believe that building both affordable and market-rate housing will create better housing affordability by reducing the mismatch between supply and demand. This stability is critical for families who might otherwise face frequent moves, overcrowding, or even homelessness due to the lack of affordable housing.”

The overall impact on the community is big too. Lundberg explains that increasing housing stock can contribute to the well-being of individuals and the long-term economic stability of the community.

“It can lead to more diverse and vibrant neighborhoods, reduce the concentration of poverty, and promote social cohesion,” she says. “With more housing options, low-income families have a better chance to live in safe, healthy environments with access to good schools, transportation, and services.”

As the developer for the showcase, Royal Development’s mission aligns with the goals of affordability, sustainability, and innovation. King says while the homes in the showcase aren’t complete just yet, long-term goals could include building these types of homes in neighborhoods across the city and in broader urban development projects, as well as working with local authorities to promote more sustainable housing solutions.
Jessica MontalvoJ.T. King, CEO of Royal Development, at the Houm Model House.King says he feels excitement and gratitude to be able to be involved in all four of the home's construction and to ensure that these prototypes will be the example that will take housing to the next chapter of sustainability and affordability in Fort Wayne. 

When it comes to the cost of homes like the ones featured in the showcase, King says the price tag will vary depending on preferences and the building method, but the cost will be significantly less than that of a traditional build. More details on the price will be available at the project’s open house this fall.

Once the houses are complete they’ll be put to use. Habitat for Humanity will help four families achieve home ownership with the four model homes from the showcase.

For more information on the Innovative Housing Showcase, visit the city’s webpage.

This story is made possible by support from AARP Indiana.

Editor's Note: We updated this story to correct the location of the Innovative Housing Showcase. We originally said it was in West Central, but it is in East Central.