Florida’s Tech Solution for Affordable Housing

Building Back Better, Faster, and Cheaper After Disaster

Natural disasters can destroy communities in moments. Think about California wildfires last January. They wrecked over 16,000 homes and buildings. Rebuilding usually takes ages and costs a fortune. But, a Florida company believes they have a better way. They claim they can rebuild homes quickly and for less money.

Home construction costs have jumped dramatically. A CBS News study found prices are up 47% since 2016! Patrick Murphy leads Renco, the company with this innovative building tech. Interestingly, Lego bricks inspired their creation. These bricks are special mix of glass, recycled plastic, and other materials.

These unique bricks aren’t your average building blocks. "We can make about 16 homes each day at our factory," Murphy explained excitedly. Their Jupiter, Florida factory plans to boost production big time this April.

Super Strong Homes: How Does It Work?

Renco says these homes are seriously tough. Imagine buildings that can handle 240 mph winds! Plus, they resist fire better than wood or brick. Surprisingly, water resistance is another great feature. "We started in Florida, the toughest zone, after years of testing. We wanted to ensure our homes could handle Category 5 hurricanes,” Murphy added.

Yessica Coronado lives near Palm Beach, Florida, in one of these buildings. She has lived there for almost a year. Coronado didn’t even realize her apartment was built differently. Her complex has four buildings, with 96 units. These are the first of their kind in the whole country!

"I just thought it was a normal apartment," Coronado admitted. Just eleven workers built each building’s walls, floors, and ceilings. And they did it incredibly fast – in just eight weeks! "We built much faster than using traditional materials like wood or concrete," Murphy pointed out.

Saving Time and Money for Homeowners

While Renco bricks cost more upfront, they lead to savings. Murphy states they can cut costs by 20% because of less labor and time needed. Insurance costs also go down. "We can build much faster with fewer skilled workers. Two people can build a whole 2,000 sq ft home in only one day," Murphy highlighted.

For now, Renco buildings are limited to five stories. However, their buildings last a very long time, which lowers insurance costs, around 20% less for long-term coverage. "It won’t rot or rust. Pests and termites won’t eat it," Murphy affirmed.

A Game Changer for The Future?

Illya Azaroff, an architect at City University of New York, thinks this is a major shift. He teaches about sustainable building. “Last year, 114 million people were displaced by disasters globally. This moment demands change,” he emphasized.

Azaroff admits Renco’s design can be a bit boxy. But he sees the huge value in structural strength and speed. "Seeing innovations like Renco, gives hope. We can build for fire, earthquakes, and hurricanes, even tornadoes. We just need the will to act and try new things," Azaroff concluded.