Brandon Searle and the Often-Ignored Solution to the Maritimes' Housing Crisis

Is modular housing really the answer to New Brunswick's housing crisis?The stereotypical images of flimsy buildings and low-quality mini-homes don't reflect today's reality. New technologies and practices mean modular construction can be used to create high-quality buildings, sometimes as high as 30 storeys. In Sweeden, about 85 per cent of homes have some modular element to them.Brandon Searle is at the forefront of modular technology in the Maritimes. He's the Director of Innovation and Operations at the University of New Brunswick’s Off-site Construction Research Centre.Searle joins Don and David on this week's Insights Podcast to talk about the work the centre is doing, and how modular construction could help address the Maritimes' housing crisis.The Off-site Construction Research Centre has worked on more than two dozen projects and aims to be a national leader in the sector. According to Searle, modular construction is not only well-positioned to help with local housing demand, it could grow as a home-grown export sector in the years ahead.The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.