High housing costs affect Americans of all ages, but the compounding effects of fixed incomes and growing health care costs impact seniors in a particularly significant way. The number of adults 65 or older in the United States grew 34 percent between 2012 and 2022, from 43 million to 58 million, according to a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Over 17 million American seniors, approximately one in three, experience financial insecurity.
As a solution for moderating construction costs and addressing the growing issue of supply and affordability in senior housing, KTGY’s Research and Development Studio proposes incorporating modular construction for assisted living and memory care development.
Typical steel-framed construction demands a significant construction budget increase, creating a cost conundrum: wood-framed construction is more economical to build, but steel-framed construction allows for higher densities. To mitigate this challenge, steel-framed modular construction provides a cost-neutral alternative to site-built wood construction.
While often associated with smaller units, modular multifamily design, whether using wood or steel modules, offers broad flexibility in layout and aesthetics. Premium exterior finishes, added balconies, and other specialty detailing contribute to high-quality design, even within the modular framework. Introducing small separations between every three to four modules helps to break up long facades and reinforces a contextual relationship with the surrounding neighborhood.
Stacking dissimilar modular units, assisted living over memory care, a typical configuration in senior housing development, creates a design challenge for maintaining the necessary vertical utility runs. The Home Again concept incorporates stacked shafts and structural elements, even between dissimilar units, to preserve vertical continuity. As market demands grow, additional levels of steel-framed modules can be added to increase building density.
The housing needs of seniors continue to evolve, requiring a creative perspective and senior housing expertise. Working within the framework of building code and construction limitations, KTGY’s Home Again R+D concept proposes a cost-effective solution for top-tier senior housing.
