Disaster-Relief Concept Home

During the second weekend of June, more than 2,500 housing industry representatives, policymakers, media and members of the general public attended the 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase at the National Mall in Washington D.C. The three-day event, presented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), aims to raise awareness of accessible, innovative and affordable housing designs and technologies.

More than a dozen exhibitors, including Cypress Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit developer that specializes in disaster recovery and workforce housing, took part in this year’s showcase. “The Innovative Housing Showcase is an excellent opportunity for HUD to exhibit the creative approaches industry leaders across the country are taking to the building, design, and development of our nation’s housing,” HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said in a statement.

CONCEPT HOME DESIGNER AIMS TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND RESILIENT HOUSING OPTIONS

At the foot of the National Mall, Cypress Community Development Corporation and designer Marianne Cusato unveiled a 540-squarefoot accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The project’s visionary, Cusato, rose to national media acclaim when she introduced the “Katrina Cottage” nearly two decades ago: a permanent, safer housing alternative to the temporary FEMA trailers used to host Hurricane Katrina survivors. With the introduction of her team’s ADU at this year’s showcase, Cusato hopes to prompt continued conversations at the national level on expanding access to affordable and resilient housing options to critical scenarios, like disaster zones.

METAL ROOFING POSITIONED TO MEET NEED FOR CRITICAL HOUSING SOLUTIONS

Needing a roofing solution that could deliver lasting performance for her disaster-relief ADU, Cusato and her design team turned to a continuous interlocking engineered metal roof system from Drexel Metals. “This isn’t any ordinary project— we are showcasing a proven solution to a critical housing and human issue, paving the way forward,” Brian Partyka, Vice President of Carlisle Architectural Metals said. “Drexel Metals has a long history of providing metal roofing systems of exceptional quality, energy efficiency and performance; so, we are positioned to meet this moment.”

DMC 175S DELIVERS WEATHER RESISTANCE, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND LOWER TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

A proven solution for tough environments, the ADU features the DMC 175S profile, which is tested to withstand gale- to hurricane-force winds, hail, fire and wind-driven rain. Uniquely suited to deliver lasting performance in disaster relief applications, the metal roof will last approximately two to three times longer than other roofs and will retain its impact resistance over the course of its service life. The system’s concealed fastener and clip application supports a simple and quick installation and does not require mechanical seaming to ensure weathertight integrity.

An energy-efficient solution, metal roofing can also help regulate the temperature inside the ADU and is “solar-ready,” which means solar panels can be mounted directly on top of roof seams without penetrating the roof system. This seamless integration means no leaks, less maintenance and improved efficiency for the solar panels. The result is a high-performance roof that can help offset the ADU’s energy costs. This quality is in alignment with HUD’s interest in expanding access to disaster recovery housing designs and technologies with a lower total cost of ownership.

SHINING A LIGHT ON THE FUTURE OF CRITICAL HOUSING DESIGN

Metal roofing, which has become synonymous with qualities such as lower total cost of ownership, weather resistance and lasting performance, is uniquely suited for disaster-relief applications and beyond. To learn more about Drexel Metals’ tested and proven metal roofing systems, visit drexelmetals.com.