Enjoy this little prefab history lesson with a wink and a nod to the original disruptor.
Long before the word “modular” started trending on LinkedIn and before factory tours came with drone footage and startup pitches, there was a little prefab pioneer that quietly—and stylishly—helped shape the future of American housing. It wasn’t sleek. It wasn’t tech-driven. But it sure was ahead of its time.
Meet Gunnison Homes—the prefab forerunner that brought factory-built housing to the masses right after World War II, back when the only “boxabl” thing was the leftover meatloaf.
At the tail end of the 1940s, U.S. Steel decided it had a problem: steel production had boomed during the war, and now they had all this excess material sitting around. So they did what any great American industrial giant would do—they turned it into houses. Yes, actual houses. Made in a factory. Delivered in sections. And assembled in your backyard like a patriotic Lego set.
Gunnison Homes weren’t trying to be fancy, but they weren’t bland either. With steel panel walls, durable exteriors, and designs that could be assembled in record time, these homes were the IKEA of their day—if IKEA also installed your living room and made sure it didn’t blow away in a snowstorm.
And people loved them.
They were affordable, easy to ship, and looked modern (for the 1950s, of course). Over 100,000 were built and sold, and if you drive through some older postwar neighborhoods today, you might spot one still standing tall—likely with the original kitchen cabinets and a retro stove that refuses to die.
In many ways, Gunnison Homes were doing what so many companies today are still trying to perfect: fast, affordable, high-quality prefab housing with wide appeal. Sound familiar? It should. We’ve just added Wi-Fi and a much glossier website.
Sure, today’s startups get more press, attract millions in venture capital, and host webinars about their mission to “revolutionize housing.” But let’s give credit where credit’s due. Gunnison walked so the rest of us could 3D print.
So next time someone tells you prefab housing is a “new” idea, send them a picture of a Gunnison Home and smile politely. Because in the world of modular construction, history doesn’t just repeat itself—it gets rebranded.
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With over 9,000 published articles on modular and offsite construction, Gary Fleisher remains one of the most trusted voices in the industry.
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