In Albuquerque,New Mexico, a provocative new proposal is stirring up discussions about how cities can reclaim idle land and address housing shortages. Under the plan, modular housing units would be installed on vacant lots across the city—fast, affordable, and with less red tape. What if those modular units were made by a company that folds homes like origami, ships them in a box, and deploys them within hours?

That company is Boxabl—and it just might be the wild card that changes how we think about urban housing.

The Boxabl Promise: Homes That Ship Like Furniture

Boxabl began in 2017 with the audacious mission of making housing scalable, affordable, and simple. Its flagship product, the Casita, is a 361-square-foot studio home packed into a box that unfolds into a fully equipped living space. It comes with a kitchen, bathroom, HVAC, and appliances—ready for occupancy as soon as utility hookups are available.

The company’s defining innovation lies in its transport model. Each unit folds down to fit within the dimensions of a standard shipping load. That means fewer oversized deliveries, lower transport costs, and easier logistics compared to traditional modular construction. Once on site, the home can be unfolded and set up in less than an hour, eliminating many of the delays tied to on-site labor.

Beyond the single Casita, Boxabl envisions a system of stackable and connectable modules. These could be arranged to form multi-room homes, duplexes, townhouses, or even small apartment clusters. In essence, the company is not just selling a unit—it is selling a building system that can evolve with the needs of a homeowner or a city.

Regulatory progress has been uneven. While Boxabl has faced resistance in certain jurisdictions, it has achieved approvals in states including New Mexico and California. That’s significant because it means Boxabl’s product could more readily slide into municipal modular housing programs like the one Albuquerque is exploring.

On the financial front, Boxabl is positioning itself for rapid growth. The company announced in 2025 that it would go public via a $3.5 billion SPAC merger with FG Merger II Corp. This move, along with more than $230 million already raised, reflects the scale of its ambitions. Still, as with many disruptors, the road has not been smooth. Critics point to building code battles, zoning hurdles, and questions about whether the company can deliver on the hype at scale.

Albuquerque’s Modular Proposal: A Playground for Boxabl?

The proposal reported by KRQE suggests activating vacant lots throughout Albuquerque with modular housing. The plan emphasizes speed, affordability, and turning idle land into livable spaces.

The city’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency is working with the Piru Group on the proposal that would install a total of 42 modular housing units throughout vacant lots in the city. The group is calling these one-bedroom homes, ‘the future of housing.’

If Boxabl were to partner with the city, the potential impact could be dramatic. The company’s foldable units could reduce time-to-occupancy to a fraction of traditional construction. A home delivered in a box and unfolded on site could quickly provide relief in a city struggling with housing shortages.

Affordability is another advantage. By building in a controlled factory environment and cutting down transport and labor costs, Boxabl aims to make modular housing more cost-effective. This scalability could allow Albuquerque to roll out housing in increments, matching the pace of demand without requiring massive upfront investment.

Because Boxabl has already secured certification in New Mexico, regulatory approval may be less of a hurdle than for other modular providers. That could allow the city to move more quickly from concept to pilot program.

There are also design considerations. By stacking and connecting units, Boxabl offers flexibility beyond the single Casita. Albuquerque could experiment with different configurations—some resembling traditional neighborhoods, others creating denser urban clusters. The challenge will be integrating these modules into the existing urban fabric, ensuring that aesthetics, green space, and livability are not overlooked.

Finally, there’s the question of long-term durability. Factory-built homes often benefit from tighter quality control and predictable maintenance, but Boxabl’s unique folding design has not yet been proven at large scale over decades of use. Albuquerque would need to balance the immediate appeal of quick solutions with the responsibility of ensuring sustainable housing stock.

Beyond the Box: The Broader Implications

Boxabl’s model intersects with three major shifts in the construction world. First is the rise of factory-scale housing, which treats homes more like cars or electronics—products assembled in controlled conditions rather than crafted piece by piece on site. Second is transport-efficient modularity, where the folding design lowers logistical barriers that have long hampered modular expansion. Third is adaptable growth, where homes can expand by simply adding more modules, avoiding the waste and disruption of traditional additions or rebuilds.

These shifts are exciting, but they are not without friction. Building codes remain entrenched in traditional norms, often requiring extensive negotiation before a new modular system is approved. Even with factory-built efficiency, homes need roads, sewers, power lines, and inspections—site readiness can be a bigger bottleneck than the building itself. And while investors are flocking to Boxabl, there’s always the risk that hype gets ahead of delivery.

Yet, the urgency of the housing crisis means cities cannot afford to ignore bold approaches. With affordability slipping further out of reach for many families, with natural disasters displacing thousands, and with vacant land sitting unused in cities across the country, the need for solutions has never been greater. Boxabl is not a silver bullet, but it may be a crucial arrow in the quiver.

A Vision of Albuquerque’s Tomorrow, in Modules

Imagine walking through downtown Albuquerque a year from now. Three vacant lots that once sat empty now host compact neighborhoods of Boxabl Casitas. Some are stacked to create duplexes, others linked to form row-style homes. Shared courtyards give residents green space. Solar panels line rooftops. What once was a dead zone of urban land now pulses with life and community.

This vision is ambitious, but it is achievable if Albuquerque embraces modular innovation. By piloting a handful of Boxabl units, the city could become a national model for urban infill. If it succeeds, the experiment could inspire other municipalities to rethink how they use space, manage costs, and deliver housing at speed.

In an era where housing often feels like a locked box, Boxabl is daring to unfold the possibilities. And Albuquerque’s modular housing proposal might be the perfect place to test whether those possibilities can become reality.

For decades, the story was the same: graduate high school, go to college, get a degree, land a career. But for many of today’s young people—especially Gen Z—that story doesn’t feel like the right fit anymore. Instead, they’re taking a serious look at trade schools, particularly in the MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) and construction trades.

And here’s the kicker: it’s not just a fallback option. For many Gen Zs, it’s a first choice.

The AI Factor

Let’s face it: automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping industries faster than most people realize. Tasks that are repetitive, data-driven, or “mundane” are being handed over to machines. In manufacturing, we’re already seeing AI-driven robotics assemble components. In construction, software is taking over project scheduling, estimating, and compliance checks.

But here’s the catch—no robot or AI system is ready to crawl into an attic to wire a house, or sweat copper pipes under a sink, or troubleshoot an HVAC unit in the middle of winter. Skilled trades are hands-on, problem-solving, human-centered work. Gen Z recognizes this. They see that these jobs are safe from replacement, and in many cases, they’re becoming more valuable as older generations retire out of the trades.

Hands-On Work, Hands-On Satisfaction

Something else is driving this shift: pride. Gen Z isn’t just chasing a paycheck; they want work that feels meaningful. After years of being told that coding or sitting behind a desk was the future, many are discovering that creating something with their hands is incredibly satisfying. Building a wall, wiring a panel, or fixing a system has instant feedback—you see and feel the results of your labor.

For a generation raised on screens, that kind of tactile accomplishment is a powerful motivator.

Training Models That Work

Trade schools are responding with fresh, fast-paced programs. Instead of four years of college and six figures of debt, many programs are structured as six-week to six-month certifications, often tied directly to internships or apprenticeships. Some schools even run accelerated bootcamps where students learn by doing from day one.

And here’s where it gets really interesting: many companies are stepping up to cover tuition fees, offer stipends during training, and guarantee positions once students complete their program. Imagine finishing school with zero debt, a job offer in hand, and a starting salary that often competes with or surpasses the income of recent college grads. That’s not a hard sell to an 18-year-old weighing their options.

The Financial Reality

The economics are clear. While the average college student graduates with more than $30,000 in debt, a trade school graduate can often walk out debt-free—or close to it—and into a job paying $50,000 to $70,000 to start. Add overtime, union benefits, or specialized certifications, and those numbers climb quickly.

Gen Z is also realistic about housing costs, inflation, and job stability. They’re doing the math and realizing that the trades don’t just make sense—they make dollars.

Why Offsite Factories Should Pay Attention

Here’s where offsite construction factories come in. These facilities are in the middle of their own transformation, adopting automation and AI to speed up processes while still relying heavily on skilled labor to actually build, assemble, and finish homes.

For offsite factories, the Gen Z trade school trend is a lifeline. It means a growing pool of young workers trained in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing—all trades essential inside the factory walls. Unlike traditional construction, factories can offer steady, year-round work in a climate-controlled environment, something that appeals to Gen Z’s desire for stability and balance.

At the same time, offsite companies have a chance to shape this workforce by partnering directly with trade schools. Offering internships, sponsoring classes, and even embedding factory-specific modules into training programs can create a pipeline of job-ready talent. Imagine a trade school graduate who not only knows how to run conduit but also understands how their skills plug into an assembly line that produces homes at scale. That’s the kind of synergy this industry has been craving.

Supporting the Trend

Offsite companies don’t have to sit on the sidelines. They can:

• Sponsor scholarships or tuition reimbursement for students willing to work at the factory after graduation.
• Offer tours and open houses to show trade school students what factory work looks like—fast, precise, and collaborative.
• Develop apprenticeship programs where students split time between school and the factory floor.
• Highlight career progression within factories, showing Gen Z that their skills can grow into supervisory and management roles, not just entry-level positions.

By investing in these partnerships, factories not only fill their labor pipeline but also elevate the reputation of offsite construction as a career destination, not just a job stop.

Offsite Innovators’ Bottom Line

Gen Z isn’t rejecting higher education altogether—they’re simply redefining what education means. For them, a welding certificate, an HVAC license, or a journeyman card carries as much value (if not more) than a bachelor’s degree. And they’re right. In an AI-driven future, the ability to fix, install, and build is as irreplaceable as it gets.

For offsite factories, this is the moment to double down. These young workers are eager, debt-free, and ready to put their hands and talent to work. With the right outreach, factories can not only benefit from the trend but help accelerate it.

High-paying jobs. No college debt. Skills that matter. And now, a factory-built future that Gen Z can be proud to help construct.

A Simple Habit That Can Change Your Entire Factory

Originally, I thought of writing this just for offsite factory owners and general managers, but as the words started to form, I realized something important: this message is for everyone. Everyone in an offsite construction factory. Everyone in any workplace, really. It’s about something so simple it almost sounds silly—and yet, it might just change your entire day.

It’s called: STOP, SMILE, and LISTEN.

Starting the Day on Empty

Imagine yourself as the owner or GM of an offsite construction factory. You’re building wall panels, components, or full modular homes. It’s 8:00 AM. You pull into your reserved parking space, walk through the front doors without making eye contact with anyone, and head straight to your office. You sit at your desk, take a deep breath, and wonder who or what is going to f**k up your day.

Sound familiar? That’s how far too many people start their morning—closed off, braced for the worst, and already wearing their frustration like armor. It’s not malicious. It’s just habit. But it’s also contagious.

Seeing What’s Already Going Right

Now let’s imagine something different. As you pull into that parking space, picture a big sign bolted to the wall in front of you: STOP, SMILE, and LISTEN.

So you stop. You look around. The production line is humming, your employees are already inside working, and trailers are lined up outside with modules ready to ship—real homes that someone chose to buy from your company. In the visitor parking area, you spot a couple of unfamiliar cars. Someone is here, right now, hoping to do business with your company.

That’s amazing, isn’t it? You just saw it—and appreciated it—instead of walking past it.

Creating Small Sparks of Connection

You step through the front door and are greeted by your receptionist. Normally you’d nod and keep walking, but today you stop.

“How are you doing this morning?” you ask.

“OK,” they answer, which these days can mean anything from “fine” to “hanging on by a thread.”

This is where you deliver your first SMILE of the day. “Just OK? It’s a beautiful morning out there.”

And suddenly, something shifts. They either agree and smile back, or maybe they open up about something personal—a sick child who’s finally better, a great dinner they had last night, or just the relief of finishing a tough week.

And you listen.

That simple, sincere moment has power. The person who greets everyone who walks in the door is now carrying a little spark of warmth, and they’ll pass it along to the next person who comes through. You don’t have to do it every day, but do it enough, and it becomes part of the air your team breathes.

Making It a Daily Practice

Keep doing this. Ask the receptionist who the visitors are meeting with. If someone new is talking with your corporate buyer, knock on the door, step in, shake their hand, and say, “Welcome to our factory.” Then walk out. That’s it. It’s not your job to buy things, but it is your job to build relationships.

A couple of times a week, stroll the production line. Stop for thirty seconds next to someone doing a great job or trying something new. Smile. Listen. Let them know you see them. Do the same with a salesperson you bump into in the hallway. These aren’t interruptions; they’re investments.

Why It Changes Everything

Before long, this practice rewires your mornings. The dread of “what’s going to go wrong today” gets replaced by “look at what’s already going right.” Negativity loses its grip.

Even better, you’ll start to really know the people who’ve chosen to work for you—their names, their stories, their talents. You’ll see them as more than job titles or productivity stats, and they’ll see you as more than a signature at the bottom of a paycheck.

And that is how workplaces transform—not with a grand announcement, but with one small decision made every day: STOP, SMILE, and LISTEN.