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Strategic Categorization: Data organized to assist city planners and policymakers in identifying the most effective partners for specific urban housing goals.
While this remains a working draft, I believe it addresses a critical component of our local housing strategy. I would welcome the opportunity to have this analysis considered by the Committee as you evaluate innovative solutions for housing development in San Jose and neighboring jurisdictions.
Thank you for your time and for your continued dedication to our community’s needs.
Sincerely,
Brian Darby
5/6/26, 8:47 AM Mail - Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas - Outlook https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADhhYzk3NTk1LTBmZDAtNDc4Yi1hN2Q0LTZjNmZjNTk5M… 2/2
Previous Rating: A+ | Revised Rating: A+ (Confirmed — Memo-Weighted) WHY IT MATTERS:
Autovol has the strongest direct San José precedent of any company in this report. Its Virginia Street Studios project in San José is documented as a 301-unit, 153,120-square-foot affordable housing project assembled from 160 modules. The Modular Building Institute describes it as the largest senior affordable housing project in San José and the first project manufactured by Autovol. This directly demonstrates California HCD compliance, multifamily delivery at scale, and a Bay Area project pipeline. Autovol has publicly highlighted partnerships that incorporate apprenticeship and workforce development, directly aligned with the Council Memorandum's labor standards directive.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Affordable multifamily, senior housing, supportive housing, workforce housing, Gap Financing RFP projects.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main company website — portfolio, capabilities, team, and factory information.
Website: https://autovol.com/
Direct project page for Virginia Street Studios — San José's existing modular affordable housing precedent.
Virginia Street Studios Project Page: https://autovol.com/virginia-st-studios/ Contact page for project inquiries and RFP eligibility discussions.
Contact: https://autovol.com/contact/
Autovol overview and manufacturing process video on YouTube.
Video — Autovol YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@autovol
2. FullStack Modular
Previous Rating: A+ | Revised Rating: A+ (Confirmed — Memo-Weighted) WHY IT MATTERS:
FullStack Modular opened a 130,000-square-foot West Coast factory in Carson, California, specifically to serve West Coast clients and California housing needs. This is uniquely significant for the Council Memorandum's directive on local manufacturing: a California factory reduces transportation costs, shortens delivery schedules, and may support local labor hiring. FullStack has delivered permanent multifamily high-rise modular projects, including a 32-story tower in Brooklyn — demonstrating the stack capability relevant to the Memorandum's steel-framed, taller-denser directive.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Permanent multifamily, workforce housing, affordable housing, student housing, dense urban sites, steel-framed mid-rise.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main company website with project portfolio, California factory capabilities, and team.
Website: https://www.fullstackmodular.com/
Contact page for project inquiries, RFP eligibility, and factory tours.
Contact: https://www.fullstackmodular.com/contact
FullStack Modular overview and project videos.
Video — FullStack Modular YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fullstackmodular
3. Guerdon Modular Buildings
Previous Rating: A+ | Revised Rating: A+ (Confirmed — Memo-Weighted) WHY IT MATTERS:
Guerdon is one of the most experienced large-scale modular companies for multifamily, supportive housing, student housing, hospitality, assisted living, and workforce housing in the United States. Guerdon has a documented track record of delivering affordable and workforce housing, including California-relevant projects. Their large factory capacity and multi-story wood-framed modular experience make them a strong Gap Financing RFP candidate. Guerdon has publicly discussed prevailing wage and labor compliance on public projects.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Affordable housing, supportive housing, student housing, workforce housing, assisted living, permanent multifamily.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main company website with project portfolio, case studies, and capabilities overview.
Website: https://www.guerdonmodularbuildings.com/
Contact page for project inquiries, RFP discussions, and partnerships.
Contact: https://www.guerdonmodularbuildings.com/contact/ Video library including project case studies and assembly footage.
Video Library: https://www.guerdonmodularbuildings.com/category/videos/ Guerdon's official YouTube channel with project and factory videos.
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@guerdonmodular
4. Z Modular (Zekelman Industries)
Previous Rating: A | Revised Rating: A+ (UPGRADED — Steel + Memo Directive v) WHY IT MATTERS:
Z Modular is upgraded from A to A+ because the Council Memorandum specifically directs staff to analyze steel-framed modular construction for taller, denser multifamily housing — and Z Modular is the leading U.S. steel volumetric modular manufacturer. The Vectorbloc connection system enables rapid multi-story assembly in steel, addressing the memo's directive on taller and denser housing. Z Modular is backed by Zekelman Industries, one of North America's largest steel tube and pipe manufacturers, providing financial stability. Labor standards must be verified.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Steel-framed multifamily, workforce housing, hotels, student housing, dense mid-rise, taller-denser memo directive.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main company website with Vectorbloc system description and project portfolio.
Website: https://www.z-modular.com/
Contact for project inquiry, structural consultation, and California screening.
Contact: https://www.z-modular.com/contact/
Vectorbloc steel connection system technical page.
Vectorbloc System: https://www.z-modular.com/vectorbloc/ Z Modular overview and Vectorbloc system videos.
Video — Z Modular YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@zmodular
5. Volumetric Building Companies (VBC)
Previous Rating: A | Revised Rating: A (Confirmed — Memo-Weighted) WHY IT MATTERS:
VBC is a major volumetric modular company with a strong track record in multifamily, hospitality, student housing, workforce housing, and supportive housing. Their experience with large-scale projects and diverse building types makes them a strong candidate for San José's permanent multifamily needs.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Permanent multifamily, supportive housing, workforce housing, hotels, and student housing.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main company website with project portfolio, capabilities, and team information.
Website: https://www.vbc.co/
Contact page for project inquiries and RFP discussions.
Contact: https://www.vbc.co/contact
VBC project and company overview videos.
Video — VBC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vbc-volumetric
6. Plant Prefab
Previous Rating: A | Revised Rating: A (Confirmed — CA-Based) WHY IT MATTERS:
Plant Prefab is California-based and relevant for low-rise housing, smaller multifamily, ADUs, and infill projects. As a California company, Plant Prefab is more likely to be familiar with California HCD requirements, seismic standards, and local labor practices. A strong candidate for smaller Gap Financing RFP projects and demonstration projects. Their California base also makes them a natural candidate for the local manufacturing assessment called for in the Council Memorandum.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
ADUs, small multifamily, infill housing, low-rise repeatable housing, demonstration projects.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main company website with project portfolio, sustainability focus, and California capabilities.
Website: https://www.plantprefab.com/
Contact page for project inquiries and RFP eligibility.
Contact: https://www.plantprefab.com/contact
Plant Prefab overview and project videos.
Video — Plant Prefab YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@plantprefab
Previous Rating: A+ | Revised Rating: A+ (Confirmed — High-Rise Steel Precedent) WHY IT MATTERS:
FullStack Modular's Carson, California, factory and track record of building 32-story modular towers make it the strongest candidate for high-rise steel modular demonstration in San José. Their California factory location aligns with the local manufacturing assessment directive.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
High-rise and mid-rise steel modular, permanent multifamily, student housing, and workforce housing.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main website with California factory and high-rise project capabilities.
Website: https://www.fullstackmodular.com/
Contact for California project inquiry.
Contact: https://www.fullstackmodular.com/contact
9 (Track 2 — Benchmark). CIMC Modular Building Systems (China) Previous Rating: A (International) | Revised Rating: A (Benchmark — Not for Direct Procurement)
WHY IT MATTERS:
CIMC MBS is the world's largest volumetric modular manufacturer and a critical benchmark for steel modular at scale. Direct procurement would require California HCD approval, seismic and fire code compliance review, prevailing wage analysis, and trade/tariff review — making it unsuitable for near-term San José procurement. The Council Memorandum's labor standards directive would be particularly challenging to satisfy with an overseas manufacturer.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Steel modular benchmark, cost modeling, and engineering reference — not for direct San José procurement.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
CIMC MBS official international website with a modular project portfolio and technical specifications.
Website: https://www.cimc-mbs.com/
CIMC MBS YouTube channel with factory and project videos.
Video — CIMC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cimcmodularbuildingsystems539
10 (Track 2 — Benchmark). BROAD Sustainable Building / BROAD Group (China)
Previous Rating: A (International) | Revised Rating: A (Benchmark Only — Memo Labor Concerns)
WHY IT MATTERS:
BROAD Group is known for assembling multi-story steel-framed buildings in extremely short timeframes. Direct use in San José faces the same barriers as CIMC, and is fundamentally incompatible with the Council Memorandum's labor standards directive emphasizing apprenticeship pathways, prevailing wage, and union compatibility. Use as a steel-framed engineering benchmark only.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Steel-framed tall modular engineering benchmark — study reference only.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
BROAD Group international website with technical capabilities.
Website: https://en.broad.com/
BROAD USA page with Holon Building system information.
BROAD USA: https://broadusa.com/broad/holonbuilding/
11 (Track 2 — Benchmark). Vision Modular Systems / Tide Construction (UK) Previous Rating: A (International) | Revised Rating: A (Benchmark Only — UK High-Density)
WHY IT MATTERS:
Vision Modular and Tide Construction have delivered some of the tallest modular residential buildings in the world, including projects in London exceeding 20 stories. Important benchmarks for high-density urban modular strategy. Direct procurement for San José would require full California regulatory compliance and labor standards analysis.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
High-density urban modular benchmark — study reference and design inspiration for taller-denser directive.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Vision Modular Systems official website.
Website — Vision Modular: https://www.visionmodular.com/ Tide Construction website with a modular high-rise project portfolio.
Website — Tide Construction: https://www.tideconstruction.co.uk/
Previous Rating: B+ | Revised Rating: B+ (California ADU/Infill Candidate) WHY IT MATTERS:
Villa Homes is a California-based company focused on ADUs, lot-split housing, and backyard cottages with experience in the state's ADU permitting environment.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
ADUs, lot-split housing, backyard cottages, small infill.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main website with ADU designs, California services, and pricing.
Website: https://www.villahomes.com/
Contact for project inquiries.
Contact: https://www.villahomes.com/contact-us
14. USModular
Previous Rating: B | Revised Rating: B (Modular Homes and ADUs) WHY IT MATTERS:
USModular offers modular detached homes, ADUs, and residential rebuilds.
California-based and familiar with California codes.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Modular detached homes, ADUs, rebuilds, and smaller residential sites.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main website with residential modular and ADU offerings.
Website: https://www.usmodularinc.com/
Contact page.
Contact: https://www.usmodularinc.com/contact-us/
15. prefabADU
17. Clayton Homes (Berkshire Hathaway)
Previous Rating: B | Revised Rating: B (Benchmark — Manufactured Homes) WHY IT MATTERS:
The largest manufactured and modular home company in the United States, owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Their scale and cost efficiency make them a valuable cost benchmark for lower-cost detached housing. Not appropriate for dense urban San José multifamily.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Manufactured homes, modular homes, lower-cost detached homes, manufactured housing communities, and disaster replacement.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main website with home models, locations, and financing options.
Website: https://www.claytonhomes.com/
Contact and customer service.
Contact: https://www.claytonhomes.com/contact-us/
Clayton Homes YouTube channel.
Video — Clayton Homes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ClaytonHomes
18. Cavco Industries / Cavco Homes
Previous Rating: B | Revised Rating: B (Benchmark — Manufactured & Park Models) WHY IT MATTERS:
Major manufactured home and park model manufacturer. Useful for cost benchmarking and disaster replacement housing analysis.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Manufactured homes, modular homes, park models, cabins, disaster replacement housing.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main Cavco Homes website.
Website: https://www.cavcohomes.com/
Contact page.
Contact: https://www.cavcohomes.com/contact
Website: https://www.mobilemodular.com/
Contact page.
Contact: https://www.mobilemodular.com/contact-us
21. WillScot / Mobile Mini
Previous Rating: B | Revised Rating: B (Temporary Office & Workforce Support) WHY IT MATTERS:
National leader in temporary modular space solutions, including offices, classrooms, and workforce support buildings.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Temporary offices, classrooms, emergency support buildings, and workforce support.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main website with temporary modular solutions.
Website: https://www.willscot.com/
22. VESTA Modular
Previous Rating: B | Revised Rating: B (Workforce Housing & Public Facilities) WHY IT MATTERS:
Specializes in workforce housing, schools, healthcare facilities, and government buildings with California project experience.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Workforce housing, offices, schools, healthcare, government buildings, interim facilities.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main website with modular building capabilities.
Website: https://www.vestamodular.com/
Contact.
Contact: https://www.vestamodular.com/contact
23. Palomar Modular Buildings
Previous Rating: B | Revised Rating: B (Public Facilities & Possible Housing) WHY IT MATTERS:
Serves public agencies, schools, and government clients with modular buildings in California. Experience with California public procurement.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Workforce housing, government buildings, schools, public facilities.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Main website.
Website: https://palomarmodular.com/
Contact.
Contact: https://palomarmodular.com/contact-us/
24. Better Shelter (Sweden/Humanitarian)
Previous Rating: C | Revised Rating: C (Humanitarian Dignified Interim Shelter) WHY IT MATTERS:
Produces flat-pack shelter units developed with UNHCR for humanitarian use. Useful as a reference for San José's encampment alternatives strategy — dignified interim shelter for unhoused populations.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Humanitarian shelter, emergency shelter, temporary villages, dignified interim shelter.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Better Shelter official website.
Website: https://bettershelter.org/
Product overview video.
Video — Better Shelter Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv_ebVYqj2M
25. Alaska Defense / Alaska Structures
Previous Rating: C+ | Revised Rating: C+ (Military-Style Emergency Shelter) WHY IT MATTERS:
Produces military-grade fabric tension structures for rapid emergency deployment. Not for permanent residential housing.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Military-style field shelter, disaster-response shelter, emergency operations.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Official website.
Website: https://alaskadefense.com/
26. HDT Global
Previous Rating: C+ | Revised Rating: C+ (Military Deployable Structures) WHY IT MATTERS:
Deployable shelters and structures for military and humanitarian applications.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Military shelters, deployable structures, emergency command/support sites.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
HDT Global official website.
Website: https://www.hdtglobal.com/
27. Weatherhaven (Canada/Global)
Previous Rating: C+ | Revised Rating: C+ (Remote Workforce & Emergency) WHY IT MATTERS:
Relocatable modular shelters for military, humanitarian, and remote workforce applications.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Military, humanitarian, temporary emergency housing, and remote workforce camps.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Official website.
Website: https://weatherhaven.com/
30. Lindbäcks (Sweden)
Previous Rating: B+ | Revised Rating: B+ (Timber Multifamily Benchmark) WHY IT MATTERS:
Swedish mass timber and prefabricated multifamily housing manufacturer with a large-scale industrial production model. Benchmark for sustainable modular multifamily and comparison with stick-built construction.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Factory-produced timber multifamily benchmark — design and production model reference.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
Lindbäcks official website with solutions and project portfolio.
Website: https://lindbacks.se/solutions/
31. BoKlok (Sweden/UK — IKEA/Skanska Joint Venture)
Previous Rating: B+ | Revised Rating: B+ (Cost-Conscious Standardized Housing Benchmark)
WHY IT MATTERS:
Joint venture between IKEA and Skanska producing standardized, cost-efficient factory-built housing. Their model of standardized design + factory production + community-scale deployment is a strong policy benchmark for San José's Gap Financing RFP design.
BEST SAN JOSÉ USE:
Cost-conscious standardized housing policy benchmark — Gap Financing RFP design reference.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
BoKlok global website.
Website: https://www.boklok.se/global/
32. Daiwa House / Sekisui House (Japan)
San José Housing Department — Gap Financing Program and affordable housing resources.
Housing Department:
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/housing Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement — permits, zoning, and modular housing code review.
Planning, Building & Code Enforcement:
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/planning-building-code-enforc ement
3. County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing
Supportive housing, homelessness response, county funding coordination. Essential partner for Track 4 temporary housing and Track 1 supportive housing projects.
Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing website.
Website: https://osh.sccgov.org/
4. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal affordable housing programs, manufactured housing standards (HUD code), vouchers, public housing, CDBG, and HOME funds.
HUD main website — federal housing programs and funding.
Website: https://www.hud.gov/
HUD Manufactured Housing program — federal code standards.
Manufactured Housing: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/rmra/mhs
5. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Disaster housing, temporary housing units, direct lease programs, manufactured housing units, and post-disaster recovery. Relevant for Track 4.
FEMA sheltering and housing options for disaster survivors.
FEMA Sheltering & Housing:
https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/sheltering-housing-options
6. California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) California emergency management, wildfire/earthquake/flood recovery coordination. Relevant for Track 4.
Cal OES official website.
Website: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/
7. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
4 Z Modular (Zekelman) Track 1 & 2 —
Steel/Taller-Denser
A A+
(UPGRADED)
Only U.S. steel volumetric modular leader.
Directly addresses Directive v.
5 VBC (Volumetric Building
Cos.)
Track 1 — Permanent
Multifamily
A A Major volumetric modular company. Strong
multifamily track record.
6 Plant Prefab Track 1 & 3 —
Low-Rise/ADU
A A CA-based. Strong for low-rise, infill, ADU, and
demonstration projects.
7 Abodu Track 3 — ADU/Small
Infill
A A Bay Area ADU specialist. CA code familiarity.
Single-family strategy.
8 Villa Homes Track 3 — ADU B+ B+ CA-based ADU and small infill. 9 Mobile Modular
(McGrath)
Track 4 — Temporary B+ B+ CA-based. Best temporary/interim option for San José.
10 Lindbäcks (Sweden) Benchmark B+ B+ Timber multifamily benchmark. Policy and design reference.
11 BoKlok (IKEA/Skanska) Benchmark B+ B+ Standardized housing cost benchmark. Gap Financing RFP design reference.
12 Daiwa House / Sekisui
House
Benchmark B+ B+ Japanese industrial housing quality
benchmark.
13 USModular Track 3 —
ADU/Residential
B B CA-based modular homes and ADUs. Limited
multifamily.
14 prefabADU Track 3 — ADU B B CA ADU specialist. Homeowner market focus. 15 California Modular
Houses
Track 3 —
ADU/Single-Family
B B CA ADUs and single-family modular.
16 Clayton Homes Manufactured
Benchmark
B B Largest U.S. manufactured home company.
Cost benchmark only.
17 Cavco Industries Manufactured
Benchmark
B B Manufactured homes and park models.
Disaster replacement reference.
18 Champion Homes /
Skyline
Manufactured
Benchmark
B B Manufactured homes and park models. Cost
benchmark.
19 WillScot / Mobile Mini Track 4 — Temporary B B Temporary modular offices and support buildings.
20 VESTA Modular Track 4 — Temporary B B Workforce housing and public facilities. CA experience.
21 Palomar Modular
Buildings
Track 4 — Temporary B B CA public facilities and interim modular buildings.
22 CIMC MBS (China) Track 2 — Benchmark
Only
A (Int'l) A
(Benchmark)
World's largest volumetric modular mfr.
Benchmark only.
23 BROAD Group (China) Track 2 — Benchmark
Only
A (Int'l) A
(Benchmark)
Tall steel modular benchmark. Labor directive
barriers.
24 Vision Modular / Tide
(UK)
Track 2 — Benchmark
Only
A (Int'l) A
(Benchmark)
Tallest modular residential benchmark.
25 Better Shelter (Sweden) Track 4 — Humanitarian C C Dignified interim shelter. Encampment alternatives reference.
26 Alaska Defense /
Structures
Track 4 — Emergency C+ C+ Military-style field shelter. Emergency response only.
27 HDT Global Track 4 — Emergency C+ C+ Military deployable structures. Emergency only.