USD-Magazine-Spring-2025

AROUND ALCALÁ PARK

Thick, cross-laminated timber panels slow the ability for fire to burn and spline seam connections keep out oxygen.

The insulated metal roof panel system, which comes

in a variety of colors, is designed for quick installation and has a high fire rating.

The uniformity of the polyhedral shapes allows for a highly efficient building process.

The Polyhaus interior creates harmony and comfort with natural light and maximized living spaces.

LEARN MORE about the technology, design and lifestyle of a Polyhaus. polyhaus.com

Photos: Andy Cross and Cody Cloud

USD PROFESSOR DANIEL LÓPEZ-PÉREZ CREATES THE POLYHAUS An Innovative Approach to Sustainable Housing The mission of Polyhaus is direct —

state of California. His hope is that the Polyhaus, available in three sizes, will empower local builders and contractors to build more units faster to address the growing housing shortage. “We feel the pressure of the housing need and the pressure now more and more of climate resilience and sustainability within our housing stock.” The goals of Polyhaus include: • Generating beautiful residential spaces • Maximizing living space volume with minimal land use • Exponentially reducing building times • Producing climate-change resilient homes • Achieving cost-competitive standards

540-square-foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU), composed entirely of mass timber, took just three days to construct. Mass timber is prefabricated cross-laminated timber that is strong, resilient and incredibly fire resistant. The home’s structure includes 64 individually cut Douglas fir panels, produced by Vaagen Timbers in Colville, Washington. Each piece is 4.5 inches thick with spline seam connections. “There is no oxygen within the section, and that’s what causes it to be very fire resilient,” López-Pérez said. “The wood chars at a very slow rate because of its massiveness, and fire cannot penetrate.” López-Pérez believes the model is the first full mass timber diaphragm in the

expedite the growth of housing inventory through an innovative, rapid-construction process that ensures resilient dwellings. Polyhaus was founded in 2021 by University of San Diego Professor of Architecture Daniel López-Pérez, PhD, who is also the founding faculty member of USD’s Architecture Program. Designed to address the nation’s housing crisis, Polyhaus is a series of polyhedron-shaped models for rapid housing that combine the environmental resilience of mass timber with the advancements of digital fabrication and fast assembly. López-Pérez and his wife, Celine Vargas, built the first Polyhaus model, the Tetra-One, in their backyard in 2024. The

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