How this French building behemoth wants to solve the U.S. housing dilemma

February 10, 2026 - 19:25

The pressing challenge of housing affordability in the United States is drawing innovative solutions from an unexpected source: a centuries-old French industrial leader. Saint-Gobain, a global building materials powerhouse, is deploying its vast expertise to tackle the crisis head-on, emphasizing speed and cost-efficiency in new construction.

According to Mark Rayfield, CEO for North America, the company's strategy is a multi-pronged assault on the traditional barriers to affordable housing. This involves not just advanced materials but a holistic rethinking of the building process. The focus is on integrating high-performance, sustainable products with modern methods of construction, including off-site fabrication and panelized systems.

By streamlining assembly and leveraging innovative materials that are quicker to install, the initiative aims to significantly reduce construction timelines and labor costs. This approach has the potential to increase the pace of new home development while making homeownership more accessible. The company believes that such industrial-scale efficiency is key to closing the housing gap, offering a blueprint for how material science and construction technology can converge to solve a critical societal need.