Built Environment Innovation Roundtable Executive Summary

On May 29, 2025, the Northeastern University’s Roux Institute convened 35 of Maine and New England’s most innovative builders, architects, manufacturers, developers, and policy leaders for a focused 2.5-hour discussion on accelerating the state's housing production capacity. This invite-only roundtable brought together diverse perspectives from across the industry to identify practical, actionable strategies for systematic improvement.

The Challenge Maine faces a significant housing production gap, requiring approximately 9,000 new units annually to meet growing demand while current production averages 5,000-6,000 units annually. The state's construction landscape reflects Maine's independent character, with 75% of homes built as one-offs by approximately 3,000 single-family contractors who average 1.5 homes per year. While this approach has served Maine well historically, it creates inherent coordination challenges that limit the ability to achieve necessary scale efficiently. As Phoenix McLaughlin from Maine's Department of Economic and Community Development noted, addressing housing production represents "one of the most important strategic economic development items in the state of Maine right now," with legislative working groups now forming to develop comprehensive solutions.

The full report can be read HERE.