Habitat for Humanity Tucson is developing a solution for two of the most pressing issues facing Arizona: the lack of affordable housing and a growing need for a skilled workforce in the trades.
The CHUCK Center (Connie Hillman Family Foundation Urban Construction Knowledge Center) will serve as Habitat Tucson’s construction hub, warehouse, and training center.
The facility is located at the intersection of Curtis and Davis roads, in the Flowing Wells neighborhood. The CHUCK will feature over 15,000 square feet of storage, classroom, apartments for AmeriCorps, and office space that supports affordable housing and workforce development.
“We are excited about what this means for the community. This project allows us to continue to build deep connections within the Southern Arizona community, accelerate affordable housing production, and serve more families. It represents Habitat’s bold investment to rapidly respond to the housing crisis, and draws us closer to a world where everyone has a place to call home.”
– Charlie Buchanan, CEO
The Workforce Center will create a pathway into the trades by exposing students to all phases of affordable home construction. Students will be able to access job training, internship opportunities, and real-world experience.
The CHUCK will pave a solid foundation for future economic growth in Tucson.
Our vision is to empower aspiring tradespeople to build their careers locally through both classroom and hands-on learning.
The CHUCK Center’s innovations in design and production include 11 styles of prefabricated modular panels. The wall panels will be built by students and volunteers in a quality controlled environment and accelerate our ability to rapidly deploy housing solutions in Southern Arizona.
“Our goal for the prefabrication program is to produce modular exterior wall panels that can be handled and installed by staff and volunteers in the field. It will help us cut down one home’s build time from 9+ months to 6 months, allowing us to build more homes annually.”
– Jeff Ocampo, Chief Production Officer
