Virginia Center for Housing Research
The Virginia Tech Center for Housing Research (VCHR), located in Blacksburg, is the official housing research center for the Commonwealth and is a college center in Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. VCHR has a mission to serve as "an interdisciplinary study, research, and information resource on housing for the Commonwealth of Virginia." Accordingly, VCHR provides housing-related research for localities and the Commonwealth, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses.
VCHR's recent focus is on innovative technology that transforms the production cycle and high-performance housing in addition to data-driven research that impacts housing affordability. VCHR has published numerous reports on topics such as housing markets and affordability; preservation of federally-assisted, low-income housing; regulatory impacts on affordable housing; public-private housing partnerships; and diffusion of innovative housing technologies in residential construction.
The Center's director is Dr. Andrew P. McCoy, Beliveau professor of Building Construction and associate director of the Myers Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech. Meliisa (Mel) Jones is co-director and oversees VCHR operations. Dr. Philip Agee is assistant director. Dr. Agee is an assistant professor in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech.