San Rafael Townhomes
San Rafael, CA
High-end infill townhomes delivered in one-third the time of local site-built construction.
6 Townhomes | Infill Development | Main Street Adjacency | Noise Restrictions | 16 Weeks Factory | 2-Day Set
About the San Rafael Townhomes
The San Rafael Townhomes were developed as a family-led investment project in a high-end neighborhood near the town’s primary commercial corridor. The site sits just off Main Street, in a highly visible and sensitive location with strict noise limitations and restricted construction hours. Local labor costs were elevated, and a traditional site-built approach would have extended neighborhood disruption and business impact for up to a year.
Approach
Irontown delivered six townhomes across four combined lots using a repeatable modular layout that later informed the Berkeley product line. Factory construction ran on a 16-week production cycle, allowing site work and planning to proceed in parallel. The full building set was completed in just two days, dramatically reducing on-site disruption. Exterior completion and interior stitching followed, but the most disruptive phase of construction was compressed into a short, controlled window.
Key Outcomes:
- Two-day set minimized disruption on a Main Street-adjacent site.
- Compressed build schedule reduced neighborhood impact by nearly one year.
- Factory construction avoided extended noise and work-hour restrictions.
- Repeatable townhome layout supported efficient infill density.
- Reduced exposure to high local labor costs in a premium market.
Main Problem solved
Problem
A high-visibility infill project risked prolonged neighborhood disruption, extended noise restrictions, and elevated construction costs in a premium market.
Constraints
- Main Street adjacency with business sensitivity
- Restricted work hours and noise limitations
- High-end neighborhood expectations
- Elevated local labor costs
- Tight urban lot configuration
What Modular Changed
- Shifted vertical construction off-site
- Reduced active neighborhood disruption by approximately one year
- Compressed crane and delivery activity into a two-day window
- Lowered exposure to unpredictable local labor costs
How We Delivered It
Irontown coordinated early feasibility and lot configuration to support six attached townhomes across four parcels. A repeatable modular layout was adapted for infill density and code compliance. Manufacturing proceeded in a controlled factory environment on a stacked production cycle while site preparation advanced locally. Delivery and crane set were completed in two days under restricted work-hour coordination. Final exterior finishes and interior stitch work followed with minimal ongoing neighborhood disruption.
Proof Notes
- Full building set completed in two days
- Production cycle completed in approximately 16 weeks
- Model informed the development of the Berkeley townhome product