Bourassa, S. & Phillips, C. (2026). Implementing Washington State’s SSB 5587: Methodology for Measuring Production of Housing at Different Affordability Levels. Washington Center for Real Estate Research. College of Built Environments. University of Washington. https://wcrer.be.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2026/06/SB-5587-Methodology.pdf.
Department: College of Built Environments
BE PhD Student Ori Borjigin wins Best Research Poster at CII Conference
BE PhD Candidate Ori Borjigin received the Best Research Poster award at the 2026 Construction Industry Institute (CII) Annual Research Conference in Denver, CO on July 22nd, 2026. The poster featured research on the I-90 Digital Twin project, which is a collaboration between the Mobility Innovation Center, and faculty from the Departments of Construction Management and Civil and Environmental Engineering. View the Poster here. Related news items: Digital twin – proof of technology evaluation on the I-90 Homer Hadley floating…
Ori Borjigin
My research is deeply rooted in the intersection of advanced technology and the construction industry. I am particularly interested in the exploration and application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC). Beyond these technological frontiers, sustainable engineering holds a special place in my academic pursuits. I am dedicated to merging innovative technology with sustainable methods, aiming for a construction industry that is both advanced and environmentally responsible.
Unveiling post-pandemic commute choices amidst the rise of telework
Ashour, L., & Shen, Q. (2025). Unveiling post-pandemic commute choices amidst the rise of telework. Transportation Research. Part D, Transport and Environment, 149, Article 105068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2025.105068
Abstract
The post-pandemic “new normal” is characterized by increased adoption of telework and a decline in transit use, with a growing uncertainty about the long-term effects of these trends. This study investigates the impact of telework adoption on commute mode choice and the factors influencing individual preferences in the new normal, using data from the 2022 Seattle Commute Survey, capturing mode choice on each day in a typical workweek, providing a mixture of modes and the frequency of use for each respondent. Using the Multiple Discrete-Continuous Extreme Value (MDCEV), the study provides timely insights into the factors influencing commute mode choice, highlighting the significant influence of sociodemographic, job-related, and built environment characteristics on mode choice and the nuanced difference between modes, raising concerns about potential inequities in the new normal. The findings highlight the need to prioritize access to public transit, adapt transportation infrastructure to telework, and address rising inequities.
Understanding employees’ residential choices in connection to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic
Sa, H., & Shen, Q. (2026). Understanding employees’ residential choices in connection to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cities, 173, Article 107008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2026.107008.
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in the proliferation of work-from-home (WFH) and flexible work arrangements. Existing studies have not systematically investigated the resulting patterns of employees' residential choices within the metropolitan area. This study aims to deepen the understanding of employees' residential location choices during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the impacts of their remote work status. The study is based on the 2022 Seattle Commute Survey, which collected information on work arrangements, individuals' sociodemographic characteristics, work and home locations, and commute and non-commute travel. The primary results of our analysis indicated that: (1) relocated employees who worked remotely (full WFH and hybrid) were more inclined to move outward from their work locations, compared to those engaged in in-person work, (2) employees relocating closer had the shortest commute distances across all work arrangements, while those relocating farther experienced the longest commutes, especially among full WFH employees, (3) remote work status (full WFH and hybrid) had a strong positive association with the choices of staying in original homes and relocating farther from worksites compared to the reference choice of relocating closer to worksites, (4) the influences of full WFH and hybrid work arrangements on the choice of staying in the original housing and relocating farther did not generally differ across age or household income groups, and (5) residential decisions were jointly shaped by a combination of work policy, sociodemographic elements, household lifecycle stage, commuting characteristics, and neighborhood attributes. Our findings contribute to the literature on employees' intra-metropolitan residential choices in connection with teleworking.
Keywords
Residential choices; Remote work; COVID-19 pandemic; Bayesian multilevel multinomial logistic model; Urban transportation planning
Not all teleworkers reduce travel: An intensity-dependent behavioral framework with explainable machine learning
Ling, C., Chen, P., Chu, Y.-C., & Shen, Q. (2026). Not all teleworkers reduce travel: An intensity-dependent behavioral framework with explainable machine learning. Transport Policy, 187, Article 104267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2026.104267
Abstract
Previous studies have yielded mixed findings on the relationship between teleworking and travel, possibly due to overlooking teleworking intensity and its evolving impacts. This study examines how teleworking is associated with overall vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and vehicle travel time (VTT) across a spectrum of intensities, measured by the number of remote-work days per week. Using travel survey data in the Puget Sound Region, Washington, we estimate four explainable machine learning models (XGBoost with SHAP) that incorporate behavioral, socio-demographic, and built-environmental characteristics. Results find an intensity-dependent relationship among typical workers. Low-intensity teleworking (1 day/week) is associated with increased travel both pre- and post-pandemic, while moderate teleworking (2 days/week) shows near-neutral or marginally positive associations. In contrast, regular teleworking (3–5 days/week) is correlated with reduced travel. In 2023, teleworking intensity ranks among the top six contributors, accounting for 6.84% and 4.08% of model explainability for VMT and VTT, respectively, higher than in 2017. The reductions scale with intensity. Holding other factors constant, high-frequency teleworkers (3 days/week) in 2023 accrued approximately 10 fewer miles and 3 fewer minutes per five-day workweek than fully on-site workers, whereas full teleworkers (5 days/week) saved 19 fewer miles and 23 fewer minutes. These impacts are concentrated among high-frequency teleworkers with longer commute distances, while the effects are mixed among shorter-distance commuters. Teleworking can moderate impacts of other factors, such as commute distance, income, and population density. These findings help reconcile prior inconsistencies, showing that teleworking's role depends on intensity rather than simple adoption.
Changlong Ling
Research Interests: Machine learning, work from home, urban economics, transportation policy, urban data science, economic inequality
Yu-Chen Chu
Research Interests: Last-mile delivery and freight sustainability
Center for Timber Innovation in the Built Environment
The Center for Timber Innovation in the Built Environment at the University of Washington advances the understanding and adoption of mass timber as a sustainable, carbon-smart building material. Through interdisciplinary research, hands-on learning, and community partnerships, CTIBE drives innovation that supports both resilient communities and the natural systems that sustain them.
With Washington’s forests at a crossroads, responsibly managed second- and third-growth softwoods can provide affordable, climate-smart solutions for our state’s growing housing and infrastructure needs.
Housing Futures Center
The Housing Futures Center (HFC) at the University of Washington advances solutions to Washington’s most pressing housing challenges through research, education, and community partnerships. HFC builds capacity and supports informed decision-making to ensure that every Washingtonian has access to affordable and stable housing.
Housing in Washington is increasingly out of reach for many families. Over the next two decades, the state will need more than 1.1 million new housing units, two-thirds of which must be affordable to households earning less than 80% of the area median income. HFC works to meet this need by connecting knowledge, policy, and practice across disciplines and communities.