The ICAN Building System is a new product that simplifies the building process and involves lay people in the erection of the exterior shell of their house. The product has been used in a prototype in Ann Arbor: the Gateway Affordable Housing Project. The success of this simple Lego-like system trial was encouraging. The MAP construction crew, made up of one MAP job coach, and 14 homeless individuals, completed the exterior walls on the four units just completed using a rubber mallet, 12" pressboard panels, wire grills, aerated concrete and a forms chart. The results of this experiment include: minor retooling of the system, startup of a new corporation, development of plans for a manufacturing operation, and planning of a second prototype in Washtenaw County. The goal of the project is to create, manufacture and market a simple building system that will allow anyone to construct the exterior of a house with superior energy efficiency qualities at an affordable price and with little technical skill. The agency has received its first capacity building seed money from the City of Ann Arbor for the manufacturing operation.  To invest or investigate contact  

Ann Harris at Genesis (734) 944-4578 or Michigan Ability Partners