SAN FRANCISCO - Blu Homes, a manufactured housing firm, says it will  open a 250,000 square foot manufacturing facility on Mare Island, Vallejo, California.

This factory will serve growing demand for its architect-designed, precision-built homes, says Blu Homes. The company builds modular home sections with finished wood interiors that fold for shipping. On delivery they are erected into multi-story homes.

Blu Homes has developed a proprietary software, Configurator, that allows prospective buyers to visualized and specify their home interiors. Based on gaming technology, Blu Home uses the program to build each home directly from the client's 3-D custom model, using precision tooling and trained craftsman in its climate-controlled factory.

(The application is free and available at bluhomes.com/configurator.)

Blu Homes says its factory techniques reduce cycle costs of traditional architect-designed homes by more than 50%. The electrical, plumbing, the floors, doors and windows, HVAC, bathrooms, kitchen cabinets and appliances are installed prior to shipping.