All-Female Built Home Taking Shape in Utah
Women in all aspects of the home building industry have come together for what is believed to be the nation's first home built by an all-female skilled labor team in Saratoga Springs, Utah. “The House that SHE Built” broke ground in September with framing started in mid-November.
The 3,200-square foot home is slated to be unveiled at the 2021 Utah Valley Parade of Homes next June, according to the Utah chapter of NAHB's Professional Women in Building.
Proceeds from the sale of the home will be divided between scholarships for women pursuing construction management or trade programs, women-run charities including a local domestic abuse shelter, educational events to help teach young girls about opportunities in home building, and similar projects in the future.
Stephanie Sharp, of Steven Dailey Construction in Draper, Utah, is one of the general contractors on the project. Sharp got involved in construction because her father was a builder, and she noticed early on the small number of women in the industry.
Sharp is hoping that the project will increase visibility about not only the varied career opportunities available for women in construction, but the number of good-paying jobs available, which in turn can help more women become interested in the industry and aid in filling the existing labor shortage.
Skilled tradeswomen from the building industry, including women-owned construction companies, engineers, designers, architects and skilled labor teams are providing and installing all the materials and labor needed for the home, most of which has been donated or provided at cost.
But the team is also looking for additional skilled women in the trades, particularly plumbing, HVAC and electricians who are interested in joining the project in December. Sponsors are willing to pay for airfare and accommodations for interested skilled tradeswomen.
“Our goal is to help women and girls realize that there is a place for them in home building, and that there are so many different opportunities here,” said primary general contractor Kristi Allen, the 2020 Utah PWB Chair and a builder for WoodCastle Homes LLC in Alpine, Utah. Allen, a third-generation Utah home builder, said has been blown away by the excitement and support from the local community. The home's lot was donated by Oakwood Homes of Wander, Utah, and is part of a new planned community in Saratoga Springs. Material donations are also still welcome. More information on how to donate is available on the Utah Professional Women in Building website.
The Utah PWB is an official council of the Utah Home Builders Association.
You can follow progress of the home and read stories about the women building the home on Facebook at The House That SHE Built and Instagram @thehousethat_she_built.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Sep 28, 2026
Median Revenue of NAHB Remodelers Grows 24%
According to the NAHB Member Census, 21% of NAHB builder members listed residential remodeling as their primary business. These remodelers tend to be relatively small, with a median of five employees and a median annual revenue of $2.1 million.
Labor
Sep 25, 2026
NAHB Amicus Brief Argues for Fair Due Process for Workers
NAHB filed an amicus brief in the Fifth Circuit immigration case Sosnava Rodriguez v. Ortega. The case asks whether a person who entered the United States without official inspection may seek release on bond from a judge while the government considers deportation.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Sep 28, 2026
Market Share of 5,000+ Sq. Ft. Homes Edges Higher in 2025
New homes with 5,000 square feet or more of living space posted an increase in market share last year. In 2025, 27,000 homes of this size were started, accounting for 2.9% of all new homes started. Both the number and market share of homes with 5,000 square feet or more increased from 2024, according to annual data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).
Economics
Sep 28, 2026
NAHB Remodelers: What the Data Says
Twenty-one percent of NAHB builder members listed residential remodeling as their primary business, according to the 2025 Member Census. These remodelers tend to be relatively small, with a median of five employees and a median annual revenue of $2.1 million. This means that remodelers are even smaller than NAHB builder members, who had a median of six employees and median annual revenue of $3.7 million, as reported in a recent post.
Economics
Sep 25, 2026
State and Local Government Tax Revenue Grows
Total tax revenue collected by state and local governments was up 5.8% from a year ago in the second quarter, according to the Quarterly Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue published by the U.S. Census Bureau. This was the highest year-over-year growth since the third quarter of 2024 (7.2%).