In the early 1960s he planned modestly-priced homes in Palm Springs, California. They had stunning mid-century-modern features, primarily using steel, which earned him the nickname "the Man of Steel". The walls were built in Los Angeles and shipped to the desert, where they were erected in four hours. An entire house took only about a month to complete. Only seven homes were built because the price of steel rose to the point that additional homes were not feasible.