Synthetic stucco siding was developed in post WWII Europe as a way to patch walls. When builders realized how energy efficient the material was, it was soon used as an alternative to traditional stucco.

Because of this, in the 1970s energy crisis it became widely popular with builders for both commercial and residential construction. Because of the multiple layering, EIFS is a better insulator than traditional stucco. Synthetic stucco is also more flexible, allowing ornate keystones, cornerstones and other building accents that could not be done with traditional stucco application.  This new building material opened up many exciting possibilities for architects and designers that combined energy efficiency and new design concepts.