Taking 3D Printing From Design to Construction
3D printing is not a new means for creating items such as prosthetics, cameras, even food. However, the potential of printing a habitable house, on request, in essentially any location, is becoming a reality and H2M architects + engineers (H2M) is at the forefront.
H2M Vice President and Discipline Director of Private Sector Architecture, Kevin M. Paul, AIA teamed with SQ4D, a construction technology company to design and construct the first 3D-printed home, built by a robotic 3D printer arm called an Autonomous Robotic Construction System (ARCS), in the United States to receive a building permit and certificate of occupancy.
Benefits of 3D Printed Construction
Rapid Production
- 3D printed design in construction means greatly reduced production time. Machines themselves are very fast, some of them can manufacture a home in just 24 hours.
Reduction of Error
- 3D printers are fully automated, eliminating human error. These machines only need to be monitored; most production doesn’t involve human assistance.
Close to Zero Material Waste
- 3D printers use exactly the amount of material they need. Producing buildings layer by layer allows for a huge cost reduction. They are also capable of using recycled materials, benefitting the environment.
Innovative Design
- Designing with 3D printing provides additional design freedom, allowing us to produce new shapes and solutions to suit a broad range of needs.
Accessibility
- Some machines don’t need electricity from the grid as they run on green energy, providing increased access to undeveloped areas.
Sustainability
“When you talk about sustainability, this type of construction eliminates as many as 21 different tasks that must occur to build a house, and drastically reduces labor costs,” Paul says. “With traditional methods, ‘even if you design a simple slab-on-grade house there could be 15 workers on the site, multiple trucks, all kinds of lumber and material waste, plus carbon emissions from generators and other power tools over months of time.”
New Solutions to Old Problems
The lower cost and speed of construction will usher in a new era in production of affordable housing and allow for the rapid production of durable housing or replacement homes in zones prone to floods, fire or weather calamities.
“We see applications here almost everywhere: mitigating storm or tornado damage and making housing affordable enough for people to achieve the American Dream,” Paul says. “It’s very exciting.”
Looking to the Future While Using What’s Always Worked
In addition to ‘building communities since 1933’, H2M has over 150 years combined experience designing, detailing and constructing single family homes in our Private Sector – Real Estate division. Whether it’s an apartment on the upper east side, or a vacation home in Montauk, we have spent the time and learned the lessons that make us leaders in the field of residential construction. This makes us uniquely qualified to translate our current industry expertise to new technologies, like 3D printing homes to respond to economic issues or market trends. The other critical aspect to successful residential development is communication. We take the time to establish a dialogue with our clients and listen to their ideas so we can assist them in prioritizing their needs and wants. We are looking forward to applying our substantial experience to technologies we are just starting to understand.
Our Commitment to Community
At H2M, everything we do is with the community in mind. This project is no exception, and it is certainly not the first example of our demonstrated commitment to the communities we serve.
In 2018, H2M was honored to be part of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s “Building for America’s Bravest” program. We held an internal design competition that culminated in the design of a smart home with three bedrooms, two and a half baths for Corporal Christopher Levi. The smart home technology and overall design of the home provided Corporal Levi with independence after he lost both his legs and suffered severe damage to his right hand and arm during a tour in Iraq.
H2M has also been actively involved as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, building and improving homes for those who need it most.
We are dedicated to building happy and healthy communities for future generations, and each project we take on brings us one step closer to achieving that goal. A list of other charities H2M supports can be found here.
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