3D printing technology is revolutionizing residential construction with faster build times and lower costs.
The Vulcan construction system printed twelve 1,500-square-foot homes in the Exploration Heights neighborhood, completing each home’s walls in approximately 48 hours, compared to the months required for traditional construction.
“This technology is the response to the housing crisis emerging in communities all across the country,” Jason Ballard, CEO of ICON, said at the time of the ribbon-cutting. The printed homes are about 30 percent cheaper than traditional homes of similar size.
The concrete structures are built to withstand extreme tropical weather, hurricanes and wildfires. The printed walls come with better thermal properties that aid in energy optimization, thereby lowering energy costs for the citizens.
ICON raised $450 million in funding last quarter from the likes of Lennar, one of America’s biggest homebuilders. Industry analysts speculate that 3D-printed homes could account for 15 percent of new construction within the next decade.
