The construction of Lviv School No23 in Ukraine has entered its second phase. Preliminary calculations indicate that this will become the world’s largest single-story educational facility, constructed on-site using 3D Printing Technology.
The construction process is expected to last approximately five weeks. Its completion is scheduled for early June 2023. By January 2024, the newly added school building plans to accommodate 100 students upon its grand opening.
Previously announced, Lviv School No23’s new educational building has gained attention as the first educational institution in Ukraine and Europe to be created using a 3D construction printer. This project represents a significant milestone for Ukraine. This is by being the first in the world to utilise 3D printing for an educational facility.
The initiative was spearheaded by the charity organisation Team4UA, founded by Jean-Christophe Bonis. It also received support from the international humanitarian fund Humanitarian Innovative Technologies (HIT) in collaboration with the Lviv City Council.
HIT’s notable contributor, Dominique Piotet, a French-American expert in digital transformation, has resided in Ukraine since 2019 as the CEO of Unit, a prominent innovation park established in Kyiv.
With over 30 years of experience in advanced digital ecosystems and remarkable leadership skills, Mr Piotet is expected to bring great success to HIT’s endeavours in Ukraine’s reconstruction and offer his expertise in technological advancements to the humanitarian sector.
The team behind the Lviv School No 23 project
The Danish 3D construction company COBOD and the construction company 3DCP Group have partnered as technology providers. They oversee the on-ground operations of the printer.
CEMARK, a CRH company, supplies the cement required for the 3D printing concrete mixture. The architectural and engineering concepts of the project were developed by Balbek Bureau and Ars Longa architectural bureau, respectively.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine reports that over 2,000 schools were damaged and 330 were destroyed due to the war. This emphasised the urgent need to address the country’s insufficient educational infrastructure.
The project’s primary goal is swiftly responding to this problem and contributing to Ukraine’s reconstruction using 3D printing technology. Introducing this technology will also help reduce the educational infrastructure deficit and expedite the country’s recovery.
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Development of the new educational centre in Ukraine
Construction of the educational building commenced in October 2022. The initial phase involved laying the foundation, but the process was halted due to extensive missile attacks, disrupting the electricity supply.
Consequently, the active stage of construction resumed in the spring of the following year. The project team will finalise the 3D printing construction of the school building’s walls and roof by May.
The one-story educational building is designed to accommodate classrooms, teachers’ rooms, bathrooms, and a hall with inclusive spaces suitable for all categories of students, including those with special needs. Additionally, 90% of the construction materials are locally sourced within Ukraine.
3D printing technology offers numerous advantages over conventional construction methods. Notably, it allows for ten times faster construction with just two operators. Moreover, 3D printing enables precise and efficient resource utilisation, reducing material costs. This innovative approach promotes flexibility, creative design solutions, and efficient space utilisation.
The new educational building at Lviv School represents a pilot project for the HIVE program initiated by Team4UA. The program’s future objective is to utilise 3D printing technology to restore buildings, schools, bridges, and other critical infrastructure throughout Ukraine.
To achieve this, Team4UA plans to establish a training centre and provide 3D printers in Ukraine. Furthermore, they will train local specialists in using these advanced technologies for infrastructure restoration.
