Construction has commenced on the first-ever Houston 3D-printed multistory project in the U.S, which utilizes 3D-printed concrete and wood framing. Architectural design firm, HANNAH is working alongside PERI 3D Construction and CIVE, an engineering/design firm on the single-family project. According to the developers, this house is designed to not only minimize cost and time but also withstand 130mph winds.
Leslie Lok and Sasa Zivkovic, are principals of HANNAH, leading the 3D-printed multistory project which features a two-story 4,000-square-foot house. However, the single-family home is solely meant for research purposes and will not be sold after the construction is completed. In other words, this project will help the developers understand the best ways to apply this technology in future construction projects.
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PERI 3D is incorporating a hybridized construction method for the 3D-printed multistory project, which involves using COBOD BOD2 gantry printers. Similarly, these printers were used for their first 3D printed home in Germany and another 3D apartment in Europe. But this Houston project will be the largest of the firm’s 3D-printed buildings to date.
Development plans for the 3D-printed multistory project
Recently some media members in Houston were invited to observe the printing process of the 3D-printed multistory project. The project will use a combination of wooden frames and 3D-printed concrete to create a 2-story three-bedroom apartment with three bathrooms. Additionally, the house will feature a two-car garage and a 40-foot chimney. Therefore, a gantry printer that’s about 30 feet tall, 30 feet wide, and 60 feet long will be required to complete the structure.
CIVE’s CEO Hachem Domloj, said the 3D-printed multistory project would make use of wood framing for the subfloor and roof. Domloj also pointed out several benefits of replicating this construction method in future projects. He said firstly, the project cuts down on the manpower needed to build an apartment of this size. Secondly, it only requires a single set of materials for the entire exterior facade and doesn’t involve so many trades. Domloj also believes that 3D printing could actually become more affordable in the long rung.
CIVE is serving as the engineer and general contractor of the project. Meanwhile, PERI is the mastermind behind the 3D machine and HANNAH is the architect.
