It’s no surprise that homes built using 3D printing technology have become increasingly popular in this day and age. They’re safe, sustainable, and affordable—that’s why national homebuilding giant Lennar has decided to change the game.
Partnering with ICON—a Texas-based construction company that creates innovative robotics technologies in home design—Lennar has announced its plan to build a 100-home community using 3D printing technology.
These homes will be codesigned by the renowned architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), in hopes of a 2022 ground-breaking in Austin, Texas.
RELATED: Will 3D Printed Houses Bring More Affordable Homes to Virginia?
THE BENEFITS OF 3D PRINTED HOMES
Houses built through the use of 3D printing technology can be cheaper and quicker to construct, longer lasting, and more resilient to intense weather conditions. Additionally, they provide increased benefits in energy efficiency and affordability for the homeowner.
ICON’s Vulcan construction system delivers homes as large as 3,000 square feet that also abide by International Building Code (IBC) standards. It’s no wonder, then, why Lennar—a top-10 production home builder according to ProBuilder’s 2021 Housing Giants rankings—envisions success in this venture.
“Lennar has always expanded the boundaries of technological innovation to keep quality homes affordable and 3D printing is an immensely encouraging approach,” says Eric Feder, President of LENX, Lennar’s innovation group. “We are excited to collaborate with ICON to develop solutions to emerging challenges in the coming years.”
THE RAPID NEED FOR 3D PRINTED HOMES
Because traditional materials are becoming increasingly scarce for homebuilders, 3D printed technology is being put to the test like never before. ICON’s methods will help mitigate the 5-million home deficit that is currently distressing the United States economy.
“There is a profound need to swiftly increase supply without compromising quality, beauty, or sustainability; and that is exactly the strength of our technology,” says Jason Ballard, ICON co-founder and CEO. “We believe this will be a watershed moment in the history of community-scale development and the future breaking into the present.”
Watershed indeed, as we can only speculate how the success of this community may expand 3D printed homebuilding opportunities across the country. We’ll have to wait until 2022 to see. Until then, for the latest on 3D printed homes, visit Utopia’s 3D Printed Homes Project Tracker page.
