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Single-family home in Tempe, USA 2021
In Tempe, Arizona, we completed the first fully permitted 3D-printed single-family home in the US in 2021.
In 2021, we built the first 3D-printed single-family home in the US in Tempe, Arizona, which successfully completed all regulatory approval processes. The single-story building, with approximately 160 m² of living space, was completed in just 45 hours of printing time over two weeks. The project marks a significant milestone for 3D construction printing technology in construction in the US and was realized in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity. The single-family home was occupied in March 2022 and now provides a comfortable home for a family.
Location
Project category
Residential construction
Pure printing time
45 hours
Project participants
Habitat for Humanity
CandelariaDesign
3D Construction
Lowe's
COX Communication
Ramsey Social Justice Foundation
IMPRESSIONS OF THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Our first project in the USA is being created
Ready for action
The medium-sized configuration of the COBOD BOD2 was installed in Tempe using a mobile crane. This allows the print room to be designed large enough to fit the house and attached garage, eliminating the need to relocate the printer.
The printer doesn’t break a sweat
In summer, temperatures in Arizona frequently exceed 40°C. Since the printed layers dry out quickly in the heat, more water was added to the material and the printing time was accelerated. This effectively counteracted cracking.
There's movement
You can find some impressions of the construction site summarized here in a short video.
The Habitat for Humanity principle
At Habitat for Humanity, community is paramount. Therefore, it's common practice for the community to lend a helping hand when a new building is being constructed. For example, many volunteers helped with the construction of our first 3D printing site in the US.
The result is impressive
In addition to a light-filled living area, the completed home impresses with special architectural accents that could only be achieved with the 3D printing process. One of the highlights: the 3D-printed kitchen island.
Requirements and solutions
Requirements
Implementing our first US project in Tempe presented several challenges. The project had to meet all building code requirements to be approved as one of the first 3D-printed residential buildings in the US. In addition, integrating technical installations into the 3D printing process required special planning, as these aspects had to be considered during the printing process to ensure flawless operation later on. The Arizona summer heat also presented a challenge for the on-site printing team, as 3D-printed concrete dries out faster at extremely high temperatures.
Solutions
Meeting these challenges required precise planning and close coordination between all project participants. The integration of electrical, water, and sewage pipes was directly integrated into the 3D printing process, allowing these elements to be integrated into the walls during the printing process. The printed concrete used was enriched with significantly more water during the printing process to maintain workability at a good level even at temperatures above 40°C. Furthermore, printing times were scheduled for morning and evening whenever possible.
Customer benefit
The Tempe project impressively demonstrates the potential of 3D construction printing for social housing. Given Arizona's current housing problems and the growing need for affordable homeownership, 3D printing offers a groundbreaking solution. The rapid construction method made it possible to create a high-quality, energy-efficient, and affordable home.
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Products in use
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