Leamington site of first multi-unit 3-D printed homes
By Adam Freill
Concrete Construction ResidentialFirst-of-its-kind 3-D residence to be completed this summer in Ontario.
nidus3D crew member operating the 3-D printer at the site of The Bridge Youth Resource Centre in Leamington, Ontario. (Photo: Business Wire)
Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex is partnering with the University of Windsor and 3-D construction printing company nidus3D on the nation’s first permitted 3-D printed residential homes.
The four-plex project on the site of Leamington’s The Bridge Youth Resource Centre will create accessible, net-zero ready homes that comply with local planning and building regulations for residential use. The plan is for the 560-square-foot units to be available for individuals and couples in need of attainable housing.
“This will be a historic build,” said Fiona Coughlin, executive director and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Windsor, adding that these are “potentially a game-changing solution to the current housing crisis.”
Her organization is working with the University of Windsor explore the potential impact of 3-D printing technology on construction times and input costs.
“Habitat W-E will benefit from the learning here, and those learnings could have a far-reaching impact for Habitat, and for the construction industry more broadly,” she said.
The project is being partially funded through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Innovation Fund, and makes use of COBOD BOD2 printers, which are distributed in Canada by nidus3D.
“In Windsor-Essex alone, there are currently 6,500 individuals that are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and the current solutions are simply not adequate in addressing this issue,” said, Ian Arthur, president and founder of nidus3D. “nidus3D is driven by the mission for increasing access to housing, and we’re deeply honoured for building the first multi-unit 3-D printed homes in North America. This historic build serves as proof-of-concept for future builds, and paves the path for quicker and more cost-effective homes for Canadian families.”
Project participants expect the knowledge gained during the build will help instruct future design codes and standards for future 3-D printed builds.
“We are very proud to be an active partner and research collaborator in this landmark research project,” said Sreekanta Das, professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Windsor.
Construction of the homes is expected to be completed this summer.
