The United Arab Emirates National Innovation Committee has unveiled plans to build the world’s first 3D printed structure with a massive, 20-foot-tall 3D printer. Though many structures have utilized 3D printing, none have been entirely built by using the technology. Everything – the building’s structure, interior finishes, and furniture – will be 3D printed in sections and then assembled on site, according to a report by 3DPrint. The 2,000-square-foot building will then be used to house the Museum of the Future headquarters in Dubai.
By now the thought of a 3D printed structure like a home or an apartment building doesn’t surprise most of us. After all, we know for a fact that several ambitious projects to construct such structures are currently underway. With that said, the majority of these buildings only utilize 3D printing for their exterior walls, as sort of a replacement for the use of concrete block or wood framing.
Leading this project will be WinSun Global, a company who has 3D printed an apartment building as well as a home late last year in China, as well as Gensler, Thornton Thomasetti, and Syska Hennessy, all which are leading engineering and architecture firms.
To print the 2,000 square foot building, engineers will use a 20-foot tall 3D printer, which will be assembled on the build site, located at a busy intersection right in the heart of Dubai. They will use Special Reinforced Concrete (SRC), Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP), and Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum (GRG) to fabricate the various structural and decorative components of the structure. Total construction time will be just a few weeks, while labor costs will be reduced by 50-80% and construction waste will be reduced between 30-60%