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A unique housing development is currently under construction in Gananoque that utilizes on-site robots and aims to address the affordable housing crisis through innovation and technology.
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Developed and funded by Horizon Legacy Group as part of the Marco Polo 100 Digital Build Challenge, this project will deliver 26 stacked townhouse units using advanced robotics, automation and 3D printing technologies integrated with traditional construction methods.
The initiative focuses on reducing construction costs to $100 per square foot, providing a model for affordable and sustainable housing.
The project was unanimously approved by the Gananoque Planning Board and Council.
The facility includes one- and two-bedroom units designed to meet different living needs. Horizon Legacy Group will serve as designer, developer, construction manager, owner and operator of the project.
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Featuring energy-efficient R-30 insulated wall assemblies and all-electric systems, the buildings are designed to reduce energy intensity by 20 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 67 percent, meeting and exceeding Ontario Building Code standards.
Proponents say the use of robotics will streamline construction processes, combine three trades into one and help combat labor shortages. The robotic systems are designed for outdoor use in Canadian climates and integrate software, hardware and materials to meet structural and safety requirements.
Mayor John Beddows and Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark recently toured the site.
“They are pioneering the use of robotics in home construction to complete projects faster and at a lower cost,” Clark said.
Beddows also praised the project, saying it is a living experiment that refines and improves the approach to addressing the challenges of input costs and skills shortages.
This project is scheduled to be completed by fall 2025.
Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter working for the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
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