The United States is in the midst of a housing crisis. Since the early 20th century, home ownership has been a central part of the American dream. A house was more than just real estate; it meant an investment in one's family, community and country.
But in recent years, skyrocketing costs have turned homebuying from a rite of passage into an unattainable pipe dream. Perhaps even more concerning is that renting, often a precursor to home ownership, is equally unaffordable, with rising rental prices eating up a larger portion of the average American's monthly paycheck, leaving many unable to live within their means.
One of the biggest reasons for these increased costs is the lack of safe, affordable, and diverse housing. The United States is currently experiencing a shortage of 4 to 7 million housing units, including apartment units and condominiums, starting in 2024. Developers and housing advocates have offered a variety of solutions, ranging from increasing rental and homeownership subsidies to changing restrictive zoning regulations.
However, one solution isn't discussed nearly as much as it should be: 3D printed enclosures.
Technology once only suitable for aesthetic prototypes is poised to become a major transformative force in the manufacturing and construction industries. In a process called additive manufacturing, 3D printers use data from digital models to construct three-dimensional objects layer by layer. This process can be expanded to the construction of entire houses and even apartment buildings, which will significantly expand our opportunities to address the housing shortage in the country.
Compared to traditional building construction, additive manufacturing tends to be faster, more environmentally friendly and far more cost-effective.
As the lead architect of the first 3D printed home in the United States to receive a certificate of occupancy, I have witnessed firsthand the countless efficiencies this technology enables. By using an Autonomous Robotic Construction System (ARCS), a gantry-style 3D printer arm developed by construction technology company SQ4D, we built the 1,500-square-foot Long Island home in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost of traditional construction.
The ARCS printed concrete at speeds of 400-700 inches per minute, with each layer precisely timed to allow the next layer to adhere without downtime. Ultimately, building the 3D printed structure only took about 48 hours of printing time over a period of eight days, reducing construction time from the traditional 6-8 weeks. The rest of the 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom home was completed within 40 days.
During the process, the ARCS required no more than two workers at a time, significantly reducing labor costs, and consumed approximately the same electricity as a standard hairdryer. In general, the project also required less equipment and fewer vehicles, resulting in reductions in CO2 emissions, construction and demolition debris, and noise pollution.
This technology is also applicable to multifamily and mixed-use housing, allowing developers to build multi-story, multi-unit apartment buildings at a fraction of the cost of standard apartment buildings. Property owners can pass these savings on to tenants, who then have more money to invest in the local economy (perhaps within the same mixed-use development).
The lower costs of additive manufacturing as well as the scalability of the 3D printing process help lower the barriers to entry for developers. By reducing the cost of producing a fully functional home, developers can charge buyers and renters less money, opening the door to a more diverse range of small developers and nonprofit organizations to build and manage housing.
Additionally, by increasing overall housing supply in line with demand, these budget-friendly single- and multi-family structures would help control local housing costs and prevent the kind of runaway real estate prices that keep potential buyers and renters out of the local housing market. Other costs such as energy bills and insurance premiums would also be lower for consumers because these special concrete houses provide energy-efficient thermal insulation and greater resistance to storm, fire and earthquake damage than traditional wood-frame structures.
The reduced impact on the local environment and neighborhood quality of life may also make it easier for developers to receive broad community support and approval from local planning and zoning authorities. 3D printed concrete buildings can be customized to meet the exact needs of each residential area. Municipalities that want to encourage more 3D printed developments can also offer additional incentives, including expedited planning and permit reviews and waiver of permit fees.
The benefits of home ownership are numerous and well documented. Owning a home is associated with improved wealth accumulation, physical and mental health, and civic engagement. More broadly, communities with higher homeownership rates also tend to experience job growth, increased local investment, and decreases in crime rates.
The impact of 3D printed houses goes beyond providing more roofs over more heads. It can also revitalize communities, help large swaths of Americans build wealth across generations, and improve our overall economic prospects. There are already strong incentives for building through additive manufacturing, and by working with local governments and architectural consultants we can work together – not just on building housing, but on a better future.
Kevin Paul, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, CFM is senior vice president and disciplinary director of private sector real estate at H2M Architects + Engineers, Melville, New York.
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