Renderings courtesy of Emergent 3D
Gile had long been interested in 3D-printing technology and saw its potential as a construction method. Ajamian got on board, too. “This is the single biggest innovation I’ve seen in my time,” the contractor says. “It not only affects my trade but everybody’s trade. In many ways it will simplify the work that needs to be done. Until then, we’ve got a lot of learning to do. There are only a handful of people doing this in the world.” The “printer” in this case is a computer-controlled nozzle suspended from a gantry that extrudes a precise ribbon of viscous concrete over and over again as the home’s walls begin to emerge from the foundation. It’s not unlike an oversized pastry bag and piping tool one would use to ice a cake. Once the exterior and interior walls are in place, subcontractors come in to add a conventional roof and perform the plumbing and electrical work. A 3,000-square-foot home—that meets California’s building codes—can be built in three to four months using a 3D printer. Currently, a conventional stick-built home that size can take nine months or longer, Ajamian says.
Just as importantly, Gile says, 3D-printed homes will cost an estimated 30 to 40 percent less to build, once the three-member construction teams get up to speed with the robotic technology. That’s significant, considering in 2020 the median price of a home in California was $554,886, according to the Business Insider website. In addition to being faster to build and less expensive, Gile says 3D-printed homes are eco-friendly (less wood waste and superior insulation) and attractive as well. The computer can print “beautiful, elegant” designs that would be cost-prohibitive with conventional construction. “There’s no more ‘cookie cutter’ look to the affordable and workplace market,” he says. “It’s one thing to extrude the material, and you’ve got to thank the 20- and 30-somethings for making it work, but I want a livable home,” Ajamian adds. Design options include curves, bevels and abstract angles. Adding powdered concrete can make walls whatever color the buyer chooses and an embossing drum can add a wood-like texture.4 continued on page 46
MARCH 2022
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