Canada's first 3-D printed home is now ready

By Mark Ribble

The keys to Canada’s first ever 3D-printed home for residential use were handed over to The Bridge Youth Resource Centre on Thursday, October 27.

After months of research, planning and building, the one-of-akind four-unit building is complete and ready for people who need housing.

Krista Rempel, Executive Director of The Bridge, received the keys from Rob Roy, Board Chair from Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex, at an announcement made inside The Bridge centre.

Those in attendance then got an up close and personal look at the finished product — one unit has been completely furnished and is ready for moving in.

Executive Director and CEO of Habitat for HumanityWindsor-Essex, Fiona Coughlin, welcomed the crowd of about 100 people to the ceremony.

“We’re celebrating a joyous occasion,” she said. “This build could not have happened withoutall of our partners.”

Coughlin explained that the idea started as just that, with planning that goes back to before the pandemic and the amount of collaboration that was involved.

Since she was looking for a spot to try out the first 3D printed build, she reached out to Leamington Mayor Hilda Mac- Donald, who then connected her with Krista Rempel and George Bergen of The Bridge.

They had the land to make this happen and the rest fell into place.

The research, planning and building of the four-unit site was funded through Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), to the tune of about $660,000.

This initial build is part of a larger 12-unit build, with another 30 units planned beyond those.

The four units are part of an accessible, net-zero ready, four-plex design.

Habitat Windsor-Essex also partnered with the University of Windsor on this project to learn more about how this technology could potentially shorten construction times and — over time — reduce costs. With the largest structural engineering lab in the country, the University of Windsor has been conducting load testing, thermal testing, researching new materials and more.

Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh, Irek Kusmierczyk — who is also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion — was on hand to speak about the partnership between all of the parties involved.

“When you have a home, you have a chance,” he said. “This gives young people an opportunity to have a chance.”

Essex County Warden Gary McNamara was quick to acknowledge Mayor MacDonald for her work in pulling everything together.

“Thank you for standing up for your community,” he said. “You are an unbelievable supporter of affordable housing in our community.”

McNamara and some of his staff came out and worked alongside the Habitat for Humanity volunteers to help in the finishing of the units.

Krista Rempel then took the stage and talked about the partnerships between all of the organizations and levels of government.

“We are so excited to be here today,” she said. “The building of these homes would not have been possible without the partnerships of Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex and the University of Windsor.”

Habitat Board Chair Rob Roy then came up onto the stage and handed Rempel the keys to the new build.

The homes were bult using a giant 3D printer that poured concrete foundations and walls — the first in North America to be built with concrete.

After a ribbon cutting, Krista Rempel was able to tour the unit and then it was opened up to anyone wanting to see inside.

Members of The Bridge board of directors and local dignitaries helped cut the ribbon for the new four-unit 3D printed home in Leamington on October 27. From left are Will Good (board member), Sal Albano (board member), Mayor Hilda MacDonald, Cody Kraus (board member), MP Irek Kusmierczyk, Warden Gary McNamara, The Bridge President George Bergen, The Bridge Executive Director Krista Rempel, Habitat for Humanity Board Chair Rob Roy and Habitat for Humanity Executive Director/CEO Fiona Coughlin.

Fiona Coughlin, left, talks to a happy Krista Rempel about the interior décor of the unit.