Real Estate Disruption: How 3D Printing is Changing the Game
While we have seen numerous innovations in the real estate industry in recent years, this is one of the most groundbreaking. A notion that was once a figment of futuristic science fiction is now reinventing the real estate industry around the globe. Homes and commercial buildings could be printed layer by layer, speeding up construction while saving costs and the environment. The vision of 3D printed housing has been picked up widely as we all crave for sustainable, efficient low cost housing.
The Rise of 3D Printed Buildings
3D printing uses modern techniques to create 3-Dimensional objects from digital models by adding materials together layer upon layer in the likes of concrete-based polymers and metals. The promise of this technology is that it can build structures faster, more accurately and with less waste than regular construction methods. The traditional construction process we know for building homes and commercial spaces is resource-intensive, laborious, and time-consuming. This is changing as 3d printing greatly reduces the time to build. Unlike traditional construction that can take months or years, a 3D printer provides the ability to construct one-story buildings in days (or less for certain dimensions). On top of this, 3D printing allows for a greater freedom in design. A 3D Printer can help create complex architectural features that are impossible to produce manually at a low cost. As this technology is highly adaptable, it opens up a whole new world of construction design, and this added freedom can be particularly appealing for developers who want to explore more contemporary architectural styles.
3D Printing in the Real Estate Industry
3D printing in real estate could bring enormous value, potentially resolving many of the issues that have been dogging this industry for countless decades.
1. Affordability
One of the most interesting benefits of 3D printed housing is that it seems to be much more affordable than conventional construction methods. It also saves you a ton on construction materials, and it means that everything can be built at once without the need of an immense flow of contractors just to get things out. The fewer workforce is required to handle the process of manufacturing with 3D printing, hence labour costs are cut down significantly.
The 3D printer is so accurate that it can print objects using only needed material quantity to avoid creating waste which helps a company or an individual to save resources. More importantly, this reasonably-priced housing will prove very helpful especially in places where it may be at such a premium that those reformers cannot afford to live there. There is a growing demand for low-cost housing, especially in urban areas and 3D printed homes could be one of the solutions. 3D printed homes could change all this, and make home ownership more attainable for a large number of people.
2. Speed
Another benefit that the technology brings to you in great amount and immediacy is with speed. What would have taken months or even years to develop using traditional approaches can now happen within an incredibly short span of time when working with 3D printers. One notable instance being that some companies have been able to produce entire houses in just 24 hours. This quick construction process can be used for many kinds of application, like emergency housing solutions, disaster relief and also for second generation specs projects. This eliminates the time spent in construction and real estate developers can have more number of projects being completed, thus helping in addressing shortage for housing both residential and commercial spaces.
3. Sustainability
Construction has a large environmental footprint and that is not something for the real estate industry to be proud of. Conventional construction methods are resource-intensive, create tons of waste and utilize huge amounts of power and energy. 3D-printing, on the other hand offers a much greener option. The way 3D printing works is that the only material used ends up exactly where it needs to be, which basically eliminates waste. Moreover, a few 3D printers nowadays have the capability to be used with recycled materials — making them even more sustainable. On a wider scale, the use of 3D printing technology can address issues such as waste management and energy conservation with better architectural practices.
4. Design Flexibility and Customization
3D printing enables an unprecedented level of design freedom for architects and developers looking to set their projects apart, far beyond the capabilities offered through traditional construction methods. 3D printing can usually produce more complex geometries and intricate design that cannot be implemented due to very high cost or impracticality with conventional building materials and methods. Such versatility creates so many creative and innovative options for architectural designs, both in residential houses as well commercial spaces. It allows developers to experiment with different shapes, materials and structures so they can offer innovative, unique properties that are one of a kind on the market.
The Challenges of Scaling 3D Printed Houses
Yet, as great as the possibilities are with 3D printing in real estate there are hurdles that need to be overcome before it can reach full scale. In many places, for example, there are still some challenges to face, like building codes and zoning laws, that haven’t updated to reflect how some of these buildings were built with newer tools.
Another hurdle is tech adoption. The advantages of 3D printing are discernible; however, this is still a recent procedure needing expertise and speciality. Developers and contractors both have to invest in new technology and need to train their workforce.
All in all, despite facing a few challenges, the future gives quite a positive indication for 3D printing in real estate. Fortunately, industry leaders already are working to push back some of these barriers and confident that the technology will improve quickly in years ahead.
3D Printed Housing— What Does the Future Hold?
With 3D printing technology advancing further; allowing for large scale high rise buildings to be constructed, the future is exciting in terms of what it holds with respect to change within the real estate industry. Consider a world where we could 3D print entire sections of neighborhood, office buildings or commercial spaces in mere hours (contributing to less building costs and fewer construction footprints). The future of 3D printing is upon us and it will begin affecting developers, architects and real estate experts much more than we thought. And this is just the beginning of what affordably, sustainably and custom-built housing could offer us.
The global housing crisis and the needs of millions without provision for safe, affordable accommodation should also see 3D printing contribute massively towards resolving these serious challenges. The adaptability of 3D printing in real estate is likely to follow a similar progression, and those that jump on board early this time will be right at the front of what could one day soon become an entire industry.
If you are looking forward to what 3D printing could mean for real estate and housing, then register for a fireside chat on the Future of 3D Printing in Commercial Real Estate with Dr. Sam Suzuki (CEO, SIRE3D) and Jared Kuhn (VP Real Estate Development & Sales, ICON).
3D Printing: Shaping the Future of Commercial Real Estate
AREAA DFW will be hosting an event in partnership with University of Texas Arlington on how 3D printing will change commercial real estate. Be sure not to miss the opportunity to hear from these pioneers as they discuss cutting-edge research firsthand. This is a ticketed event, you can reserve your spot by scanning the QR code in our flyer or visit this link.
