College students create 3D printed home that took only 15 months to build for $250,000 – KION546
Original Published: 20 OCT 23, 16:50 ET by Phillip Palmer
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BURBANK, California (KABC) — Tucked away on a small plot of the Woodbury University Campus in Burbank, is a concrete example of the future of homebuilding.
Los Angeles is the first city to permit and build a 3D-printed structure. It’s a 425 square-foot house designed by Woodbury students. Only 15 months were needed to bring the design into reality.
Woodbury University’s president, Dr. Barry Ryan says that the project is a proof-of-concept that can be replicated and scaled up to have a big impact on not only our community, but the entire world.
The house was entered into the solar Decathlon, a competition for college students that encourages designers and architects to create high-performance structures powered by renewable energy. Students are extremely proud of their work.
“It looks great to me.” Jade Royer, a recent Woodbury graduate, says that she is glad they kept the concrete raw. “We didn’t paint it or add anything to it on top so we could see the layers of the material and all the different materials.”
Jessica Gomez was also a recent grad who worked on the Project.
Gomez added, “I like the kitchen too because it is furnished with sustainable materials. The dining chairs are made of recyclable paper and so on. We try to be environmentally conscious not only in the construction but also the way we furnish the house.”
The bending roof and sloping form are designed to maximize the solar energy. Mineral wool is used to insulate the home and also acts as a barrier against fire. Concrete is used to reduce noise, maintain internal temperatures and also be environmentally friendly.
No concrete was wasted in the three-day printing.
Kishani De Silva – the Construction Management Chair at Woodbury University – says that the prototype is a combination of many things. “We were giving Los Angeles and its community a chance to learn from it and use it for their projects or homes.
Over 30 organizations supported the project, with RM CONCRETE providing labor for the traditional components of concrete.
Around two dozen students were involved in the Solar Futures House, and some of them saw it through to completion.
The open floor plan with outdoor living area was designed for any community housing need, and can be adapted to any site conditions.
Heather Flood is the dean of Woodbury’s School of Architecture. She said: “It is funny that you think advanced technology costs more, but in fact, we built this project for less than $250,000. That is incredibly affordable housing for Los Angeles.”
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