Ontario Construction News staff writer
Canada’s first 3D printed housing project – a building with four one-bedroom apartments will begin construction next month in Leamington.
The simulated design of a 3D printed home is a first in Canada – the first 3D printed homes built for residential use in this country.
“The innovation required for this project goes beyond the printing technology. These will be tiny homes, but we also want to make sure they are built for accessibility to meet the needs of all members of our community. At Habitat for Humanity our goal is always to build safe, decent and affordable homes,” said Fiona Coughlin, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex.
“Through partnering with Invest WindsorEssex, we can be sure we do this before the homes physically exist.”
An emerging technology, 3D printing is expected to be a game-changing solution to Canada’s current housing crisis by improving efficiency of building, promoting housing density and reducing costs associated with construction.
Invest WindsorEssex (IWE), the lead economic development organization for the Windsor-Essex region, showcased the simulated design of a 3D printed home as part of a first of its kind in Canada housing project lead by Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex and in partnership with the University of Windsor.
“The current housing crisis is a complex problem requiring creative and innovative solutions. Leveraging the power of IWE’s Virtual Reality CAVE to simulate the design and construction of these 3D printed homes offers a unique Windsor-Essex made solution to this national problem,” said Stephen Mackenzie, president and CEO of IWE.
“Using virtual reality and simulation capabilities will allow engineering designs and approvals to be expedited and future owners the ability to experience their new home before they are built.”
In partnership with St. Clair College, the IWE team led by digital twin technician Bryan Holmes, brought the home to life in the Virtual Reality CAVE. This process identified how the new design would ultimately look and allowed builders to perform an accessibility audit on the homes to ensure they are fully accessible prior to construction.
“We are excited about this innovative solution to addressing the national housing crisis,” said Hilda MacDonald, Mayor of Leamington. “We are very grateful the Municipality of Leamington was selected as the location of this first-of-its-kind fully accessible 3D multi-unit residential build.”