Europe’s first 3D-printed building has been completed

3D Printhuset’s The BOD (Building On Demand) is a demonstration project in Copenhagen that recently became the first 3D-printed building in Europe. The printing began on Sept. 11 and was expected to take a few weeks to complete but ended up taking almost twice the scheduled time.

The 3D printing was not the issue that caused the delay, however. The problems were encountered in other areas that the 3D printing was dependent upon. "Realizing the delay we have had, perhaps we were too optimistic with our planning. However, it is very difficult to plan for problems that you have never tried before. This was the first time anybody applied this technology in Europe,” says Henrik Lund-Nielsen, CEO at 3D Printhuset, the company behind the project.

Standing next to a 3D printed wall of The BOD Photo courtesy 3D Printhuset.

The entirety of the project took twice as long as expected, but the actual time spent 3D printing the walls took the planned 50 hours. The difficulties that led to the delay had to do with the material handling prior to printing. Faulty material deliveries and equipment failures related to the material handling were the biggest issues.

Detailed information regarding the construction process of The BOD will be presented in detail during a 3D construction printing conference in Copenhagen on Nov. 30.

Two notable 3D-printed projects mark milestones in the new construction technique of “printing” structures with specialized concrete. In Athens, Tennessee, Walmart hired Alquist 3D to build a 20-foot-high store expansion, one of the largest freestanding 3D-printed commercial concrete structures in the U.S. In Marfa, Texas, the world’s first 3D-printed hotel is under construction at an existing hotel and campground site.

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Alquist 3D and Walmart complete one of the nation’s largest free-standing, 3D-printed commercial structures

Walmart has completed one of the largest free-standing, 3D-printed commercial structures in the US. Alquist 3D printed the almost 8,000-sf, 20-foot-high addition to a Walmart store in Athens, Tenn. The expansion, which will be used for online pickup and delivery, is the first time Walmart has applied 3D printing technology at this scale.

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Swiss researchers develop robotic additive manufacturing method that uses earth-based materials—and not cement

Researchers at ETH Zurich, a university in Switzerland, have developed a new robotic additive manufacturing method to help make the construction industry more sustainable. Unlike concrete 3D printing, the process does not require cement.

Aerial view of world's largest 3D-printed building, a luxury horse barn in Florida

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World's largest 3D-printed building completed in Florida

Printed Farms, known for completing Florida’s first permitted 3D-printed house in Tallahassee, announces the completion of the world’s largest 3D-printed building: a luxury horse barn.

Simpliforge Creations 3D-printed place of worship in India

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3D-printed medical center from COBOD in Saraburi, Thailand

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3D construction printing reached new heights this week as the world’s first 3D-printed medical center was completed in Thailand.

Sustainability | May 1, 2023

Increased focus on sustainability is good for business and attracting employees

A recent study, 2023 State of Design & Make by software developer Autodesk, contains some interesting takeaways for the design and construction industry. Respondents to a survey of industry leaders from the architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, and entertainment spheres strongly support the idea that improving their organization’s sustainability practices is good for business.

University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory unveils Shell Wall 3D-printed concrete wall technology

3D Printing | Apr 11, 2023

University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory unveils Shell Wall—a concrete wall that’s lightweight and freeform 3D printed

The University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory has unveiled a new product called Shell Wall—which the organization describes as the first lightweight, freeform 3D printed and structurally reinforced concrete wall. The innovative product leverages DART Laboratory’s research and development on the use of 3D-printing technology to build structures that require less concrete.

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Using 3D-printed molds to create unitized window forms

COOKFOX designer Pam Campbell and Gate Precast's Mo Wright discuss the use of 3D-printed molds from Oak Ridge National Lab to create unitized window panels for One South First, a residential-commercial high-rise in Brooklyn, N.Y.