Drones and 3D printing are two of the most talked about and researched technologies on the planet right now. Be it in the nightly news, an online story, or just overhearing a coworker or friend talking about a recent advancement, it is difficult to go through a day without hearing something new about drones or 3D printing.
A recently completed project in Dubai can give you your daily fill of both ubiquitous technologies as it melds them in the R&Drone Laboratory, a lab that will conduct research on drones and 3D printing technologies. This lab won’t just research 3D printing technologies, however, as 3D printing technology has been put to use to construct the building itself. The lab was 100% 3D printed onsite, a first for a building in the UAE, and, according to CyBe Construction, a first for the world, as well.
The facility is based at the Solar Park as part of the Research and Development Centre. Due to the size of some of the elements of the laboratory, CyBe Construction, a Dutch company responsible for the engineering and 3D Concrete printing of the facility, transported the CyBe RC 3Dp to the location in Dubai. This device is a 3D printer that is able to move on caterpillar tracks to allow for the printing of large building components onsite.
Image courtesy of CyBe Construction.
3D printing the building onsite significantly reduced transportation costs and build time for the project. A building like the R&Drone Labortory typically takes up to a couple of months to build via traditional construction methods. By using onsite 3D printing, the facility was completed within three weeks. Additionally, 3D Concrete printing is more environmentally friendly because it reduces CO2 emissions and waste.
CONVRGNT is the contractor for the project and Wanders & Wagner is the architect. Witteveen + Bos was the contractual design engineer. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority was the client.
Related Stories
3D Printing | Apr 17, 2017
The Tokyo Pod Vending Machine resembles a giant game of Tetris in the sky
The building is designed to print and dispense its own dwellings in vending machine-obsessed Tokyo.
University Buildings | Oct 19, 2016
UC Merced to nearly double its size by 2020
Its growth strategy includes adding 1.2 million sf of space for teaching, housing, and research.
3D Printing | Jun 14, 2016
By 2021, 3D concrete printing is projected to be a $56.4 million industry
The 3D concrete printing industry is expected to more than double in size within the next five years.
3D Printing | May 26, 2016
Dubai opens world’s first 3D-printed office
The 2,690-sf structure took 17 days to print. City officials say the labor cost was only half as much as similar size conventional buildings.
3D Printing | Mar 29, 2016
Autodesk’s Project Escher prints large objects in fraction of the time
By networking 3D printers and divvying up the work, the project creates big items 80% to 90% more efficiently.
3D Printing | Feb 23, 2016
University of Tokyo students develop 3D-printing pen
The pen, which melts and strings together plastic filaments, can be used to make large-scale temporary structures.
3D Printing | Feb 11, 2016
Microscape mini 3D models give you the whole city in your hands
Starting with Manhattan, the company hopes to expand to other cities, villages, and "suburban cul-de-sacs" with its detailed, 3D models.
3D Printing | Jan 25, 2016
Architecture students create new method for 3D printing concrete
The team's Fossilized project allows for structures that are more varied and volumetric than other forms so far achieved.
