Plans for the world’s first 3D printed building, an office in Dubai, were revealed on June 30 by the United Arab Emirates National Innovation Committee.
The building will be a fully functional, 2,000 square foot office located in the heart of Dubai, and will serve both professionals and community members through public engagement events. The interior is open and flexible, allowing it to be customized to different corporate needs and team sizes. All of the furniture, detailing, and structural components will also be built using 3D printing.
In order to construct the building, a 20-foot tall 3D printer will build it layer-by-layer. Additional assembly on-site in Dubai is expected to last a few weeks.
The building will be printed using various materials, such as Special Reinforced Concrete (SRC), Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum (GRG), and Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP).
3D printed buildings are estimated to reduce production time by 50 to 70 percent, as well as reducing labor costs by 50 to 80 percent and saving between 30 and 60 percent of construction waste. That means higher economic return for businesses, as well as increased sustainability.
Dubai partnered with WinSun Global in order to put plans for this first building of this type in motion, as well as allying with global architecture and engineering firms Gensler, Thornton Tomasetti, and Syska Hennessy.
The UAE government launched the construction of the building as an initiative of the Museum of the Future, which was founded earlier in 2015 by UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The museum uses collaboration between industry, government, and designers to deploy high-tech prototypes across Dubai. After the office is built, it will serve as a temporary headquarters for the staff of the museum while the more permanent museum is being built.
“We are keen to use the latest technologies to simplify people’s lives and to serve them better,” said Mohamed Al Gergawi, chairman of the UAE National Innovation Committee. “This project is part of our overall innovation strategy to create new designs and new solutions in education, healthcare, and cities … This building will be a testimony to the efficiency and creativity of 3D printing technology, which we believe will play a major role in reshaping construction and design sectors. We aim to take advantage of this growth by becoming a global hub for innovation and 3D printing. This is the first step of many more to come.”