Bright Community Trust, a nonprofit organization, is working with construction technology company Solvenah to build a 3D printed home in St. Petersburg’s Childs Park neighborhood. The project aims to provide an affordable housing option for community members.

Innovative Construction Method

The 3D printing process involves laying down many thin layers of a material to create a physical object from a digital model. In this case, only the exterior walls of the house will be printed. The project is expected to be completed by September.

According to Frank Wells, president and chief impact officer of Bright Community Trust, the organization has been exploring emerging technologies in the housing sector for some time. The collaboration with Solvenah and Build Additive, the company that developed the 3D printing machine, has helped to identify and overcome some of the barriers to this innovative construction method.

Teamwork and Efficiency

Carl David, one of the founders of Solvenah, emphasized the importance of teamwork in this project. He explained that creating the right mixture for the 3D printing process has been one of the biggest challenges, due to the humidity and heat in the area. The team is working together to find ways to make the process more efficient.

Daniel Hechavarria, Solvenah’s co-founder and construction operations and development associate, stated that the goal is to build a self-sustainable home. The team is working to make a positive impact on the community and plans to repeat this process in the future.

Frank Marquette, co-founder of Build Additive, explained that the company’s machine uses a proprietary cement formulation, which is mixed on site and then used to create the walls of the house through a layer-by-layer process.

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.