World’s First 3D-Printed Office Building, Furniture Included, Coming to Dubai

Monica Sanchez | July 8, 2015
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According to 3D Print, the United Arab Emirates National Innovation Committee has set forth a plan to 3D print an entire office building in Dubai—including exterior walls, interior walls, and furniture.

To print the 2,000 square foot building, engineers will use a 20-foot-tall 3D printer—featuring Special Reinforced Concrete (SRC), Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP), and Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum (GRG) technology—to fabricate the building's various structural and decorative components.

Shanghai-based WinSun Global will lead the project. The company is known for successfully printing a livable six-story apartment building as well as an impressive, two-story villa-style home last year in China.

“The idea of 3D printing buildings was once a dream, but today it has become a reality,” said Al Gergawi, Chairman of the UAE National Innovation Committee.  

“This building will be a testimony to the efficiency and creativity of 3D printing technology," he added, "which we believe will play a major role in reshaping construction and design sectors."

Chairman Al Gergawi hopes that Dubai will become "a global hub for innovation and 3D printing" upon completion of their ambitious endeavor:

"We aim to take advantage of this growth by becoming a global hub for innovation and 3D printing," he said

Project engineers estimate that constructing the Dubai office building will only take a few weeks and will significantly reduce both labor costs and waste.

“Total construction time will be just a few weeks, while labor costs will be reduced by 50-80% and construction waste will be reduced between 30-60%,” reports 3D Print.

“Once complete, the building will be used for a variety of purposes and will feature its very own 3D printing exhibition inside.”

According to the UAE National Innovation Committee, "This is the first step of many more to come."

H/T Arch Daily

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