Habitat for Humanity is a long-standing nonprofit whose mission is to provide affordable home ownership to low-income families around the world. Currently, that includes areas of the United States where affordable housing is in short supply. In Tempe, Arizona, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona is building its first 3D-printed home on American soil.
“This is really a moonshot opportunity for Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona,” said Jason Barlow, president and CEO of Habitat Central Arizona. “When we consider the housing issues facing Arizona, the need for affordable homeownership solutions becomes clear. If we can deliver decent, affordable, more energy-efficient homes at less cost, in less time and with less waste, we think that could be a real game-changer. Just think of the implications.”
While the current build is a single residence that will house an approved family, the goal is to use the innovative technology to provide sustainable, scalable, low-cost housing across Arizona and other areas of the country. The home, perched above Clark Park, will be a three-bedroom, two-bathroom single-story dwelling when it is complete. The project is actually a bit of a hybrid, with around 75% of the building being 3D-printed and the rest constructed in standard ways. However, the use of the Build on Demand Printer (BOD 2) by the Germany-based PERI Group speeds up the process, which began in May 2021. Construction is expected to wrap up in early fall of this year.