Construction 3D printing is gaining new heights in Texas, as printing begins on the first multistory printed structure in the United States.

Houston, TX, September 12, 2022 – HANNAH, PERI 3D Construction, and CIVE, in collaboration with building industry partners, are printing a two-story single-family home that integrates customized architectural design and a resilient structural system that leverages a hybridized construction method.

The 4,000-square foot project showcases the possibilities of 3D printing technology, mass customization and design solutions that integrate conventional construction methods. With a hybridized construction method that combines concrete 3D printing with wood framing, this approach allows the two material systems to be used strategically and aims to increase the applicability of 3D printing in the U.S., where framing is the one of the most common construction techniques. The building design is conceptualized as a series of printed cores that contain functional spaces and stairs. The spatial cores are connected by wood framing to produce an architectural alternation of concrete and framed interiors. The project’s scalable design and construction process is applicable for multifamily housing and mixed-use construction. Using the COBOD BOD2 gantry printer, the project takes advantage of the printer’s modularity for its design layout.

The project is the culmination of a two-year collaborative effort between boundary-pushing design researchers and industry partners. The project is spearheaded by architectural designers and assistant professors at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University Leslie Lok and Sasa Zivkovic, principals of HANNAH; along with PERI 3D Construction, an internationally leading provider for 3D construction printing, and CIVE, one of the leading engineering and design/build contractors in Houston.

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