Ohio’s first 3D-printed building is about to be constructed in Linden

The first 3D-printed building is about to be constructed on 26^th Avenue in Linden, Columbus, Ohio by the contractor Mayo Makinde. The constructor is planning to build an 850-square-foot two-bedroom apartment. Makinde, the owner of Makinde Enterprises with the aid of a large 3D-printer had already built 8 feet of the walls, while he is anticipating completing the rest of the building within a day.

Furthermore, he suggests after the completion of the 3D-printed walls, he might need another 7 days to complete the plumbing, roofing, windows, and doors. He referred to the cost of the project and explained that the initial cost of the 3D printer was $1 million. However, the cost of the apartment is expected to be approximately $30,000. This highlights that the significantly reduced construction time is a revolution in the construction field and cost effective.

The construction process involves a 3D printer with a nozzle that dispenses concrete from a tall, mobile metal frame moving along tracks. The printer deposits successive thin layers of concrete, building up double-layered walls by stacking each layer precisely on top of the previous one. Therefore, the walls created during this process have a unique form and appearance, architecturally speaking.

It should be noted that the Ohio State’s CDME is hosting one of the largest 3D printing programs in the U.S. However, they are mainly focusing on printing with metals and polymers. The university’s spokesman stated that they have already used a large-scale concrete printer, comparable to the one that it is using now in Linden, to create large concrete molds. He added also that as of present they have rented this printer to Somerset Community College in Kentucky to facilitate their effort to build low-income homes in Appalachia. Last, as part of the program they are employing about 150 undergraduate students to prepare and educate them to work on a field upon graduation.

In all, the Columbus Deputy Director of Building noted that while the project showed potential, the city encountered challenges during the approval process. These setbacks arose from the need to adjust the house's positioning on the property to accommodate the large size of the 3D printer.