Dubai Plans On Constructing The First 3D Printed Building
Dubai, a city where something fresh is always being added to the skyline, may have found a way to make construction move even faster. On Tuesday, the Gulf commercial hub announced plans to construct the world’s first office building using 3D printer technology, adding another marvel to its collection of magnificent buildings.
The 3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM) is a technique by which you can create or recreate a three-dimensional object. The 3D printers are also considered to be industrial robots for their manufacturing aptitude. The technology utilises computer-aided formation of objects by laying successive layers of materials. The materials can vary from plastic to metals like silver, steel, and titanium. Read more about it here.
3D Printers uses computer aided designs to create printable models.
Mohammed Al-Gergawi, the UAE’s Minister of Cabinet affairs, said the project is part of a broader plan by the federation to embrace cutting-edge science and technology and make Dubai a global hub for innovation.
We are keen to use the latest technologies to simplify people’s lives and to serve them better. This project is part of our overall innovation strategy to create new designs and new solutions in education, healthcare and cities. Our goal is to increase the happiness and wellbeing of our residents and to pioneer new solutions for the world.
The 2,000 square feet of floor space building is planned to be located in the center of the coastal business hub city, where it will be printed, layer-after-layer, using a huge 20-foot tall printer over the course of a few weeks. The entire interior will be 3D printed too. According to the experts, the technology will cut labor costs by 50-80%, and construction time by 50-70%. Other than this, no other details on the timeframe or cost were made public.
The project is a result of cooperation between Dubai and WinSun, a pioneering Chinese company that has begun constructing houses and buildings made using 3-D printers. Some more partners have joined hands as well, like architectural and engineering firms such as Gensler, Thornton Thomasetti, and Syska Hennessy.
For more information on what 3D printing is, refer to the video below.
