First 3D-printed home in Columbus under construction

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus’ first 3D printed home is taking shape, thanks to a local company's business dealings in Spain.

The home is currently being constructed on East 26th Avenue in South Linden by a machine very similar to a desktop 3D printer. The printer itself is a metal frame set up around and above the property where the home will be built. An operator fits the printer with a hose; in a desktop printer, this would feed plastic filament, but on the printer, it feeds in a specialized concrete.

When the printer is running, a nozzle called an extruder presses the building materials down into the home's frame. The printer makes several passes around the frame, stacking layer after layer of materials to ultimately make the walls of the home. The printer moves based on guidelines given by a computer program from a digital 3D model of the home.

When NBC4 toured the site, the machine wasn’t running. However, contractor Mayo Makinde -- who acquired the printer through a Spanish company called BeMore3D -- shared video showing it in action. In about four hours, the printer had laid down the beginnings of the home's exterior.

“This house will (have) 11-foot walls that will be erected,” Makinde said. 

Makinde said the home-sized printers normally cost somewhere around $1 million to buy, but he was able to secure a deal with BeMore3D. While using 3D printers in the construction industry is fairly new, he believes there are benefits to building homes with them versus the traditional way. He said the printer's software estimated it only needed 13 more hours running to complete the home's frame.

“It’s less time, less people, less material, less money,” Makinde said.

According to the contractor, he needs four people to run the machine, which spans the entire site. It requires precise measurement and attention to detail. Makinde noted that the 3D printed approach doesn't come without hassles, as a bad batch of concrete forced them to stop printing temporarily. Since the contractors had to stop printing the home before it was finished, he said he'll carefully have to realign the printer's extruder with the frame to start back up again.

Before Makinde even got the 3D printer up and running at the site, he needed approval from the City of Columbus. He noted getting a permit from the city took a little longer than what it may take for a traditional home, but appreciated the city’s support.

NBC4 reached out to Columbus City Council to get their take on the project, and Shayla Favor sent a statement in return.

"As we grapple with our region’s growing housing and homelessness crisis, borne out of supply and demand, we must continue to be innovative," Favor wrote. "This means being creative with our space, materials and embracing non-traditional housing options, like 3D printed homes. Just like zoning reform, tiny homes and emergency rental assistance, 3D printed homes is one tool in our toolbox to combat the housing crisis."

Makinde expects the house to be completed by the end of the month once more specialized concrete arrives. Once it’s complete, people will be able to tour the home. Makinde told NBC4 that the prototype house is being donated to Makinde Foundation -- his nonprofit -- as a way to encourage youth to get involved in construction. 

Makinde added his team is having conversations for more work within Columbus, and they are looking for investors.