Apis Cor builds a 3D Printed Model Home in Florida

3D printing specialist Apis Cor has begun constructing a 3D printed model home in Melbourne, Brevard County, Florida. The 200-square-foot home is tailored to meet both the long-term and short-term rental needs of workers coming to the Space Coast region.

The home’s most striking feature is a curved 3D-printed wall that is a part of the spacious common area. The house has four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. What is particularly eye-catching is the construction cost, which is expected to be 38% below current market prices in Brevard County, making this project a viable option for affordable housing.

The inspiration for the home’s design comes from the growing number of young professionals in Brevard County. There, rapid economic growth has created a demand for innovative workforce housing solutions. Apis Cor’s initiative responds to the changing demographics and housing needs of the Space Coast community, setting an example for growing cities across the country.

The technology sector in Brevard County has experienced remarkable growth, with a 41.6% increase in high-tech employment in five years, adding 10,356 jobs. This economic boom underscores the need for innovative housing solutions, to which Apis Cor’s project aptly responds.

With the start of construction, including site development and earthworks, the mural is scheduled to open in mid-December 2023. Apis Cor’s own robots, Frank and Gary, will use durable 3D concrete printing to combine traditional construction robustness with advanced technology.

Trevor Ragno, Director of Construction Technologies at Apis Cor, explains, “Our 3D-printed walls are structurally identical to standard concrete block walls, featuring identical reinforcement and connection details. We are not reinventing the wall; we’re using technology to build the same walls faster, more sustainably, and with robotic precision.”

“We are thrilled about our varied 3D-printed housing initiatives in the Space Coast. Alongside our projects with Habitat for Humanity’s Space Coast chapter, this workforce house model showcases how innovative construction technologies can address community needs and contribute to economic growth,” he concludes.