ICON, Lennar, and BIG team up for record-breaking 3D-printed home community

Lennar, one of the United States' leading homebuilders, and ICON, a company pioneering large-scale 3D printing, have recently announced a commitment to building the largest community of 3D-printed homes. The 100-home community, which will be codesigned by the renowned architecture firm BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, will be built using ICON's innovative robotics, software and advanced materials. The project is scheduled to break ground in 2022 and is expected to provide affordable, technology-driven homes that meet rising demand.

According to Eric Feder, President of LENX, "Labor and material shortages are two of the biggest factors pushing the dream of home ownership out of reach for many American families. Lennar has always expanded the boundaries of technological innovation to keep quality homes affordable and 3D printing is an immensely encouraging approach. We are excited to collaborate with ICON to develop solutions to emerging challenges in the coming years."

ICON's 3D printing technology produces resilient, energy-efficient homes faster than conventional construction methods with less waste and more design freedom. Designed and engineered from the ground up for volume 3D printing of homes with precision and speed, ICON's Vulcan construction system can deliver homes and structures up to 3,000 square feet that are built to the International Building Code (IBC) structural code standard and expected to last as long or longer than standard Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) built homes.

ICON's proprietary wall system and advanced materials are stronger and longer-lasting than traditional building materials and provide safer, more resilient homes that are designed to withstand extreme weather, greatly reduce the impact of natural disasters, and be printed at high speeds and at scale. Jason Ballard, the ICON co-founder and CEO, stated that "Construction-scale 3D printing not only delivers higher-quality homes faster and more affordably, but fleets of printers can change the way that entire communities are built for the better. The United States faces a deficit of approximately 5 million new homes, so there is a profound need to swiftly increase supply without compromising quality, beauty, or sustainability. That is exactly the strength of our technology."

By partnering with ICON and Lennar, the 3D-printed architecture and the photovoltaic roofs are innovations that are significant steps towards reducing waste in the construction process, as well as towards making homes more resilient, sustainable, and energy self-sufficient. Martin Voelkle, Partner at BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, said, "Additive manufacturing has the potential to revolutionize the built environment as it gets adopted by the industry at scale. By partnering with ICON and Lennar, we are able to see this new technology roll out to the widest possible audience."

In conclusion, this project has the potential to revolutionize the home-building industry, reduce waste, and increase the supply of quality homes. The commitment of Lennar and ICON to build the largest community of 3D-printed homes to date using ICON's innovative robotics, software, and advanced materials is a significant step towards meeting the rising demand for affordable homes in the United States. With the codesign of BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, this project is expected to deliver higher-quality homes faster, more affordably, and with more design freedom. The partnership between Lennar, ICON, and BIG is expected to have a significant impact on the future of community-scale development and the adoption of 3D printing technology in the homebuilding industry.