First of its kind 3D project printing off new affordable homes
A first of its kind affordable home construction project is underway in Leamington, Ont. after Nidus3D and Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex started pouring the walls of four new 3D printed homes on Thursday.
It is part of a research partnership with the University of Windsor and others to analyze and build the first 3D printed homes for residential use in Canada.
“It's totally innovative, and it's all about trying to move the needle on housing,” says Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Fiona Coughlin. “Trying to reduce waste, trying to increase the speed of how we can get housing up and trying to reduce the cost.”
Coughlin says 3D printing could be a game-changing solution to the current housing crisis, suggesting that over time, 3D printing may increase the efficiency of building, promote housing density and reduce some costs associated with construction.
“We thought it was going to be the first 3D printed home for residential use in Canada, and we found out last week it's actually going to be the first multi-unit residential building in North America. So this is incredible,” Coughlin adds.
The project will result in four units, in a self-contained home, inside a four-plex design.
Officials say they will be accessible, net zero ready, and will comply with local planning and building regulations for residential use.
Coughlin hopes 3D printed affordable homes will become more commonplace as research advances.
“We need to come up with new and innovative ways to address the challenges. We know that in Windsor-Essex, there's over 6,000 people at risk of homelessness. And we have a lot of people that aren't even at risk of homelessness, but just struggling to find something affordable and attainable,” Coughlin says.
The 500-square-foot units are considered “tiny” with about $600,000 budgeted for the project.
Coughlin tells CTV News this unique build is being partially funded through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Innovation Fund.
“One of the pieces that is going to come out at the end is a cost benefit analysis. So we'll be actually reporting on how much did the research cost and what went into the research, and what pieces are one time costs,” Coughlin says. “And then what pieces are the costs that would be for anyone else who wanted to copy our work, and we will be publishing all of that so someone could take what we've learned and actually build on it and do even better than us.”
The homes will be available through another partnership with the Bridge Youth Resource Centre for individuals and couples in need of attainable housing. Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex and the University of Windsor hope to advance the partnership by matching students with Habitat to continue to build on the learnings provided by this funding.
“They're going to look beautiful.” Coughlin explains. “It's going to have that urban concrete feel. We're going to be doing this real urban design on the inside as well to make them really have that New York loft look, and then each individual has a home that they can put their own flare to it and really put their own stamp on it.“
Officials say they hope to have the units’ move-in-ready by July 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.