The Wall Street Journal had a very interesting article on March 11, “A 3-D-Printed Family Home?…” We have seen and written about the prefabrication revolution that is coming to residential and commercial construction, and it was interesting to see the 3-D printer application take the spotlight in the Journal. The company that was highlighted, Icon, says they can build up to a 2,000 square foot home and save 30% on construction costs.
If you click on the article you can see several pictures that highlight the look of the printed walls that resemble a Shar-Pei dog’s skin. There are also several quotes from people who have seen the final product and think it looks more like something that should be in a museum and not something you live in! The overall driver of the reach into 3-D printing is all about economics, with a claim of saving 30% on construction costs. We believe in the move to prefabrication as a superior way to save today on construction costs while the 3-D printing of concrete works out some of the kinks in the wall (pun intended).
Time and money are invested wisely into prefabrication with eVolve Mechanical and Electrical solutions. Clients have experienced significant time and labor costs while making the move into prefabrication. With the ongoing labor shortage we are big believers in the direction we have taken with eVolve software and consulting to deliver projects under budget and on time. Have you made the move to Revit? Still working in AutoCAD? Take a few minutes to reach out to us to tell us about your challenges and learn how we have helped others make the move to prefabrication. We don’t want your projects to be the “ugly dog” on the block.
Don’t forget to share this post!
We are an industry where machine and computer power enhance the work of the person, in many cases, making the very jobs we undertake possible. Modeling wouldn’t be feasible if not for the computing power of today’s equipment, from Robotic Total Stations (RTS) units to laptops and cranes.
Making the investment in Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems can transform construction operations from the start of any project, leading to more efficient use of time and materials in all phases of the build, including long after the active construction project is completed. Through BIM, savings can be realized for the stakeholders in the project–from the building owner to subcontractors–and the operator of the structure benefits far into the future.
While economic situation brings focus on improving ways to increase efficiency in the workplace, these money-saving ideas should be in place during all times. They are best practices that not only save money, but they also save time and cut down on waste, which critical in these eco-aware times.