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Habitat W-E and partners unveil “the first 3D-printed homes in Canada”
Working to deliver a “high-quality, energy-efficient and net-neutral final product”
May 4, 2023 By Anthony Capkun
Nidus3d crew member operates the 3D printer at the site of The Bridge Youth Resource Centre in Leamington, Ont. Source: Business Wire. May 4, 2023 – Huntsman Building Solutions, Nidus3D, Great Northern Insulation, and Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex report they have completed “the first 3D-printed homes in Canada, with plans for more to come in the following year”.
“This was a new idea which required creativity, flexibility, and patience as we worked through the design and testing process to deliver a high-quality, energy-efficient and net-neutral final product which could comfortably house those in need of assistance,” said Fiona Coughlin, Habitat for Humanity W-E, adding the project “allowed us to break new ground in the field of 3D printing and create something amazing.”
The project began in 2021, when Habitat partnered with the University of Windsor, Great Northern, Huntsman and Nidus3D (among others) to research and develop the first 3D-printed homes for residential use in Canada.
The pour-in-place insulation foam accommodates complex structures. Source: Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex.
The project aims provide affordable housing to those at risk of homelessness and elevate members of the community through The Bridge Youth Resource Centre, reports Huntsman. Four units have been built and certified, with designs focused on accessibility and net-zero emissions. The four-plex housing offers a kitchen and living space, a bathroom with mechanicals, and a bedroom suitable one to two individuals.
The build used Huntsman’s closed-cell, pour-in-place (PIP) Foam 250, as it accommodates complex structures. The weather-resistant insulation product also provides an air and vapour barrier.
“Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex and the University of Windsor worked incredibly hard to research and design materials which would stand the test of time, so we wanted to match that commitment with a product that maintains prime condition far into the future,” said Huntsman’s Rob Serino.
The project received funding from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.’s Innovation Fund, which “supports new ideas that will drive change and disrupt the industry… ideas and approaches that will evolve the affordable housing sector and create the next generation of housing in Canada”.
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