Tampa’s First 3D-Printed Home Paves Way for Affordable Housing Revolution
A robotic arm builds the first 3D-printed house in Hillsborough County as part of a plan to address Florida’s housing crisis. The three-bedroom, two-bath structure on Lurline Circle in East…
A robotic arm builds the first 3D-printed house in Hillsborough County as part of a plan to address Florida's housing crisis. The three-bedroom, two-bath structure on Lurline Circle in East Tampa relies on concrete printed layer by layer from a computer file instead of standard block construction.
The Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa spearheads this initiative. It encompasses 18 houses on Knoll Pine Way, with four utilizing 3D printing methods. This particular structure replaces a property that burned down on Lurline Circle.
"Everything is the same, as far as traditional construction, other than, instead of putting up block, we're building, we're printing the actual exterior walls," said Will Crawford with CDC of Tampa to Tampa Bay 28.
Walls can be printed on site. They can also be printed in a warehouse before permits get issued. This speeds up the timeline. Developers say the approach cuts costs while creating structures that better withstand Florida weather.
"This home will provide a family with a beautiful, affordable place to live, where they're not going to have to worry about the rising costs. Because they'll be in home ownership, stabilizing their housing cost. It'll also be more energy efficient, so they don't have to worry about the TECO bills," said Vanessa McCleary with CDC of Tampa.
Hillsborough County needs thousands of additional units as rising costs push workers away from their jobs. The workforce shortage has led restaurants and businesses to close.
"If your employees can't find an affordable place to live, they're not going to be your employees much longer," said McCleary. "We're seeing restaurants closing. We're seeing businesses closing. Why? Because the workforce isn't here. It's moving out of the area."
County leaders donated land and millions in funding to support the work. The East Tampa development is one piece of a larger plan for more than 150 housing units across the area, including a Seffner project for disabled veterans.
