Yes, you read that right. This isn't a science fiction movie. The UAE may soon get its very own 3D-printed skyscraper – the world's first 3D-printed Skyscraper at that.
Dubai-based construction technologies start-up, Cazza technologies has announced this ambitious plan to further stimulate the Emirate's construction industry with its 3D-printing construction services and technologies. Cazza technologies are known for producing a 3D printing construction system that combines the use of mobile 3D printing robots with currently available construction methods to make construction processes faster, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.
From houses to skyscrapers
The idea of using 3D printing to build skyscrapers is not necessarily new. A New York-based company Arconics recently revealed their concept of an environment friendly 3D printed skyscraper that could eat smog.
Chris Kelsey, Cazza CEO, explained their transition to skyscrapers as -
When we first thought of implementing 3D printing technologies, we were mostly thinking of houses and low-rise buildings. Developers kept asking us if it was possible to build a 3D printed skyscraper. This led us to begin researching how we could adapt the technologies for taller structures.
The Design group has reportedly found a solution in crane printing, which will also address skyscraper’s plans to have 25% of buildings 3D printed by 2030. The structures of crane printer would be a minimum of 80 meters high according to Cazza.
Crane Printing
The company will use its crane-printing method to build 3D structures from the height of 80 meters and up. This method involves using cranes which are modified specifically for 3D printing. There would be various materials used, including concrete and steel.
Fernando De Los Rios, COO at Cazza, said about their process -
The crane printing system can be easily adopted with existing cranes which means we don’t have to build cranes from scratch. We are adding new features to make it adaptable to high wind speeds along with the use of our layer smoothing system that creates completely flat surfaces. You won’t know its 3D printed.
According to the company, its crane printing process will have all general structural components of the skyscraper, including reinforced steel and concrete. The rest part of the building will be constructed with a combination of 3D printing and traditional methods. The cranes will print all of it in 3D specific parts of buildings, with the remaining construction undertaken through existing methods.
3D Printing Everything!
3D printed technology has already established a foothold in numerous fields. Late last year, the Dubai government announced its 3D Printing Strategy, which directs to see 25% of buildings in the city constructed using 3D printing technology by 2030. The United Arab Emirates is already home to the world's first functional 3D printed office building.
Cazza may be the first company to aim to 3D print a skyscraper, but other companies have successfully completed many smaller projects, including a Suzhou-style Chinese villa in Binzhou and a tiny guesthouse in Amsterdam. As many more projects such as those are undertaken, the technology will become cheaper, further speeding up the pace of adoption.
The skyscraper may not be happening in the near future because although Cazza has only announced its plans, it has not yet revealed any of the details of the project, including the planned height, building’s client, budget, site or any commencement or completion dates. At this point in time, this simply an idea in the works as the Cazza has been very selective with the information it’s releasing regarding this project. But, undoubtedly Dubai is no stranger to 'firsts' so we have no doubt may be this could soon become a surprising reality to the world. As of now, there are no details about which developer has gone to commissioned Cazza to design the skyscraper or what’s the height of the building would be.
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