Dubai will be Home to First 3D Printed Office Building

Not every revolution comes at you like a Molotov cocktail. Some are quieter, sneaking up on you, seemingly developing overnight when you aren’t looking. The combination of additive manufacturing (AM) and construction is the quiet kind of revolution that even blindsides people who should know better.

WinSun Global and the Museum of the Future have partnered to bring on the revolution. The Chinese company, which has already proven its mastery of AM construction, has agreed to erect an office building in Dubai purely through 3D printing. It sound innocuous enough, but, once the project is completed, WinSun will have set the foundations for a whole new industry with the first commercial sale of a building made through AM.

Artist’s depiction of the finished 3D printed office building. Courtesy of the Museum of the Future.

“This building will be a testimony to the efficiency and creativity of 3D printing technology, which we believe will play a major role in reshaping construction and design sectors. We aim to take advantage of this growth by becoming a global hub for innovation and 3D printing. This is the first step of many more to come,” said H.E Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and chairman of UAE National Innovation Committee.

The modest 2,000 sq.ft. building will be constructed near the Museum of the Future and act as temporary office space for its staff. Printing will be accomplished by a 20 ft. tall AM system, which will construct the basic components of the building. These components will then be assembled in a few weeks to finish the building.

Not only will the building be 3D printed, but so will much of the office equipment found inside the building, including furniture. The interior design is based on modern ideas of business communication and flow of ideas.

It might not sound like much, but this could be the start of a serious movement toward AM construction. If the project goes smoothly and people are impressed with the results, Dubai is a good place to showcase AM construction’s potential. Below you’ll find a video about Dubai.

Source: Museum of the Future