Dubai is home not just to the wealthy, but now the newest 3D-printed office building. The structure is claimed to be the first functioning 3D-printed office building and is part of the UAE's attempt at cutting costs and saving time, Reuters reported.
According to the report, the structure, a proof of concept, was built using a special cement mixture and all the necessary testing carried out in Britain and China. Measuring 2,700 square feet, the structure was built using a 3D printer measuring 20 feet by 120 feet by 40 feet.
"This is the first 3D-printed building in the world, and it's not just a building, it has fully functional offices and staff," the United Arab Emirates Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohamed Al Gergawi was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"We believe this is just the beginning. The world will change," he added.
The building, which cost $170,000 to build, is an arc-shaped structure and will reportedly house the Dubai Future Foundation — the company behind the project – for the time being. Construction was completed in 17 days.
Cnet reported that the number of people involved in the construction process totalled 18, with one person in charge of monitoring the printer, seven taking care of installing building components on site and 10 specialists, including electricians looking after the engineering. The report also said 50 percent cost savings was achieved by 3D printing the structure.
Al Gergawi said 3D printing could reduce construction time by beween 50 and 70 percent and that Dubai aims to have 25 percent of its buildings 3D-printed.
