UAE National Innovation Committee has revealed plans to construct the ‘first fully functional 3D-printed building’ in the world.
The small office building development is being created to promote technology that results in cost cutting and time saving for a growing city.
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UAE Cabinet Affairs minister and UAE National Innovation Committee chairman Mohammed Al Gergawi said: "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."
The building will be located near the ‘Museum of the Future’ in Dubai, and will serve as its temporary headquarters.
Planned as a single-storey prototype, the building will have around 2,000ft² of floor space, and be printed layer-by-layer through a 20ft-tall 3D printer, which will be assembled on the site over several weeks.
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By GlobalDataMaterials used for the 3D-printing will include reinforced concrete, gypsum reinforced with glass fiber, and plastic. Interior furniture, detailing, and structural components for the office building will also be created through the additive technology.
The building’s design incorporates requirements of future work with open and flexible workspaces that allow for multiple uses and team sizes. It will also feature a small, digital fabrication facility and a 3D-printing exhibition space.
In addition to being the first major project under the Museum of the Future, the development will also be a part of a larger partnership formed between the UAE city and WinSun Global, a joint venture between Chinese firm WinSun and international investors.
Architecture and engineering firms Gensler, Thornton Thomasetti, and Syska Hennessy will also be involved in the project.
"This project is part of our overall innovation strategy to create new designs and new solutions in education, healthcare and cities," Al Gergawi added.
"Our goal is to increase the happiness and well-being of our residents and to pioneer new solutions for the world."
The office is due to open in 2017.
Image: Design of UAE National Innovation Committee’s 3D-printed office building. Photo: courtesy of Museum of the Future.
