Australia’s First 3D Printed Amenities Block Is Underway
3D printing construction is making its mark Down Under! In Dubbo, a city in New South Wales, Australia, the regional council has announced that 3D printing will be used to build a new amenities block in Macquarie Lions Park West. Expected to open in August this year, the 148 square meter 3D building is being constructed by Contour3D using 25 tonnes of Contour3D’s own material, Countourcrete, a specially-designed concrete containing 40% recycled materials.
This is not the first time we have heard of a large 3D printing construction project from Contour3D. The Australian company has been charged with a number of buildings including a 3D printed holiday park, also in Dubbo. The company is dedicated to creating sustainable solutions for buildings targeting especially affordable housing. This latest project falls under a similar vein as it seeks to improve accessibility and increase the number of toilets in Lions Park all while keeping environmental concerns and costs in mind.
The start of construction (left); the design of the final 3D printed amenities block (right)
Indeed, according to Ian Whipple, Manager Major Projects at Dubbo Regional Council, “The amenities block will be ‘printed’ using high strength concrete with significantly lower environmental impacts and wastage, and is expected to result in considerable savings to Council, compared to traditional construction methods.” Local news reported that the construction would not only be larger than the previous block, but would be $178,000 AUD cheaper.
A 3D Printed Amenities Block in Dubbo
So what exactly can we expect from this 3D printed amenities block? Well, as mentioned it will be completed about 148 square meters or about 1593 square feet with dimensions of 18.5m x 8m. Additionally, the structure will be made out of Countercrete. This material is interesting as it has been designed to keep the strength of the concrete but is made with recycled materials to make it more sustainable. Furthermore, Contour3D is constantly improving Countercrete through a partnership with the University of New South Wales, ensuring it can withstand the harsh Australian climate and keeping it strong and durable, which a cured strength of 45MPa, allowing it to stand for an estimated 100+ years.
Building started as well on July 10th with Contour3D’s Opus One 3D printer and is expected to take only 25 hours, though the building. Though completion has not yet been confirmed. Contour3D is responsible for the structural component of the building including walls, internal structure and roof while the internal fittings will be completed prior to the reopening. The goal is to have almost zero waster during construction and time will also be saved as an oxide color has already been added to the material, eliminating the need for painting.
Construction on the 3D printed amenities building started on July 10th in Dubbo, New South Wales
Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Mathew Dickerson concluded, “This will be the first time Dubbo Regional Council has used 3D printing technology and it is hoped that if the trial is successful Council will investigate future opportunities to [utilize] the technology. This project is on the cutting edge of technology, offering us a chance to see the future of construction as it happens. This method has the potential to [revolutionize] the way we build infrastructure and housing and Dubbo Regional Council is leading the way across the nation with this innovation being the first Council in Australia to [utilize] this construction method.” You can learn more about the project on Countour3D’s website HERE.
What do you think of this new 3D printed amenities block in Dubbo? Could you see this being recreated elsewhere? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
*All Photo Credits: Contour3D
