Canada’s First 3D Printed Student Residence Breaks Ground
The University of Windsor has begun 3D printing what will become Canada’s first net-zero, multi-storey student residence, marking a major national milestone in additive construction and sustainable building design. The project, which officially moved into its printing phase at 1025 California Avenue, showcases how large-scale 3D printing is shifting from experimentation to real-world application in Canada’s housing sector.
The initiative is supported by a two-million dollar investment from FedDev Ontario and is being carried out in partnership with several industry collaborators. The installation of a large concrete-printing system on site signals the transition from planning to active construction, giving researchers and builders an opportunity to demonstrate how additive manufacturing can reshape conventional building practices. The university believes that by printing structural elements directly on site, construction can be completed more efficiently, with reduced material waste and improved energy performance.
Dr. J.J. McMurtry, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Windsor, noted that the project underscores what coordinated innovation can achieve. He stated that the collaboration between government, academia, and industry shows how 3D printing can support faster, more affordable and more sustainable homebuilding. University researchers are treating the residence as both student housing and a real-time learning environment, with engineering students and faculty studying material performance, workflow strategies, and the environmental impact of large-scale additive construction.
The building, once complete, will provide seven residential units and serve as a long-term research platform for studies on sustainable construction technologies. Led by Dr. Sreekanta Das and his team in the Faculty of Engineering, the project aims to expand the Canadian talent pipeline for additive construction while generating data on energy performance and structural efficiency. The first printed layers already show the potential of precision-formed concrete prints, which create insulated, curved, or structurally optimized geometries that traditional construction cannot produce as easily.
Federal support has been central to moving the project forward. In a written statement, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, congratulated the university on reaching this stage. He highlighted the project as a strong example of how innovation and collaboration can advance housing solutions and improve manufacturing efficiency across the region.
Private and community partners are also playing an important role. Desjardins Ontario Credit Union has contributed two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to support the initiative through its Community Development Fund, describing the investment as a commitment to sustainable construction and local development. Printerra Inc., the additive construction company providing technology and expertise, emphasized that this milestone demonstrates how coordinated research and industry knowledge can widen adoption of 3D printed building systems. CEO Leigh Newman noted that the residence is a clear demonstration of what is possible when innovation is embedded into the construction process from the ground up.
With printing now underway, the University of Windsor’s project stands as a landmark for Canadian construction technology, marking one of the country’s first major steps toward bringing multi-storey additive manufacturing into mainstream building practice.
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*All photo credits: University of Windsor
