Developer Applies 3D Print Tech to Homebuilding in Austin

With Austin’s rise as a tech center, affordability has become an issue for homebuyers. But developer ICON hopes to relieve the market pressure by 3D printing houses.

The Austin-based builder recently launched its latest project in the city’s Mueller neighborhood, according to MySA.com. The project put three one-bedroom 3D-printed homes — each about 650 square feet — on the market on July 31.

More two- and three-bedroom houses will soon go up for sale as part of the Mueller Affordable Homes Program, which aims to make living in Austin more accessible. The program is supported by The Mueller Foundation, which provides affordable housing.

The new homes are designed for income-qualifying individuals who make up to 80 percent of area median income. They feature open-layout living, dining and kitchen areas on the first floor, and bedrooms and bathrooms on the second. The developer’s goal is to offer efficient, comfortable housing without compromising on modern design.

The ICON website features 3D Mueller homes with customized design touches and “blended natural materials.” The company’s appeal to eco-friendly buyers includes the use of low-carbon concrete in the homes. Its technology also includes robotic cranes to layer the concrete in 3D-printed structures.

The website did not disclose pricing for the affordable one-bedroom models, but two-bed houses list at $965,000 and three bedrooms cost $1.3 million. The website shows the company has sold seven units in the project.

Mueller, a master-planned community in central Austin, offers access to Dell Children’s Medical Center, Austin Film Studios, The Thinkery museum H-E-B, and the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center. Catellus Development Group is the master developer for the project, with ICON and other companies, including Muskin Builders and David Weekley Homes, active on the site.

ICON’s foray into 3D-printed homes involves more than Mueller. The company also developed the world’s first 3D-printed hotel, El Cosmico in Marfa, and is selling homes in Wimberley Springs and Wolf Ranch in Georgetown.