The Law Offices of John Caravella, P.C. does not own this content. This content was create by Esther Bower, and was published to Fox 35 Orlando. To view the full article, please click here.
3D printing is transforming the construction industry, and the Space Coast is leading the way. The region’s first 3D-printed home is under construction right now in Melbourne, with more homes in the works. The new building is located just off Eau Gallie Boulevard near Wickham Road, and it’s not your normal construction site.
Number one, it’s pretty quiet because of where a new home is being built. There’s no dust swirling around in the air. There’s only a small construction crew working with cutting-edge, new robots to make the home. Layer by layer, a team of robots is building the walls on a brand new 2,100 sq. foot home.
“Why reinvent the wheel when we can make the exact same thing, just better, faster, and more affordably?” asked Trevor Ragno, a director at Apis Cor.
Viera-based company Apis Cor says 3D printing is the future. Robots work together to prep the concrete and pour the finished product with little help from humans.
“We’re not reinventing the wheel, so the process and the guidelines are exactly the same,” said Josh McCarthy, who’s the general contractor on the build.
He says 3D-printed homes follow the same codes as normal buildings but are safer for construction crews.
“It’s very nice as a contractor to have my people come and be able to go home exactly the same way they showed up,” he added.
Neighbors who live nearby have hardly noticed the new construction because the robots don’t make much noise.
“I haven’t heard anything. It’s been real quiet. I can’t wait to see it, to be finished and built,” said David McGuire, who came by to see the home on Friday.
When finished, Ragno says the four-bed, four-bath home will cost around $300,000.
He’s betting on 3D printing to build homes faster when workers are hard to find.
“For every seven people leaving the construction industry, only one new person is joining,” Ragno concluded.
The home will take about three months to build from start to finish, and contractors are already working with Habitat for Humanity on the Space Coast to create new affordable homes.
John Caravella Esq., is a construction attorney and formerly practicing project architect at The Law Office of John Caravella, P.C., representing architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and owners in all phases of contract preparation, litigation, and arbitration across New York and Florida. He also serves as an arbitrator to the American Arbitration Association Construction Industry Panel. Mr. Caravella can be reached by email: [email protected] or (631) 608-1346.
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Esther Bower joined FOX 35 as a reporter in February 2023, and reports on Florida’s Space Coast part of our Brevard County news bureau.
While she didn’t grow up in the Sunshine State, she was born in Zephyrhills, Florida, making this a homecoming of sorts. Bower is a passionate journalist who is dedicated to connecting communities and empowering viewers.
Before joining FOX 35, she worked in Spokane, Washington, where she covered the tragic story of the four University of Idaho students who were murdered in their home, the sentencing for one of the first school shootings in the Inland Northwest, and the growing homelessness crisis on the West Coast.
Esther grew up in the farmland of Indiana, graduated from Ball State University, and studied at Northwestern University before starting her professional career. She loves the opportunity to bring people together and highlight humanity through stories of hope stemming from tragedy and neighbors supporting each other.
In her free time, she cherishes spending time with her family, trying new foods (the spicier the better!), running, dancing, and growing her faith. She’s so excited to call Central Florida home.
The Law Offices of John Caravella, P.C. does not own this content. This content was create by Esther Bower, and was published to Fox 35 Orlando. To view the full article, please click here.