Iowa City partners won’t move ahead with 3D-printed houses | The Gazette

Decision made as similar Muscatine project terminated

Nov. 10, 2024 6:00 am

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IOWA CITY — Better Together 2030, a regional collaboration that works to better Johnson County, was partnering early last year with Alquist 3D, Hodge Construction, Axiom Consultants and Neumann Monson Architects to create more affordable housing with a 3D-printed multiunit project in Iowa City.

The proposed $1.8 million project would include six three-bedroom town homes that would be sold to residents who earned 60 to 80 percent of the area’s median income. The project would have been one of the first multiunit 3D-printed buildings in North America.

3D-printed builds are constructed similarly to other buildings, except the walls are made of concrete poured by a robot. Typically, the builds use a form of reinforced concrete that can be stronger than traditional concrete.

At the time, a location for the project, a funding source and a contract with Alquist 3D had yet to be finalized. However, a potential construction start date was set for summer 2023.

As the partners were talking about the potential for a 3D-printed build in Iowa City, the Greater Community Foundation of Muscatine had started working with Alquist 3D on a project to bring 10 3D-printed homes to that area. The Muscatine project was estimated to be completed by the end of 2023.

In November 2023, the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine chose to demolish the project’s first partially completed 3D-printed home over concerns it would not hold up in Iowa’s climate and that the material used by Alquist 3D “underperformed in the field.”

“Alquist 3D’s project in Muscatine was part of an early exploration into sustainable, high-quality 3D construction. Alquist 3D and the Muscatine Community Foundation amicably agreed to end the project due to differing views on materials and execution,” Alquist 3D’s Chief Executive Officer Zachary Mannheimer said in an email.

Mannheimer said that Alquist 3D gave back the compensation it had received at the time to the community foundation.

Before the Muscatine project was torn down, stakeholders in the potential Iowa City project had a chance to visit the Muscatine site. At the time of the visit, Better Together 2030 had not signed a contract with Alquist 3D.

“When we try to do these things, we're testing it for the market, and we were very lucky. We took a conservative approach into how we reviewed the projects and the proposals, and the fact that Muscatine started printing first allowed us to learn from what they were doing over there,” said Cady Gerlach, executive director of Better Together 2030.

Ultimately, a decision was made to not move forward with a 3D-printed build with Alquist 3D.

While Better Together 2030 doesn’t have any plans to resume conversations about 3D-printed houses, the organization would be open to reconsidering if the right project emerged.

“We're open to experimentation of any technology that helps move the affordable housing needle. I think for 3D printing, we would like to start smaller with (accessory dwelling units) or other things that might be something that can we can test the structural integrity and see how it handles our climate,” Gerlach said. “But we're always open to new ideas and anything that can help in affordable housing issues”

Alquist 3D, formerly based in Iowa City, relocated its headquarters to Greeley, Colo., in October 2023. Since then, the company has worked with the city of Greeley and is in the process of working with Walmart on potential 3D-printed commercial structures.

“While discussions on a potential project in Iowa City did not progress beyond the strategic phase, Alquist 3D is looking ahead to new ventures, including a second project with Walmart early next year. We are excited to continue building innovative structures across the country and remain open to future opportunities in Iowa,” Mannheimer said.

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