It's no surprise that Dubai, a global city that not only happens to be the locus of the business world in the Middle East, but one of the most expensive cities in the world, will most likely be the first to 3D-print an office building — but at what cost?
On June 20, the United Arab Emirates National Innovation Committee (UAENIC) announced their ambitious plans to create the 20-foot one-story prototype in a statement given by UAENIC chairman Mohamed Al Gergawi:
"This building will be a testimony to the efficiency and creativity of 3D printing technology, which we believe will play a major role in reshaping construction and design sectors. We aim to take advantage of this growth by becoming a global hub for innovation and 3D printing. This is the first step of many more to come."
The 3D printer will produce materials at the proposed building site for both structural and interior elements, which will be made out of special reinforced concrete, glass fiber reinforced gypsum and fiber reinforced plastic.
A Chinese company called WinSun will be overseeing the project. WinSun's previous experience includes the construction of a series of 10 3D-printed homes under the course of 24 hours. Construction of the office building is projected to take no more than a few weeks.
While labor is also estimated to be reduced by 80 percent, it calls into question the UAE's general labor practices, which are no stranger to forced labor and general exploitation.
WinSun also has a somewhat shady background, given that UC-Berkeley professor Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis has accused Ma Yihe, the company's CEO, of stealing his patented technology.
