Restructuring Construction: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

As the 2023 calendar winds down and we embark on 2024, we must acknowledge those far-fetched technological trends our world has seen advance this year. For instance, Adaptive AI, 3D Printing, the Metaverse, deep fakes or humanoid, 5G - the lists are insurmountable. Rather subtle warnings from the Jetsons or the Simpsons, the creators for those shows warned us of a new tomorrow, be it intentional or a figment of their imaginations. Many of those ideas are here, have been here, or are on the way. The technological revolution has evolved in the last 10 years to something more than we could phantom at the time. It still tickles me that my 92-year-old grandfather can text long paragraphs complete with emojis and pictures. Technology has bridged a gap for generations to communicate and lead easier lives. From Artificial Intelligence, video chat, ChatGPT, robot servers, self-driving cars, Google, the internet itself for God’s sakes -- these lists are infinite. Soon we will be able to live, play, and work in SPACE. Even writing this seems like an anomaly. Change is among us. Are you prepared?

Comparable to any revolution that has shaped the fabric of our world, there were doubters, naysayers, and nonbelievers but there were people who understood and believed in the vision. Revolutions produce a change that we would otherwise not deem necessary or valuable to the direction the world is headed. I can only attest for myself when I say I’m eternally grateful for the internet. Its countless contributions to our world have birthed major changes through the healthcare, education, government, finance, entertainment, construction, engineering, communication, and law enforcement sectors. Can you imagine life without Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or WebEX at this point? And this is the bare minimum or “strict minimum” as the French would say, of what technological advances have introduced. [Grab your smart phone and ask Google how to pronounce it. My daughter has been learning French through an App on her iPad for the last three weeks.] That's good ole’ technology.

The Constructs of Constructions The construction industry is on an upward trajectory in the same manner as the internet was with the first slow AOL dial-up connection. [Insert the dial-up sound here, for those who are old enough to remember it.]

In October, I had the opportunity to hear a presentation from Zachary Mannheimer, Founder & Chairman of Alquist 3D, at the Technical College Systems of Georgia [TCSG] Leadership Conference in Savannah, GA. The information he shared was mind-blowing for me. Immediately, I thought about how the construction industry would change the face of how we understand and know it for the next twenty years with 3D printed homes. Yes, I said 3D printed. Alquist 3D builds or “prints” homes using a ginormous printer that efficiently prints homes made from concrete. In 20 hours, you can have a 1500 square foot home printed and ready to be filled with drywall, if you prefer, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc. In December 2021, the first 1,500 square foot home was printed and is currently lived in. Intriguing, right?! These homes do follow standard regulation and code requirements , can be financed through a traditional bank, and have the typical one-year warranty.

Think about how a document used to be duplicated before printers. It was scribed (handwritten) by a human. Now your document can be printed effortlessly using your Epson or HP while you make a turkey sandwich. This is the idea of 3D printed homes. It does not require a crew of ten people to build a home in 30 days (fictional numbers, but you get it). A 3D printed home can be “printed” in hours with fewer people and time to spare. These homes will save the construction industry millions of dollars, resources, and man hours. This will create jobs and opportunities for people to upskill by learning how to operate, repair, and innovatively improve the design of 3D printed homes.

During an interview with Zach, we did a deeper dive into 3D printing as all my looming questions simmered, Zach made the explanation simple.

 “Think of it like this, these homes are concrete. People have been building concrete buildings for thousands of years. These homes can be built in any part of the world. Yes, there are places where the homes are more needed or more optimal but can be built anywhere.” Explains Zach.

A concrete home is a game changer. Then I thought about natural disasters, fires, normal wear and tear, long term cost savings, and home repairs. Insurance companies would save millions of dollars during natural disasters because these homes are built to last. The devastation that natural disasters cause alone are enough to have everyone invest in a 3D printed home today. The idea is to move life forward. Like the internet revolution there were slow changes made in the last 25 years to make it what it is today. I predict that Alquist 3D, using state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, will be an innovative pioneer on the side of construction as Amazon and Google were to the internet. Zach goes on to share “As of now, 3D printed home prices are comparable to building a traditional home. In the next two years, we predict there will be a 30% cost savings on the building of a home as the cost of materials are lowered and people have more experience with their 3D printed home. However, initial savings will be 50% lowered energy bills.” Lowered energy bills already sound like a win! The maintenance on the house is almost cut in half, “these walls are pretty tough” says Zach. As I only can imagine what the founders of the internet thought process was at the very beginning, I’m compelled to think Zach and the leadership at Alquist 3D have similar sentiments on what the construction industry will look like 25 years from now.

Alquist 3D has relocated their headquarters to Greeley, Colorado and will work closely with Habitat for Humanity in 2024 to print more homes. “Alquist will now print infrastructures such as curbs and sidewalks.” Explained Zach. The possibilities are endless! Imagine being able to see a highway being built in six months rather than six years. Dealing with unbearable qualms of traffic would be a distant memory. I’m here for it.

“The revolution will not be televised.”

This is a line from a prolific poem written by Gil Scott Heron. Listen, read, talk about, and get in front of how our world is being shaped. Do not be left behind!

For information visit www.Alquist3D.com for more information. #Alquist3D #construction #change #3Dprinting #building #Read #Learn