Photos by Renee Landuyt
Tom Woodman and Evelyn Woodman stand in front of the 3D printed house built by their nonprofit organization Citizen Robotics.
There’s a one-story house with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a decent-sized attic on Sheridan Street in Detroit. The nearly 1,000-square-foot building, plastered and painted in a moss-green shade, stands out in the neighborhood not only for its newness, but more importantly for its age.
It is the state’s first 3D-printed home and was built by the 501(c)3 organization Citizen Robotics, founded by Tom Woodman and his daughter Evelyn Woodman.
Grosse Pointe Park residents completed the home in January, four years after founding the nonprofit organization, whose goal is to reduce the cost of home construction by using robotic construction techniques and teach others how to build more effectively using 3D technology.
The house
A pair of 3D printed interior walls demonstrate the versatility of 3D printing.
Photos exhibited in the hallway tell the story of the entire construction process, from the idea to its realization.
At its Corktown factory, the Citizen Robotics team used a robotic arm that “used to build cars but now builds houses,” says Tom Woodman, to print wall segments out of cementitious 3D-printable mortar. The segments were then transported to the 30-by-100-foot lot.
“They came across as empty cavities,” said Tom Woodman, noting that this allowed builders to run electrical wiring inside the walls before spray foam insulation was applied. It took two people three hours to completely insulate the perimeter of the house.
“It’s termite resistant, rot resistant and fire resistant,” said Tom Woodman. “This house has a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rating of 45, so it’s extremely energy efficient.”
“…When you print a house with concrete, you push out layer by layer and make it airtight,” he added. “That’s how you get efficiency in the house. This is not just a 3D printed novelty; it embodies things we want right now.”
The precision of 3D printing helps eliminate waste, resulting in material savings. The built-in energy efficiency will also save money on monthly energy bills. The home is ready for net-zero energy use, he added, meaning solar panels can be added for extra efficiency.
In addition to the exterior walls, two non-functional interior walls were 3D printed, as well as two large planters on the veranda and some tables inside. The roof system was also digitally manufactured.
On the outside, the textured layers were covered with stucco and painted, while the interior walls were clad in plasterboard – except for an exposed baseline that showcases the 3D-printed details.
“We wanted to show that it can be a ‘normal’ looking house,” said Evelyn Woodman.
She described the house as a “visitable home” because it does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, it does have wide doors and a step-free side entrance.
“The original intention was to create a building where seniors could age in,” she said. “But now, after all the people who have come through here, almost every demographic says they could live here.”
The location was chosen for its walkable location. The Red Hook cafe, Metropolitan Variety Store and Sister Pie Bakery are just a 10-minute walk away. Belle Isle and the Detroit Riverwalk are also less than a mile away.
Two 3D printed planters decorate the porch of the house.
The property was purchased through the Detroit Land Bank Authority for $7,500, but additional costs – $14,000 for permits and another $45,000 for water and sewer work – drove up the price.
“Was this house affordable? No,” said Tom Woodman. “But it is the first of its kind in the Midwest. It is a celebration of innovation.”
The Woodmans initially put the house up for sale for $224,500, but ultimately decided against selling in an effort to attract more people to the home and promote the project, which was funded by a grant and construction loan from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
“We got money from the government to partially fund the project,” said Tom Woodman. “…The appeal of 3D printing remains; there is a desire to participate.”
The Woodmans said they hope to have a long-term tenant found by October and also plan to expand their 3D footprint in the neighborhood by creating diverse housing options.
“This is not a model house,” said Tom Woodman. “Next we’ll print something completely different. This is a box, next we’ll print something that’s a funny shape. We’re going to embrace the freedom of form.”
Evelyn Woodman added: “This is process innovation that will lead to design innovation.”
Development of the construction industry
In addition to demonstrating the potential of 3D printing in housing, another goal of Citizen Robotics is to counteract the decline in the workforce.
“There is a shortage of workers in construction,” said Tom Woodman. “The people who work in construction are getting older and young people are not doing it anymore. It’s a bad problem that is getting worse every year.”
When other industries were struggling, he continued, they turned to robotics. Why should the housing industry be any different?
Tom Woodman, an MIT-trained engineer with a background in advanced manufacturing and digitization, said 3D-printed homes “need a movement.”
“We wanted to 3D print a house to show that it’s possible and to inspire others,” he added. “The next step is for people to experience it for themselves and decide for themselves what it means for the future. That’s what we need to do first.”
Through Citizen Robotics, the team has begun to publicize the possibilities of 3D printing.
“The community involvement is tremendous,” said Tom Woodman. “We demonstrate 3D printing at our facility and we demonstrate robots on trips to schools. The term ‘3D printing’ is in common parlance, but people don’t really know what it is.”
To address the skills shortage, Citizen Robotics wants to teach people how to build with robots. The nonprofit has held several fundraisers to fund workshops and trainings designed to involve young people in the process.
That’s right, the base of this table was created by a 3D printer.
The team just completed a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to build a mobile 3D sauna, something on a smaller scale that they can use as an educational tool.
“We’re taking advantage of the flexibility of 3D printing,” said Tom Woodman. “Then we’re taking it to wellness fairs around town. There they realize it’s not a regular sauna, and we’re talking about 3D and the benefits of 3D printing – and hopefully getting sponsors.”
The sauna will likely be printed in September as part of a month of design. Its sale will help fund future projects by Citizen Robotics, including expanding its 3D footprint to Sheridan.
“We’re raising $12 million to do more on the block,” said Tom Woodman, noting that plans include building duplexes and four-family homes.
“A quad is a cloverleaf-like structure,” he explained. “It’s four two-bedroom units in a single structure that is carbon neutral.”
The future
The Woodmans’ interest in communicating the value of 3D printing construction is intended to benefit future generations in a housing market that seems almost impossible to navigate.
“Evelyn will struggle to afford housing until she’s 40,” said Tom Woodman. “Her whole generation is struggling. This has become a problem that affects most people. We need to solve this for the children.”
“…The way I see it, housing and climate resilience issues need to be solved,” he added. “This is what we can do to solve them simultaneously.”
“There is a labor shortage in construction, amid a labor shortage in all sectors. This is STEM for home building and this is an area we need to cover. … We can build better quality homes, but that can only happen with financing.”
“Whether it’s climate, design, accessibility or a career in technology, there’s a lot to cover and it can be confusing,” added Evelyn Woodman. “But it helps people get interested, no matter who they are.”
For more information, to donate, or to schedule a visit, visit citizenrobotics.org.
