Ontario Construction News staff writer
The University of Windsor has started 3D printing what it says will be Canada’s first net-zero, multi-storey student residence — a project officials describe as a major step forward for sustainable construction and housing innovation.
Work is underway at 1025 California Ave., where a large-scale 3D printer is now forming the building’s concrete structure layer by layer. The project is backed by a $2-million investment from the federal government through FedDev Ontario, alongside support from industry partners.
“This project shows what’s possible when government, academia and industry work together with purpose,” University of Windsor president J.J. McMurtry said in a statement. “With support from FedDev Ontario and our incredible partners, we are demonstrating how 3D printing can make homebuilding faster, more affordable and more sustainable.”
The residence will include seven units and operate as a net-zero building. It will also serve as a living laboratory for engineering students studying how 3D-printed construction can reduce costs, speed up timelines and lower environmental impacts. The site will act as a training ground for students entering the emerging field of additive construction.
Desjardins Ontario Credit Union has committed $250,000 through its Community Development Fund, while Printerra Inc. is serving as the project’s innovation partner.
“Our contribution to the University of Windsor is a strategic investment in the future health of our communities,” Desjardins Ontario Credit Union CEO Billy Boucher said. “This bold initiative exemplifies the potential of sustainable construction.”
The university says the first layers of the building have now been printed, marking an early milestone in the construction of Canada’s first multi-storey, 3D-printed student residence.