Text: Dmitry Konstantinov ON MAY 23, 2016 IN DUBAI, THE WORLD PREMIER OF THE FULL-FUNCTIONAL OFFICE BUILDING FULLY PRINTED ON A 3D PRINTER HAS TAKEN PLACE. UNIQUE OBJECT WITH A TOTAL AREA OF 250 SQ. M REPRESENTED HIS HEALTH BY SHEIKH MUHAMMED BEN RASHID AL MAKTUM, PRIME MINISTER, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UAE AND THE GOVERNOR OF DUBAI. The opening ceremony was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, Member of the UAE Cabinet of Ministers and Chairman of the Innovation Development Committee Muhammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Finance Obeid Humeid Al Thayer and other senior officials.
The new office complex is the first completed project of the state-owned strategy for the industrial use of three-dimensional printing, which started less than a month ago. The strategy calls for the widespread use of 3D printers for the manufacture of building materials, medical instruments and consumer goods.
“Over time, the United Arab Emirates has become a kind of incubator for the emergence and development of innovative technologies,” Sheikh Mohammed said at the opening. “We hope that testing of such a promising direction as the use of three-dimensional printing in construction will benefit the whole world. This technology allows not only to reduce the cost, but also to accelerate the construction. "
One-story office complex consists of several modules, completely devoid of corners - both inside and outside. According to the architects, such an "arched" design is stronger and safer than traditional ones. Each unit was assembled from several components printed on a giant printer six in height, 12 in width and 36 meters in length. The composition of the "ink" for printing was developed in the United Arab Emirates and the USA, it included cement, gypsum, fiberglass and plastic. Multiple tests conducted in the UK and China have proven the strength and environmental friendliness of the new building material.
The total cost of construction amounted to about 140 thousand dollars, which is 50% cheaper than labor costs for the construction of the same area of the building from traditional materials by traditional methods. According to installers, electricians, and other specialists who assembled the turnkey office complex, construction waste also turned out to be 50% less. The team met in 17 days, this time included the connection of all utilities - electricity, ventilation and air conditioning and water supply. According to expert opinion, the time required to assemble a building from 3D components compared to traditional construction periods was reduced by 60%.
Panoramic glass facades are equipped with filters that prevent the heating of the premises by the sun's rays and thus carry out the tasks of general energy saving. The concept of interiors provides for both individual work areas and spaces for joint meetings, trainings, and brainstorming sessions. To begin with, the printout will become the temporary headquarters of the Dubai Future Foundation, then it will replenish the list of city business centers. According to the plans of the UAE government, by 2030, about a quarter of buildings in Dubai will be made using 3D printing technology.
“We, as a rule, carry out everything that we planned, and not in theory, but in practice,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized at the presentation of the “office of the future.” “A rapidly changing world makes us constantly accelerate the pace, people are not interested in abstract ideas and specific successes. We hope to eventually become a world leader in 3D printing and find new applications for this promising technology. "
