TAMPA, Fla. — The first 3D-printed affordable home in the city of Tampa is nearing completion in East Tampa, marking a milestone in both affordable housing and construction innovation.
The home, located on Lurline Circle, is being developed by the Corporation to Develop Communities (CDC) of Tampa. The nonprofit says the project is part of a broader strategy to increase affordable homeownership while investing in workforce development and neighborhood revitalization.
“This is the first 3D-printed home in the city of Tampa,” said Will Crawford, special projects manager for CDC of Tampa.
For Crawford, the project is deeply personal. He grew up in East Tampa and spent much of his childhood at the home that once stood on the property before it was destroyed by fire.
“I spent a lot of time in this house,” Crawford said. “The Baker family used to own this house, and it burned down some years ago. This was a true workforce neighborhood. We had pretty much every career you can imagine on this block.”
Construction is being completed using a gantry-style 3D printer that layers concrete to form the walls of the home.
“Each of these layers is a slice,” Crawford explained.
Beyond the technology, CDC of Tampa leaders say the project represents a larger investment in East Tampa.
“We have 90+ units of multi-family that we’re doing in East Tampa, so the vision is becoming materialized,” Ernest Coney, president and CEO of CDC of Tampa, previously told Spectrum News.
The organization also used the project to introduce young adults to emerging construction technology. Participants in CDC of Tampa’s YouthBuild program worked alongside construction crews, gaining hands-on experience with equipment that remains relatively new to the industry.
“One of the great things about this project was we actually used YouthBuild,” Crawford said. “We had young people learning a new skill that not many people in the world have been able to use this type of equipment.”
The development team says the project has also served as a learning experience for builders, engineers and developers adapting to a new method of home construction.
“Everyone was excited about the project, but there was a lot of learning that we all did — from the construction side, from the development side,” Crawford said.
As interest in 3D-printed construction continues to grow, CDC of Tampa says it is also preparing future workers through the Tampa Vocational Institute, which offers short-term trade and career certification programs.
Crawford believes the first home is only the beginning.
“We want East Tampa to be on the map as this innovation hub for workforce development, for innovation, for housing, affordable housing,” he said.
The first home is expected to be completed within the next few weeks and listed for sale in approximately two months. Eligible buyers may qualify for down payment assistance and first-time homebuyer programs, helping to make homeownership more attainable.