The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has unveiled a 3D-printed building at the DOE’s inaugural Industry Day event on Wednesday.
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the 38x12x13-foot Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) building can be used for off-the-grid shelter.
A photovoltaics roof works with a natural gas generator to provide lighting and power for the building’s micro-kitchen.
The enclosure conserves energy due to its high levels of insulated solid surfaces (79%) to glazed areas (21%). The battery of the attached 3D-printed vehicle provides supplementary power for the building. Using bi-directional wireless energy gets the building off the power grid at peak demand times.
AMIE condenses the functions of a conventional wall system (structure, insulation, air and moisture barriers, and exterior cladding, for example) into an integrated shell. This could lead to zero-waste construction, and it makes the buildings easier to be recycled and reprinted for other purposes.
Related Stories
| May 30, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: An AEC giant’s roadmap for integrating design, manufacturing, and construction
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), Skender CEO Mark Skender and Chief Design Officer Tim Swanson present the construction giant’s vision for creating a manufacturing-minded, vertically-integrated design-manufacturing-build business model.
| May 30, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: From micro schools to tiny houses: What’s driving the downsizing economy?
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), micro-buildings design expert Aeron Hodges, AIA, explores the key drivers of the micro-buildings movement, and how the trend is spreading into a wide variety of building typologies.
Modular Building | Jan 12, 2017
The largest modular construction hotel project in New York City is starting to get pieced together
The hotel’s 300 rooms are made from 210 prefabricated pods from Polcom Modular.
Building Materials | Jan 9, 2017
Architects and researchers are developing new techniques for building in space
As setting foot on Mars becomes a more realistic goal, the search for how to best develop Architecture for the Red Planet is heating up.
Modular Building | Jul 22, 2016
PNC Bank’s 'Tiny Branch' opens on West Virginia University campus
The new branch doesn’t need much space for its ATM and new accounts and personal loans services.
Transit Facilities | Jun 12, 2016
Philippines’ oldest city getting its first public bus system
New York-based CAZA designed the modular bus stops with the city’s extreme weather conditions in mind.
Modular Building | May 17, 2016
Oklahoma’s first modular hotel will begin construction next month
Guerdon Modular Buildings will produce 81 modules for this project.
Modular Building | Feb 26, 2016
CHPS releases new program, first model for prefab modular classrooms
Provides standards for indoor air quality, energy efficiency, materials, and waste management.
Game Changers | Feb 5, 2016
Asia’s modular miracle
A prefab construction company in China built a 57-story tower in 19 days. Here’s how they did it.
Game Changers | Feb 4, 2016
GAME CHANGERS: 6 projects that rewrite the rules of commercial design and construction
BD+C’s inaugural Game Changers report highlights today’s pacesetting projects, from a prefab high-rise in China to a breakthrough research lab in the Midwest.