3D construction printing reached new heights this week as the world’s first 3D-printed medical center was completed in Thailand. Often associated with residential homebuilding, 3D construction printing (3DCP) is an industry innovation that aims to build homes faster, cheaper, and stronger.
The recently finished medical center in Saraburi, Thailand, spans 3,712 sf and is two stories tall—the first two story 3D-printed building in the ASEAN countries. The medical center was built by Siam Cement Group (SCG), the largest and the oldest cement and building material company in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Building the world’s first 3D-printed medical center
Using a BOD2 3D concrete printer from COBOD, the medical center bears a familiar wavy-wall design often seen in many 3D-printed structures. This building was specifically designed to support seismic loads as well. Due to the method of 3DCP, SCG was able to build the center at an increased speed with less labor required compared to conventional building methods.
The success of the Saraburi medical center was supported by SCG’s collaborative studies with Thailand universities. Chalermwut Snguanyat, 3D Printing and Fabric Concrete Technology Director from SCG, notes that the design of the 3D-printed medical center was approved by a senior professional engineer, and the materials used were SCG printing mortars with strength classes of C75/80 and C30/35 for load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls, respectively.
According to SCG, the building’s freeform design stands out for “only being possible due to the use of 3D construction printing.”
As an official distributor of COBOD in Thailand, SCG aims to continue increasing construction efficiencies, improving design, and reducing the environmental footprint by generating less waste on the construction site.
RELATED:
- 3D printing for construction advances in Germany
- Montana becomes first U.S. state to approve 3D printing in construction
- Will 3D printing be an answer for building more affordable homes?
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Jan 22, 2024
Top 100 Outpatient Facility Architecture Firms for 2023
HDR, CannonDesign, Stantec, Perkins&Will, and ZGF top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest outpatient facility architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes design revenue for work related to outpatient medical buildings, including cancer centers, heart centers, urgent care facilities, and other medical centers.
Giants 400 | Jan 22, 2024
Top 40 Outpatient Facility Engineering Firms for 2023
Jacobs, IMEG, TLC Engineering Solutions, KPFF Consulting Engineers, and Syska Hennessy Group head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest outpatient facility engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes design revenue for work related to outpatient medical buildings, including cancer centers, heart centers, urgent care facilities, and other medical centers.
Giants 400 | Jan 22, 2024
Top 60 Outpatient Facility Construction Firms for 2023
DPR Construction, PCL Construction Enterprises, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Skanska USA, and Power Construction top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest outpatient facility general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes construction revenue for work related to outpatient medical buildings, including cancer centers, heart centers, urgent care facilities, and other medical centers.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Jan 17, 2024
Waterproofing deep foundations for new construction
This continuing education course, by Walter P Moore's Amos Chan, P.E., BECxP, CxA+BE, covers design considerations for below-grade waterproofing for new construction, the types of below-grade systems available, and specific concerns associated with waterproofing deep foundations.
Healthcare Facilities | Jan 16, 2024
A new mental health center in Miami offers alternatives to incarceration
The seven-story building has 208 beds.
Giants 400 | Jan 15, 2024
Top 90 Hospital Facility Construction Firms for 2023
Turner Construction, Brasfield & Gorrie, JE Dunn Construction, McCarthy Holdings, and STO Building Group top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest hospital facility general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 15, 2024
Top 80 Hospital Facility Engineering Firms for 2023
Jacobs, WSP, BR+A, IMEG, and AECOM head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest hospital facility engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 15, 2024
Top 130 Hospital Facility Architecture Firms for 2023
HKS, HDR, Stantec, CannonDesign, and Page Southerland Page top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest hospital facility architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Healthcare Facilities | Jan 7, 2024
Two new projects could be economic catalysts for a central New Jersey city
A Cancer Center and Innovation district are under construction and expected to start opening in 2025 in New Brunswick.
Designers | Jan 3, 2024
Designing better built environments for a neurodiverse world
For most of human history, design has mostly considered “typical users” who are fully able-bodied without clinical or emotional disabilities. The problem with this approach is that it offers a limited perspective on how space can positively or negatively influence someone based on their physical, mental, and sensory abilities.
