The first 3D printed school building in the war-torn Ukrainian city of Lviv is scheduled to open to students in January. This month, the 3D printing of the school wrapped up, paving the way for the final construction, including fitting windows, plumbing, and electrical.
School no. 23 is a joint project between Team4UA, a humanitarian emergency response group dedicated to rebuilding houses, schools, and infrastructure with 3D printing technology; and contributing companies, including architecture and engineering firm Ars Longa and 3D construction companies COBOD and 3DCP Group.
The school is Team4UA’s pilot project and an experiment to see if construction 3D printing can fulfill its promise of being a faster, cheaper, and more sustainable building method.
“The journey has been nothing short of remarkable—a perfect blend of challenges and exhilaration,” says Jean-Christophe Bonis, founder of Team4UA. “From a crazy idea just a year ago, we have turned it into a reality today, reshaping the future of construction in Ukraine.”
UNICEF estimates that since the war began, more 2,600 schools have been damaged and more than 400 destroyed across Ukraine.
3D printed by 3DCP Group, a Danish company using COBOD 3D printers, the Lviv school aims to demonstrate a better, faster, greener construction method that reduces the amount of strenuous labor. 3DCP Group engineers are on-site in Liviv, training a local team to apply the skills of managing a construction 3D printer for reconstruction in different parts of the country.
Cemark, a leading cement producer in Ukraine, provided the cement for 3D printing at the school for free.
“This is just the beginning of our journey,” says Bonis. “We are actively seeking new partners, innovators, and visionaries who share our zeal for reshaping the future of construction. Together, we can continue to push the boundaries, break new ground, and rebuild Ukraine one 3D-printed building at a time.”
Lead image source: Team4UA
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