ICON unveils the future of 3D printed architecture at SXSW

faster, more sustainable 3D printed homes by ICON

ICON, a leader in 3D printed architecture and construction, made a splash at SXSW with a series of announcements showcasing its latest advancements in robotic construction, building materials, and design software. These innovations will further transform the construction industry towards faster, more affordable, and more sustainable building practices. The new suite of robotics, software and materials includes four major new additions — Phoenix, a multi-story 3D printer; Vitruvius, a new AI tool for architecture and project management; CODEX, a digital catalog of home designs (including designs by Bjarke Ingels Group); and CarbonX, an advanced low-carbon concrete.

ICON, CODEX, Storm Collection, Storm Cell exterior, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)

Multi-Story Printing with Phoenix

A key announcement by ICON was Phoenix, a new robotic 3D printer capable of constructing entire buildings, including foundations and roofs. This radical multi-story printer will bring faster construction times, lower costs, and a simpler building process compared to traditional methods. ICON says that it is now taking orders for projects using Phoenix starting at $25/square foot for wall systems or $80/square foot including foundation and roof. ‘This wall system cost would represent a savings of up to $25,000 for the average American home versus conventional construction.’

‘This is the moment we’ve really been working for these past six years,’ said Jason Ballard, ICON Co-Founder and CEO in time for the announcement at SXSW. ‘When we launched the company and the first permitted 3D-printed house in 2018 during SXSW, we set out to both decrease the cost and increase the quality of building instead of choosing one or the other. We didn’t want to just be the best at 3D printing, we wanted to be the best at building, period. Now, I believe we can say that is a reality.‘
the first Phoenix prototype has completed a 27-foot-tall demonstration structure in Austin

CODEX: A Digital Catalog of Ready-to-Print Homes

Next, ICON announces CODEX: a digital architecture catalog of ready-to-print homes, including over sixty designs across five collections — Texas modern, fire resilient, storm resilient, affordable, and avant garde. The team at ICON hopes that CODEX will make high-design and high-performance residential architecture more affordable and accessible. It will be available for builders, developers, and home buyers alike to build quickly and efficiently with ICON. Future homeowners will be invited to select a favorite design as a starting point for their homes, or developers for their master-planned communities. Three collections available so far, have been designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). ICON says it will continually partner with architects across the world and introduce new collections annually. Explore the CODEX collections here!

ICON, CODEX, Fire Collection, Tower exterior, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)

CarbonX: A Low-Carbon Concrete for Sustainable Building

Emphasizing sustainability as a core principle for ICON, the team unveils its new CarbonX formula. This advanced material is a revolutionary low-carbon, extrudable concrete mix. Independent evaluations by the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub confirm CarbonX as the most eco-friendly construction method for large-scale residential projects. In a study using ICON’s proprietary printable mix CarbonX, wall system, and 3D printing robot, the group determined that ‘The 3D printed home possesses lower operational carbon emissions compared to stick frame homes in all cases. The annual savings in operational carbon range from 2% in the mixed-humid climates up to 9% in the dry hot climates.’ ICON plans to share this innovative material with other builders, promoting sustainable practices across the industry.

ICON, CODEX, Storm Collection, Dark Sky exterior, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)

Vitruvius: An AI Architect for the Future

ICON takes a bold leap into the future of AI with Vitruvius, an artificial intelligence system designed to assist in home design and construction. Currently in open beta, Vitruvius allows future homeowners to input their needs and preferences to generate floor plans, interior and exterior visualizations, and even basic construction documents. ICON says that by the end of this year, Vitruvius will progress all the way through schematic designs, while next year its AI architect is expected to produce full construction documents, permits, budgets, and schedules.

ICON test printing its newly announced material CarbonX

‘In the future, I believe nearly all construction will be done by robots, and nearly all construction-related information will be processed and managed by AI systems,’ Ballard continues. ‘It is clear to me that this is the way to cut the cost and time of construction in half while making homes that are twice as good and more faithfully express the values and hopes of the people who live in them. We are going to need the same velocity of ambitious technological breakthroughs that we’ve experienced in these past few years, but we know where we are headed. Going forward, ICON is an AI and robotics company focused on transforming the way we build and accelerating what we believe is a very exciting future.’