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Dubai to construct first 3D printed building

Xinhua, June 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Mohammed Al-Gergawi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) minister for cabinet affairs and chairman of the UAE national innovation committee, revealed here on Tuesday plans for the world's first fully functional 3D printed building.

"The move will establish the UAE's position as the global center of technology in architecture construction and design," Al-Gergawi said in an e-mailed statement.

The building will be approximately 2,000 square feet in size and will be printed layer-by-layer through a 20-foot-tall 3D printer, then assembled in Dubai.

"We are keen to use the latest technologies to simplify people's lives and to serve them better. This project is part of our overall innovation strategy to create new designs and new solutions in education, healthcare and cities," the statement said.

All interior furniture, detailing, and structural components will also be built using 3D printing technology.

Experts estimate that 3D printing technology can reduce the production time of buildings by 50 to 70 percent, reduce labor costs by 50 to 80 percent, and save between 30 and 60 percent of construction waste.

The project is the first major initiative of the "Museum of the Future," launched earlier this year by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. Endit