Key takeaways
- Houston-based construction technology company HiveAsmbld has expanded beyond its first project, Zuri Gardens, with two new Houston-area developments, underscoring the growing adoption of 3D-printed housing locally.
- The new projects include 23 single-family homes in San Leon, Texas, and a 3D-printed duplex in Houston’s East End, both aimed at attainable price points and shorter construction timelines.
- Developers and analysts say Houston’s regulatory environment, demand for lower-cost homes, and need for storm‑resilient construction make the region well-suited for 3D‑printed housing.
Following last year's groundbreaking of Zuri Gardens, HiveAsmbld's first greater Houston single-family community using 3D-printing technology, the Houston-based company is expanding its 3D housing footprint locally, bringing more of the attainable, climate-resilient homes to the Bayou City.
In early April, HiveAsmbld announced it was working with residential developer Commander Home Builders on 23 3D-printed homes in the Gulf Shore Estates community in San Leon, Texas, a coastal town about 40 miles southeast of downtown Houston. The announcement came weeks after HiveAsmbld said it was also building Avenue J, a 3D-printed duplex in Houston’s East End.
The 3D technology used for the two projects is the same that was implemented for the 80-unit Zuri Gardens that was announced last year in South Houston. Featuring more eco-friendly materials, HiveAsmbld Chief Development Officer Robert Spiegel said the process is “significantly” faster and generally cheaper than building a typical home.
“We’ve seen as high as 30% time savings, and that gets better as steps of the process get more efficient,” Spiegel told Homes.com News via email. “Costs can be as much as 35%" less than traditional construction, "but of course that depends on what you’re comparing us to.”
Spiegel said he believes Houston is an ideal fit for 3D-printed properties because of the homes' weather resilience, and he thinks homeowners looking for attainable homes “want something better built.” He said HiveAsmbld's technology is in high demand across the U.S.
“We are already seeing the trend with our existing project pipeline as well as a lengthy waitlist of projects,” Spiegel said. “We are being contacted by people across the U.S. for help with their projects via our builder co-op program and we even have some projects developing outside of the Continental U.S.”
Itziar Aguirre, senior director of market analytics for Homes.com, said several factors are driving the rise in 3D-printed homes across Houston, including cost pressures.
“Houston keeps growing, but entry-level housing has not,” she said. “Houston has become a testing ground for 3D‑printed housing because permissive regulations, strong demand for lower‑cost homes, and faster approvals reduce the risk of experimenting with new construction methods.”
The technology is more than just a novelty to developers focused on costs and timelines, Aguirre said, noting that concrete construction offers “added durability in a storm-prone climate” like Houston's.
HiveAsmbld’s ongoing Houston projects
Situated between Houston and Galveston Island, San Leon is an ideal location for Gulf Shore Estates, Steve Commander with Commander Home Builders told Homes.com News. Commander said he recently saw 3D-printed homes in Austin, Texas, and thought it would be a good fit for San Leon, where he lives and where most of his company's homes are built.
“It’s a different feel, and it’s beautiful,” he said of the technology. “It’s very contemporary, and I think it’s going to fit in the coastal area.”
Commander said three homes within Gulf Shore Estates were built traditionally before he decided to switch to 3D-printed homes. At buildout, 23 of the 26 homes will be built using 3D-printing technology, ranging in size from about 1,000 to 2,100 square feet. Prices will range from the low $200,000s to about $385,000, Commander said.
The latest Homes.com data shows the median price of a home sold in San Leon was $298,500 over the past 12 months, a 9% bump from the prior year.
The 3D-printing process will roughly cut the construction timeline in half and save about 5%-7% on the cost of traditional homebuilding, said Commander, who is putting those savings back into the product through upgrades like polished concrete, standing-seam metal roofs, and concrete countertops.
He said the homes feature open interiors and a contemporary design, and they’re built to withstand winds over 200 mph—a huge benefit for a region regularly hit by severe weather.
“I think the concrete’s going to be a much better product for your wind,” he said. “If there’s a flood that comes through, you’re not going to have much damage to your property.”
Meanwhile, in Houston’s East End, HiveAsmbld is partnering with Elpis 3D Home Builders on a hybrid 3D-printed duplex called Avenue J. Construction began in March in an urban part of Houston, with two homes separated by a shared wall.
Tony M. Brown, managing member of Elpis 3D, told Homes.com News via email that each residence in the duplex will be about 1,727 square feet, with three bedrooms and an attached two-car garage.
“Our primary target buyers are first-time homeowners and working professionals seeking durable, energy-efficient homes in a central location,” Brown said.
Pricing for each unit is $365,000, project officials said. The homes are eligible for up to 100% financing and below-market interest rates, Brown said. The units will be move-in ready by June.
Meanwhile, over in San Leon, Commander said he’s received “endless” positive responses since printing began on the first home in Gulf Shore Estates. Despite it being his first 3D-printed community, he thinks the trend will catch on and he may never go back to traditional homebuilding.
“I don’t think I ever want to build a stick home again,” Commander said. “I prefer these 3D-printed homes, and they’re fantastic.”
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