Enhancing the workforce in construction: robotic concrete printing in Detroit

Abstract

The technological advancement of robotic automation in construction allows for the identification of a renewed design agenda at the intersection of professional practice, academic research, higher education, and the cultural context in which innovations take place. This paper outlines research conducted in the field of large scale digital robotic additive manufacturing at Lawrence Technological University, College of Architecture and Design, in collaboration with the artchitecture firm Daub and the start-up Citizen Robotics in Metro Detroit. The creation of a prototype for a temporary installation is used to assess the building feasibility of a home scheduled for completion in 2023, in which a portion of the exterior will be 3D printed.