Lennar, ICON, and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) announced that construction on the largest community of 3D-printed homes is underway in Texas. Reservations will begin in 2023, and prices are anticipated to start from the mid-$400,000s.
Situated north of Austin in the city of Georgetown's master-planned community of Wolf Ranch by Hillwood Communities, a Perot company, the 100-home community combines robotics, software, and advanced materials to create homes that are technologically advanced, environmentally sustainable, and architecturally striking, according to the companies.
"We are very pleased to partner with ICON and BIG in building a first-of-its-kind, printed-home community that combines innovative designs with sustainable features at an affordable price," says Stuart Miller, executive chairman of Lennar. "Given the housing shortage that persists across the country, it has never been more important to innovate in order to find new methods of construction that will enable greater design flexibility and greater production at affordable prices."
Construction at Wolf Ranch deepens a relationship that began with Lennar's investment in Austin-based ICON's series B financing round. The builder's investments are facilitated by LENX, which provides hands-on mentorship and guidance from senior leaders of Lennar's management team and a marquee opportunity to provide products and technology to Lennar customers, allowing portfolio companies to scale at an unprecedented pace.
"For the first time in the history of the world, what we're witnessing here is a fleet of robots building an entire community of homes. And not just any homes, homes that are better in every way … better design, higher strength, higher energy performance and comfort, and increased resiliency," says Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO, ICON. "In the future, I believe robots and drones will build entire neighborhoods, towns, and cities, and we'll look back at Lennar's Wolf Ranch community as the place where robotic construction at scale began. We still have a long way to go, but I believe this marks a very exciting and hopeful turn in the way we address housing issues in the world."
Blending contemporary Texas ranch-style aesthetics, the community will offer eight floor plans with 24 elevations ranging from 1,574 to 2,112 square feet. The homes will offer three to four bedrooms and two to three baths. All homes will be powered by rooftop solar panels and will feature components from Lennar's Connected Home package.
In addition to the printed homes, Lennar homeowners in Wolf Ranch can enjoy all of the amenities offered in Hill Country, including pools, recreational trails, and parks within easy access of downtown Georgetown and a short drive to Austin.
“Hillwood Communities is honored that ICON and Lennar chose Wolf Ranch to launch this exciting initiative and we look forward to the positive impact it will bring to the home building industry," says Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities and the 2022 Legends Award winner. "This innovative approach aligns with Hillwood's long history of elevated design and the thoughtful development approach we take to ensure a higher standard of living for the residents of our communities."
