Virginia Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground on 3D-Printed Homes

The initiative marks a collaboration between Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Housing, supported by a $1.1 million innovation grant. The team is deploying a mobile SIRA RC printer from the India-based manufacturer Tvasta to produce concrete wall components. Currently, crews are printing these sections inside a Richmond warehouse, allowing for controlled conditions that mitigate weather-related delays before transporting the segments to the Darbytown Road site for final assembly. Later this year, the project will transition to direct on-site printing to evaluate the logistical differences between the two methods.

Beyond just building homes, the project aims to establish a scalable playbook for future developments. Experts from Virginia Tech’s Myers-Lawson School of Construction are monitoring the process to refine material quality and safety standards. By utilizing the Henrico County Affordable Housing Trust Fund—which leverages tax revenue from local data centers—the partners intend to demonstrate how research-backed automation can make homeownership accessible to families who might otherwise be priced out of the current market.