Ontario university constructing Canada’s first 3D printed multi-storey residence

University of Windsor begins building Canada’s first 3D-printed multi-storey, net-zero student residence with hopes of bringing a new solution to Ontario's housing crisis.

The University of Windsor has started building Canada’s first 3D-printed multi-storey residence, arriving as Ontario struggles to meet its home construction goals.

This innovative technology could offer what officials say is, “a solution” to an ongoing housing shortage in the province.

The project, located at 1025 California Ave. in Windsor, uses a large-scale concrete 3D printer to build the walls of a seven-unit student residence that will double as a research facility for the university’s engineering faculty.

Backed by $2 million from FedDev Ontario and supported by partners Printerra Inc. and Desjardins Ontario Credit Union, the initiative is being framed as a test case for whether additive construction can deliver homes more quickly and at lower cost.

“This project shows what’s possible when government, academia and industry work together with purpose,” said Dr. J.J. McMurtry, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Windsor, in a statement.

Engineering professor Dr. Sreekanta Das, who leads the project, says the on-site printing process will allow researchers to evaluate durability, energy performance and cost efficiency under real-world conditions.

This data may help policymakers assess whether the net-zero technology can scale up for larger buildings.

Harald Bathelt, professor in the University of Toronto’s geography and planning department, says the Windsor project demonstrates that new approaches remain possible to address housing issues, despite skepticism in countries including the United States. Bathelt said there has been backlash related to global climate solutions, including net-zero technology.