- 3D construction printing is helping Ukraine to rebuild faster
- The first-ever on site 3D printed building in Ukraine is being made in Lviv
- The 3D printed primary school in Lviv is also the first 3D printed school in Europe
- The one-story building with total floor area of 370 m2/3982,65 ft2 half of the printing is already done in just 3-4 days of printing.
- This project highlights the opportunities of utilization of 3D construction printing technology in rebuilding Ukraine – see the video here
A groundbreaking initiative to rebuild Ukraine has commenced in Lviv, Ukraine. This remarkable project is led by the humanitarian foundation Team4UA and carried out by the Danish 3DCP Group using COBOD’s BOD2 printer and aims to address the pressing need for educational infrastructure in the country.
Ukraine has faced severe challenges due to the full-scale invasion of Russia, resulting in the destruction or damage of over 2,000 schools, with 277 schools completely demolished, as reported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. In light of this crisis, the primary goal of this project is to swiftly respond to the dire shortage of educational infrastructure in the country.
By introducing 3D printing technology into the construction process, the project initiators aim to expedite the creation of educational facilities and lay the foundation for the reconstruction of housing and vital infrastructure throughout Ukraine.
Jean-Christophe Bonis, founder and chairman of the Team4UA humanitarian foundation, shared his perspective on the initiative: “The school construction project based on 3D printing technology is designed to provide access to education for children affected by the full-scale war in Ukraine, as well as to create an inclusive space for internally displaced children in Lviv. Destroyed schools and other educational institutions deprive the younger generation of the opportunity to receive a quality education, which can have a negative impact on their future and the future of the state. Innovative solutions will help to overcome this problem right now, more efficiently and much faster – just see how much have been done here in just 3-4 days of printing. Virtually half of the printing is already complete.”
The primary school is being built on the premises of the existing school number and will serve as a beacon of hope for internally displaced children affected by the full-scale war. The one-story school building, spanning an area of 370 m2 will provide a nurturing environment for the young learners. The architect chose to clearly show that the building has been 3D printed by opting not to print with COBOD’s flaps technology enabling the printing of very smooth walls. Also remarkably, 90% of the construction materials will be locally produced, further stimulating the economy and empowering the community. In fact, 99% of the materials for the 3D printed concrete has been sourced at low cost locally.
This pioneering endeavor to construct the first 3D printed school in Europe embodies the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people to rebuild their nation and ensure a brighter future for the next generation. It represents a turning point in the reconstruction efforts and offers a blueprint for leveraging cutting-edge technology to address urgent societal challenges.
At a press conference for the Ukrainian press on May 22, 2023, Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder & General Manager of COBOD said: “We are proud to have delivered the technology that makes this project possible. The proud people of Ukraine deserve all the support we can provide, and I am happy we have been able to donate al what we have been doing in this project for free. Out of the respect for the impressive fighting will Ukraine has shown on behalf of all of the rest of Europe and the rest of the democratic world, this is the least we could do”.
Media is free to use the renderings and the footage. Credits to Team4UA.
ABOUT COBOD
We are the world leader in 3D construction printing solutions with +6 printers sold world-wide.
COBOD’s mission is to build smarter through multifunctional construction robots based on 3Dprinting technology and COBOD’s vision is to automate minimum 50% of construction processes on building sites. All leading to better, faster, cheaper and more sustainable construction than conventional concrete. We constantly strive to reduce the co2 footprint of 3D printed concrete.
COBOD’s 3D printers made Europe’s first building in 2017. Subsequently our printers made the first 2- and 3-story buildings in Europe (Belgium & Germany), North America (US & Canada) and India. Also, the first 3D printed villa in Dubai and buildings in Africa have been done by COBOD 3D construction printers, just like the first wind turbine bases.
COBOD has an open-source material strategy, partnering with customers, academic institutions, and suppliers around the world.
COBOD is privately owned by General Electric, CEMEX, Holcim and PERI as key shareholders, and our partners further include Dar Al Arkan (Saudi Arabia), L&T Construction (India), JGC (Japan), Siam Cement (Thailand) and Orascom (Egypt).
COBOD is headquartered in Denmark with regional offices and competence centers in Florida and Malaysia. Our team consists of +100 passionate pioneers from 25 nationalities and through our installed base of printers, we have a truly global presence in North- and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
About TEAM4UA
Team4UA is a humanitarian aid fund for Ukraine established with the support of the international humanitarian organization Humanitarian Innovative Technologies (HIT). Team4UA introduces technology in response to humanitarian emergencies in Ukraine – from implementing technical solutions for coordinating humanitarian aid to launching a program to rebuild homes, schools and infrastructure using 3D printing technology.
About 3DCP
3DCP Group consists of an engineering company, architecture firm, and the constructing party, which combined possess all the skills necessary to 3D print a complete building.
This gives 3DCP a unique opportunity to take care of the entire construction process, from idea to turn-key product.
3DCP’s ambition is to build better, cheaper, and more sustainably.
When the company says its ambition is to build better, it doesn’t just mean the objective quality of the house, but also the subjective experience of the house – all of which is made possible through the construction method and the surrounding processes.