Texas-based company ICON has introduced Phoenix, a robotic-arm-mounted 3D printer capable of constructing fully enclosed, multi-story buildings using a low-carbon mixture. The unveiling took place at SXSW, where ICON showcased the demountable crane-based printer during a presentation at the annual festival in Austin.
Phoenix enables ICON to build multi-story structures with enclosed systems, with a prototype currently under construction outside its headquarters in Austin featuring a dome-like enclosed roof. Standing at 70 feet tall, the crane-like system surpasses ICON’s previous printer, the Vulcan, in height, allowing for the construction of structures up to 27 feet tall.
Utilizing ICON’s proprietary cementitious admixture Lavacrete, the printer distributes the mixture from the crane via a “highly integrated” system, with a stabilized nozzle guided by gyroscopes. Similar to other 3D-printing construction methods, Phoenix builds layer upon layer of the mixture, forming walls supported by steel without requiring extensive formwork typically associated with concrete construction.
The crane system also enables Phoenix to construct multiple structures within close proximity with minimal adjustments to its setup, requiring only a few personnel on-site to oversee progress.
In addition to the Phoenix announcement, ICON revealed the development of a new material mixture, CarbonX, touted as the “lowest carbon residential building system ready to be used at scale.” This announcement was accompanied by the integration of AI into ICON’s systems. A concurrent MIT study highlighted the benefits of 3D-printed construction for embodied carbon, showcasing the potential of CarbonX in reducing environmental impact compared to traditional stick-framed construction methods.
After April 2024, ICON plans to make CarbonX available for use, not only for its own projects but also for other firms interested in adopting the technology.
Another significant announcement was Codex, a collection of “ready-to-print” designs comprising over 60 designs, including three designs from Danish architecture studio BIG. ICON has partnered with BIG on a 3D-printed community project featuring 100 homes in Texas. The Codex repository will expand continuously, providing developers with a selection of designs for residential projects.
Additionally, ICON revealed the launch of an AI program integrated into the ICON Vitruvius platform, enabling anyone to design 3D-printable home schematics.
Beyond the 100-home community project, ICON is collaborating with BIG and hotelier Liz Lambert on the El Cosmico resort and homes project in Marfa.
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