Singapore 3D Prints Childcare Center Walls in Just Two Days

Singapore has achieved a construction 3D printing milestone. The exterior walls of a childcare center were 3D printed in just two days as part of a 348-apartment condominium project in the northern Woodlands neighborhood.

A First for Singapore

The project marks Singapore first on-site 3D printing of structural elements. Construction firm Woh Hup — one of the largest local firms, established in 1927 and responsible for iconic projects like Jewel Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay — led the build.

The first story was made using additive manufacturing, while the second was built with conventional methods. This hybrid approach allowed the team to compare both techniques side by side.

Fewer Workers, Less Time

According to Du Hongjian of the NUS College of Design and Engineering, 3D concrete printing can significantly reduce manpower while offering greater design freedom for architects and structural consultants.

The walls on the first level were printed in two days by a team of around six construction workers monitoring sensors that tracked the quality of the concrete mixed on-site. Three additional checkers ensured the novel process ran smoothly.

Total manhours: 170 — compared to nearly 400 manhours and a larger team of 11 workers that conventional methods would require.

Material Innovation

One challenge: the 3D printed concrete initially needed more cement, resulting in higher CO2 emissions than regular concrete. The team addressed this by developing a mix using 60% glass powder, which reduces emissions by half while retaining the same strength.

Broader Context

The project comes amid a push by Singapore to increase childcare places by 40,000 over the next five years while exploring 3D printed construction to meet demand faster.

Woh Hup is currently working on around 20 projects across Singapore, including a 63-story residential building and twin 62-story residential towers. The scope for additive manufacturing in the firm portfolio is considerable.

Partners in the project included the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), and the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC).