Richmond's first 3D printed house is seen as a way to help fill affordable housing needs.
A three-bedroom, two-bath home just off Midlothian Turnpike in Richmond, will be the first house in Virginia partially constructed using a 3D concrete printer rather than lumber. This project has been received as exciting news by the Richmond Times.
Mel Jones, Associate Director and research scientist at the Virginia Center for Housing Research, has been recently cited in the TIMES Magazine article 'How Am I Going To Make It?' Months of Eviction Uncertainty Are Taking a Toll on Millions of Families.
Dr. Andrew McCoy and Dr. Philip Agee have been awarded a $500,000, 1 year grant by Virginia Housing (formerly VHDA) to design and produce Virginia's first 3D printed concrete home, to study appropriate markets for this innovative technology and to engage K-12, college and professionals in new curriculum around the technology. Through the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech, Drs.
Mel Jones recently authored "Housing Challenges Illuminated in the Face of COVID-19" for the July 2020 issue of Colors VA Magazine. To read more and access the article, you may want to download the issue or access it through the magazine's website.
Dr. Freddy Paige, Dr. Andrew McCoy and Zach Gould presented at INCREaSE, an international conference on engineering and sustainability. The keynote highlighted many of the research directions where VCHR is leading the way through innovation in technology, research and education. The team's trip was part of a recent EU grant with the University of Algarve (Portugal) to train and provide knowledge on innovative skills in the future workforce.
Dr. Andrew McCoy spoke in front of Virginia Legislators at the Virginia Housing Commission. He presented current technologies that increase options for affordable housing and provide potential for local job growth. Also, he discussed current trends in housing affordability across the Commonwealth.
On June 4th, 2019 professor Andrew McCoy discussed the role of the federal government in promoting innovation for the housing industry before congressional aides on the Mall in Washington DC. The session signaled the release of a recent report for the Office of Secretary Ben Carson that details ways to promote innovation and that was part of the forming of the new "Office of Innovation" appropriated by Congress. The report can be downloaded here:
In October 2014, Governor McAuliffe issued Executive Order (EO) 32, “Advancing Virginia’s Housing Policy,” to “identify and implement actions to enable quality, affordable housing, which will strengthen families and communities and foster economic growth.” The Housing Policy Advisory Council (HPAC) was thus established under the leadership of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to help guide the development and implementation of Virginia’s housing policy.
