Startup builds first 3D concrete-printed home in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. — A local startup may have the solution to Tampa’s housing shortage.

Matt Gibson, a resident of the office, has reimagined building homes faster and more efficiently.

“This is a 3D printer that is extruding concrete,” Gibson explained. “The robot has already been programmed with what it needs to do and where it needs to go. Each layer goes around and builds up.” 

Gibson is the founder and president of Click, Print, Home — a 3D concrete printing company. 

The startup was inspired by Gibson’s own frustrations working as a licensed realtor.

“In 2021, there was no inventory and the overall housing market is that you had 18 buyers for every home,” he recalled. “I sat in this office and said, ‘If I’m not able to create some new housing inventory, then I’m not going to be able to do this real estate business any longer.’”

He enlisted the help of his brother, who is an architect, to come up with a solution to Tampa’s housing crisis. 

They made renderings of the soon-to-be built homes. 

“By bringing more inventory to the market, that’s going to be able to help people find homes, first off. There’s not a lot inventory, and second, to be able to bring down pricing in the long term.”

Tampa’s first ever 3D printed home is now up for sale. 

Gibson says the process of additive manufacturing was appealing because of the variety of shapes that can be created, walls can be built within 30 hours and labor costs are reduced.

Gibson says another benefit is efficiency. 

“We don’t have any waste,” he said. “In Florida we build to mitigate against wind, water and termites, and concrete is really good at defeating all of those.” 

Gibson claims 3D printed homes will revolutionize the construction industry. 

Though he’s aware, some fear of using a large robot to build could impact the skilled workers. 

“We say no, quite the opposite. This is high tech. It is new technology. High-tech jobs are being created. We’re still going to need trades folks to come back and finish the home,” he added. 

The 3D home will replace Shamrock Road’s three-bedroom, two-bathroom home. After a buyer has signed up, the 3D home will take approximately 6 months to complete.

Gibson has teamed up with Mark Young (a certified building contractor) and Kevin Haseney (a sustainability expert) to complete the project. The co-op uses local, small business labor to do everything the printer doesn’t, to complete the house in a sustainable and green way.

The asking price for this property is $599,300

(Courtesy Matt Gibson, Click to Print, Home).

 

(Courtesy Matt Gibson Click, Print, and Home)