What if there was an overall housing construction solution — a method that could solve the problems presented by the supply chain breakdown and labor shortage; reduce waste and environmental impact; alleviate demand by supplying housing at an efficient and unimaginably rapid pace; and do it all with style elements never before possible in home design.

How about throwing the doors open to people previously unable to have careers in construction.

Apis Cor is operational and ready to disrupt the construction industry — here on Earth and beyond — in all those ways from its Brevard County headquarters. And its revolutionary method is something you’ve likely seen go mainstream at a much smaller scale: 3D printing.

To understand the scale, the company can 3D print homes and buildings, up to two stories tall. Apis Cor, in fact, earned a Guinness World Record for having 3D printed the largest building on the planet. To give an idea of the pace, the walls of a 2,000-square-foot home could be built in 40 hours — if the machines kept working nonstop. That’s nine times faster than a traditional home build.

Apis Cor stands apart among 3D printing innovators with its materials and machinery. Its printers are mobile and portable, able to be transported by pick-up truck and ready to print immediately upon delivery.

The company was the first to win an award at the Brevard County Parade of Homes with a 3D printed home. While the Impreza model was a virtual entry (not built yet), the company also constructed what’s recognized as the first 3D printed home in snowy Eastern Europe (completed in one day, including plumbing and electrical), as well as the world’s largest 3D printed building — a two-story administrative building for the Dubai Municipality standing almost 32 feet tall with an occupied area of 6,400 square feet.

Now, Apis Cor is ready to partner with their first clients in Brevard.

Drastic Change

Co-founder and CEO Anna Cheniuntai founded Apis Cor as she completed her studies in space physics. She and husband, Nick, worked together in industrial machinery manufacturing and construction.

“We saw how construction felt outdated, so non-efficient,” Anna Cheniuntai said. “We decided there is a way how we can bring automation to the construction process. We said, ‘Let’s not just change it, let’s drastically change it.’”

The drastic changes include fast, efficient repeatability.

Nick’s extensive experience in industrial robotics and construction led to him creating a groundbreaking innovative concrete 3D printer. The autonomous 3D printer, named “Frank,” features unmatched mobility and portability, which allows for dramatically increased productivity and substantially reduced build time and cost.

While the materials and structural components match that of concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls, the main difference is that the 3D walls are built robotically, not manually.

“Once building officials are involved in the process and see that we match our 3D walls with masonry walls, they immediately understand the concept and how they should work with the innovative technology," Anna Cheniuntai said.

Another difference is the walls have insulation and electrical installed as they are constructed. That means time, labor and resources saved not having to install the materials in traditional methods.

And no more having to think within a box. Curved walls are among the award-winning features in Apis Cor’s 3D printed homes — a feature not seen in traditional home architecture due to materials waste and difficulty.

“We strongly believe innovation is a pillar in the current construction industry — automated, 3D printing technology is a necessity to increase productivity and fill the gap where there is a substantial lack of skilled labor needed to meet the current housing demand and the increasing number of homeless individuals,” said Jennifer McKinney, Apis Cor’s business operations manager.

“Everyone is focusing on affordable and traditional square houses. We wanted to show other modern luxury designs and architectural freedom.”

New Home 

Relocating to the Space Coast seemed natural, as the company celebrates that it’s now based in the 2nd fastest economic growth area in the country and Florida’s No. 1 most highly concentrated high-tech economy.

Being a part of the Space Coast economy also makes sense for Apis Cor, which became a finalist in NASA’s “3D-Printed Habitat Challenge.” The competition promotes technologies necessary to create an inhabited environment on Mars.

Luckily, you don’t have to travel to Dubai to see and touch Apis Cor’s world record engineering and technology. The company opened its new showroom at The Avenue Viera in December 2021. The public is welcome to come touch the 3D printing, ask questions and learn — and even invest in the future of 3D printing construction.

“We want everyone to be a part of this big change of course in the construction industry,” Cheniuntai said. “We want people to be a part of this whether they buy a house or invest in us.”

The company also offers Apis Cor University, a comprehensive online course called “Fundamentals of construction 3D printing technology,” with more than 15 sessions.

‘New’ Jobs

At first blush, the fact that Apis Cor’s 3D printing machine “Frank” can be operated by just two people may seem to endanger construction jobs. But Apis Cor is poised to solve the labor and materials shortages plaguing the industry. And with such a heavy base in engineering necessary for 3D printing homes, this new construction industry can open up to people who may never have considered it before.

“Thanks to the portability and ease of operating our 3D printer Frank, it becomes possible for women like me to get involved in construction,” Cheniuntai said, also pointing out that the physical requirements previously necessary to work most construction jobs don’t apply to 3D printing.

This new method of home construction also could turn environmental impacts upside down.

“It’s more about the engineering,” Cheniuntai said. “Our material contains less cement than regular concrete and in the future, the materials can be without cement at all.”

The record-setting building in Dubai was printed with 50% less manpower than traditional construction and produced 60% less construction waste.

“It’s so new and mind-blowing,” Cheniuntai said.

Apis Cor’s showroom is now open.

The Avenue Viera, 2261-121 Town Center Ave., Melbourne 

apis-cor.com

Instagram: @apiscor3d 

Facebook: /apiscor3d 

Twitter: @apiscor3d