3D Printing a City, An Architect’s Dream

Every day, more and more companies, spanning almost every area of business adopt 3D printing as a method of increased productivity. Take for example an architecture and design firm named Perkins+Will. The firm specializes in corporate, commercial, and civic design, has approximately 1,500 employees, and has been in business for close to 80 years. How does a company like this succeed over such a long period of time? Adapt to the latest technologies.

This is just what Perkins+Will has done. They have adopted the latest technologies, specifically 3D printing, into their work environment. The company currently has 7 Makerbot Replicator 2 3D Printers. These printers have changed how the clients are presented with ideas, giving them a whole new perspective on things. When a client is pitched an idea for a development, they now have the ability to truly see a 3D representation of what the designer’s idea includes. Instead of having to look at 3D images on a 2D computer screen, or paper, they can get up from their seat, walk around their development idea, and give immediate feedback to the architect.

“The earlier you can look at a physical object, the sooner you can understand a building and also make better design decisions,” said W. Scott Allen, an associate architect and designer for Perkins+Will. Rapid prototyping profoundly changes our own creative process. “Making all of these on the MakerBot frees us up to test more ideas for clients and come at a nicer solution in the same time frame. You can almost print at the same speed that you can draw,” he continued.

 

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