“Every story has a place, let us build the place in your story.” In every interaction, product or project, this is the goal that Haren Companies sets out to achieve for its customers. A family run business since 1932, the company has evidently been part of too many stories to count at this stage. However, the desire to work with clients to produce work that stands the test of time is still the target. In addition to that, the general contracting company based in Kansas City are working for their clients, not only with a rich and engrained legacy to fall back on, but also with their sights firmly set on the present day. While this history bears witness to the success and perseverance of everyone associated with the company, those at Haren Companies are fully aware that it counts for little if you don’t continue to raise the bar on every level, from services to skills to execution.

“Haren Companies comes together to provide a diverse and wide range of services that can take a client from preconstruction right through to aftercare and support.”

Made up of a number of bespoke, dedicated companies, Haren Companies comes together to provide a diverse and wide range of services that can take a client from preconstruction right through to aftercare and support. The company has a high level of in-house expertise in both project management and restoration, working to ensure the same standard of service on a project, regardless of scale. Chuck Haren, Manager, is quick to explain how the model of skilled staff in the business enables them to work on virtually any project required. “Today we have several companies. Our largest markets are commercial building, senior living, multi-family and Municipal construction but we also have a restoration company and a commercial concrete company. This means that we can put a really large emphasis on self-perform work. We have about thirty-five tradespeople, and we really specialize in the carpentry trades, you know like rough and finished carpentry. In addition to that, We have some skilled interior finish workers, we have staff that can do paint and drywall and a little bit of tile and things like that. I like to tell people there really is no smallest project, you know. For the right client we can come in and install some cabinets or we could build a two hundred unit Senior Living Building.”

Managing to stay in existence, let alone a competitive force in the construction world for almost ninety years is a massive achievement. While the company now enjoys a group of owners, rather than the completely family-owned enterprise that was set up in 1932, many of the core values that have been relied upon since those early days are still in focus today. These values, coupled with a desire to move with the times, has ensured the company remains competitive. “I think we can attribute our longevity to a combination of staying true to what we do well, but always looking for opportunities to improve. I think every generation has done things differently. If you look at the way the company is today, it operates a lot different than when my grandfather was running it.”

Mike Mannino, Director of Operations at the company, recognizes that, while the construction landscape may have shifted over time, there are certain aspects of business that Haren Companies have brought along with them. “In the earlier days of the company, there was a great deal of self-perform work because that was the environment. At that time, many general contractors performed much of the work with their employees. Now, many general contractors have moved away from that and there are some that don’t have any skilled trade workers on their staff to do the work on the jobsite. Instead, they employ trade partners to do that on a contract basis. We do as well to some extent, and we value those relationships. However, we also have skilled trade workers on our Haren Companies team that work for us. We can handle a lot of the work internally.”

This focus and ability to self-perform many aspects of a job sets the company apart in some ways. It allows for a level of flexibility that isn’t readily available in modern construction and it is something that Mike is rightly proud of. “We have the ability to be pretty nimble. It helps us be more competitive and have a little more control over the project schedule and the quality. We also have the ability to prefabricate certain products in a warehouse setting. Many of those components and assemblies are customized. We see that as an advantage, to be able to perform work in advance of it being required on a project. It takes less time on the project and that has been a benefit for us.”

“It’s just having the right type of character and the right type of employees that fit within the company and that’s one thing that the Haren family has done very well, they focused on employing people that fit in with the culture and mission and values of the company.”

While the ability to self-perform many aspects of a job is a huge benefit, the company is not immune to the shortage of skilled workers that effects all aspects of the industry. To rectify this, the company utilizes its in-house skills to enable a training program that combines youth and experience. “We have a large range of skill sets and we strategically place the younger, less experienced workers with the right mentors. We have a great team who are willing to learn, and others that are willing to teach. A lot of their learning is from others every day, being on the jobs. It’s just having the right type of character and the right type of employees that fit within the company and that’s one thing that the Haren family has done very well, they focused on employing people that fit in with the culture and mission and values of the company.”

What really allows this company to stand above its competitors, however, is its ability to listen to the client, to find out exactly what is needed. Through extensive experience in many sub-categories of construction such as retail, commercial and multi-family, Haren Companies have built up a reputation of designing and producing projects that meet the needs of the customer for today but also into the future. The focus is on producing a building that will meet these needs continuously, will be adaptable and intuitive so that it will stand the test of time. Chuck explains that by putting in the work at the planning stage, the end result is a much higher quality product. “The only residential work that we do is senior living, or multi-unit developments. Everything else is commercial in nature. We have worked on a lot of religious buildings of churches and municipal buildings such as fire stations. What is unique is that, on those larger projects, we can we can do pre-construction, we understand the programming behind the facility. For example, if it’s senior living we know what the assisted living administrator needs. With nursing stations, we will know what code requirements will be. Also, we can take that level of sophistication to a small project too. Our clients will have the support of a project team that really understands the bigger picture.”

Clearly, as it is the case across all industries, COVID and its additional requirements have made things more difficult for everyone at Haren Companies. Chuck feels that the option of working from home simply doesn’t exist in construction as, by its nature, construction is a hands-on type of work environment. Adaptations have had to be made, particularly as the company is often working in occupied spaces. However, he feels that there will always be challenges in the industry and that this year, due to investors and companies gaining a little more clarity, there will more positive developments in construction. “We have adapted, as has everyone. You know, there’s always new challenges in this industry. Obviously we’re doing everything that the CDC recommends at minimum. However, most of our projects have to be much more stringent on workers coming in and temperature checks, social distancing. I think another aspect is how much it clogged up private development. A lot of people’s projects got put on hold because their investors weren’t really sure what the market was going to do. Everyone in Kansas City thought 2020 was the year that we were going to add a huge amount of office space. Nobody did these office projects because no one was really sure what the office was going to look like. Yeah. And you know, now though I think we’re really starting to see a change. Take senior living for example, they did everything to keep the residents safe. Now their staff is vaccinated, all the residents that want to be vaccinated have been. Having spent the past year keeping residents safe, they are now looking for 2021 to be the year that they work through the backlog of projects.”

Haren Companies has been in business for almost ninety years. Evidently, it has seen and adapted to huge changes in construction and the pandemic has been a seismic shock to the industry. However, the company has been around long enough to know that there will be a recovery and that it is well placed to capitalize on this recovery by doing the things it has always done, using a well-trained and highly skilled staff to listen to the needs of its clients. With this outlook, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if this company was still around in another ninety years. By utilizing the wealth of expertise the company has in-house, Mike believes the company will be set up well for any future developments. “If we can have a good workforce of skilled tradespeople that are part of the company and part of the team, it makes us stronger as a company and there will continue to be other opportunities. We have talented tradesmen, but we also have talent throughout the company. Our superintendents that run the job sites are a huge factor, our project managers, our administration and accounting staff. It takes a whole team. Everybody works together which is what makes it really work.”

Now, more than ever before, sustainability is at the forefront of business operations and it forms part of all essential decisions in terms of productivity and growth. Transparency is now a prerequisite across all industries. It is a core tenet of a modern and connected world and the construction industry is just as accountable as any other. It is now standard practice for companies to take stock of themselves and the effects that their work is having on climate, the world and global supplies of material. Despite the additional level of attention and scrutiny that this may bring, this is undoubtedly a good thing. It is positive for companies and regulators, encouraging for clients and investors and reassuring for a public that is given near daily updates on climate deterioration. Like every other section of society, Construction companies need to look at their contribution. Nobody is exempt and there are aspects of every industry that can be improved.

By most estimates, the world population is expected to grow by over 2bn to nearly 10bn in 2050. The tangible outcome of this from a construction point of view is that it will result in enormous increases across all sectors from building construction to infrastructure, sanitation to transport. One report suggests that the required increase in buildings will be something in the region of 2 trillion square feet. In relative terms, this will be the equivalent of adding one New York City per month, every month for the next forty years. It is reasonable to fear that the effect this work could have on the planet may be catastrophic. The emissions from buildings are two fold, the power required to light, heat and cool a building cause a considerable level of energy. While this can be mitigated in ways through energy efficient methods, it is unavoidable that retro-fitting will be required to meet the targets currently being set in numerous jurisdictions. The other aspect of this work that has enormous impact on the sustainability of construction is the building methods itself, with concrete alone contributing around 8% of the total CO₂ being released annually into the atmosphere. In fact, if concrete were a country, it would be third largest behind China and the U.S. in terms of emissions.

That is not to say, however, that the outlook is one of complete pessimism. Across the industry, huge leaps in innovation and technology are being made. Ground breaking developments in science and machinery are being developed that are assisting the construction world in managing the necessary adaptations. Furthermore, the Global Cement and Concrete Association has recently committed to driving down and eliminating all CO₂ emissions throughout the industry by 2050. According to Dinah McLeod, GCCA Executive, this represents a huge, but ultimately essential, challenge. ‘’As we face the challenges for future generations and begin global economic recovery, concrete will be even more critical to building the sustainable world of tomorrow. That’s why we are making this commitment today, in order that our crucial industry aligns with global targets.’’

One company that is working towards this goal, and is already making huge strides towards drastically reducing the effects of concrete is CarbonCure. The company, which has designed a carbon utilization technology for concrete production is able to enable the reduction of cement content in concrete mixes while maintaining strength requirements. Cement, one ingredient in the production of concrete, has a huge CO₂ footprint. In fact, the material, which is usually made up of roasted limestone and silica, accounts for around 80% of concrete emissions. The technology that CarbonCure has designed achieves massive reductions through purifying waste CO₂ emissions that are collected from local industrial emitters. From there, the purified CO₂ is connected to CarbonCure’s technology, allowing it to be injected into fresh concrete. There are two benefits to this process, it eliminates carbon from the built environment by removing the need to use CO₂ heavy cement as part of the mix, and it permanently stores previous waste emissions. According to the company, not only does this process have huge benefits from an environmental perspective, it also increases the concrete’s strength. If this technology is to be used widely in the future, this will be a key determining factor for developers and contractors.

“The technology that CarbonCure has designed achieves massive reductions through purifying waste CO₂ emissions that are collected from local industrial emitters.”

However, CarbonCure is not content with simply being a participant in achieving the overall emissions targets. The company has also set its own goals, ones that are far reaching and hugely ambitious. The vision is to ensure that the carbon dioxide removal technology CarbonCure has designed will become standard for all concrete production around the globe. According to Robert Niven, CEO and Founder of the company, ‘’CarbonCure’s mission is to reduce 500 megatons (Mt) of CO₂ from the built environment annually by 2030. That is equivalent to taking 100 million cars off the road each year.’’ Robert believes that, while the industry as a whole is committed to reducing emissions, the methods that are currently being used are falling short, both from a reduction perspective and from a deadline point of view. ‘’While the construction industry has been adopting carbon reduction technologies and best practices, many of the technologies available today such as improvements in energy efficiency, increased use of alternative fuels and a reduced clinker/cement ratio, are insufficient. They simply won’t drive down the CO₂ emissions sufficiently to meet the fundamental goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Disruptive solutions take too long to deploy and are often costly, without offering economic value in return. They can also result in some facilities becoming obsolete, or stranded.’’

This is a huge contributing factor towards the widescale implementation of any emission lowering initiative. However, as with any aspect of business, it needs to be viable and beneficial on a number of levels before it will be adopted. While there may be agreement and take-up by small numbers of sustainability minded companies, in order to gain the traction needed to meet global targets there needs to be widespread adoption across a varying number of industries and professions. This can only be achieved by being a commercially sound idea. As Robert explains, CarbonCure believes that their technology and product meets the need of the construction world on every level. ‘’Our vision is that concrete decarbonization and profitability are not mutually exclusive. Instead, our strategy is to create retrofit solutions for the concrete industry with very low barriers to adoption. These solutions reduce the carbon footprint while boosting profitability, raising quality, increasing resource circularity, and creating a differentiated sales advantage. By working alongside our industry partners, construction end-users, government and policymakers, and other innovators, we can effectively decarbonize the industry.’’ It may seem as though the figures, stark as they may seem, are insurmountable. The challenge facing citizens of the world in reducing carbon emissions make for grim reading. What differs however, something that provides hope and positivity, is that there are finally a number of strategies, targets and technologies capable of working collectively to achieve these goals. With research showing that 23 percent of the world’s top companies have committed to being carbon neutral by 2030, it seems as though the determination is out there. As these companies grow and develop, the innovation and technology that is now available must be utilized and prioritized; partnerships that these companies have within the construction world will be invaluable to ensure that this future growth and retrofitting work is sustainable and clean. This is a view which was also echoed by the GCCA. They believe that it is vital for industry leaders, consumers, suppliers and innovators to move forward as a global community. “The 2050 Climate Ambition represents our industry’s commitment to further reducing emissions and ensuring that the vital product we provide can be delivered on a carbon neutral basis by 2050. There is a significant challenge involved in doing so and achieving alignment across our industry on a sustainable way forward is an important first step. We cannot however succeed alone and in launching our ambition statement we are also highlighting the need for our industry to work collaboratively with other stakeholders in support of our ambition for a more sustainable future.” There is a long road ahead towards meeting these targets and it will not be easy. What is clear though, is that the technology CarbonCure has designed is one of a number of critical strategies available to the construction industry as they embark on this collective challenge.

On February 18^th, after almost seven months in space, the NASA Perseverance Rover landed safely on Mars. Video and audio of the landing was made public which only served to emphasize the level of drama and precision involved in the project. Amazingly, at all stages of the journey, the rover was remotely guided, every movement planned and executed by a human. This success was the culmination of many years work, combining technological innovation, mathematics and science to investigate the surface of another planet. While it may seem as though this is some sort of outlier in terms of what is possible in modern engineering, the technology behind this incredible feat is not necessarily out of reach here on earth. In fact, automated robots have the capability to assist and benefit the construction industry at all stages of a project. Furthermore, instead of being a threat to the jobs and roles that industry workers perform on a daily basis, robotics has the potential to assist and support construction projects at every stage.

The idea of automated robots within the construction industry is one that may leave people feeling uneasy. The thought of remotely controlled machines that can work longer and more efficiently than humans might bring concern for the future employment options of those within the industry. However, these fears are unfounded and, according to a number of companies that have developed and utilize these ground-breaking tools, the complete opposite is actually true. One company that is a leading member in the drive to make automated robotics a fundamental part of construction is Built Robotics. The company was set up by CEO Noah Ready-Campbell and co-founder Andrew Liang. Ready-Campbell used his experience of growing up in the industry –his father was a carpenter and contractor—and coupled this with skills gained while working at Google. Upon meeting the company co-founder Liang, Built Robotics had a prototype designed and running within six months. According to the company itself, Built Robotics’ mission is ‘’to build the robots that build the world. By upgrading off-the-shelf heavy equipment with AI guidance systems, Built’s technology enables machines to operate fully autonomously.’’

“Built’s machinery allows project managers and site workers to control these heavy tools from a remote distance or set them to work completely autonomously.”

According to Noah, the company is already proving its worth across many facets of the construction world. ‘’Built’s robots are deployed today across the $1 trillion earthmoving industry, and they’re being used to build critical infrastructure such as wind farms, gas pipelines, and new housing developments.’’ The logic behind this target is relatively simple. The construction industry has been, according to Noah, relatively untouched by the digital age. This is compounded by the fact that there are many issues facing construction such as ‘’a chronic labor shortage, productivity that has fallen by half since the 1960s, and an industry that, despite significant improvements, remains the most dangerous in America.’’

So how could Built Robotics assist in addressing these key issues in the industry? In addition to designing a fleet of automated robotic heavy construction equipment, the company has designed technology that can transform existing equipment –including excavators, bulldozers and skid steers—into fully autonomous robots. The AI systems can be installed on machinery built by any manufacturer and has the added bonus of retaining complete manual capabilities. This full level of automation was brought to the market last year, catapulting Built to the front of the pack in construction robotics. Built’s machinery allows project managers and site workers to control these heavy tools from a remote distance or set them to work completely autonomously. Using an onboard computer and cameras similar to those present in self-driving cars, the machinery can dig trenches or complete other large scale operations using GPS. In an incredible feat of innovation and technology, the vehicle can drive itself to the required location and dig vast quantities of earth once the coordinates have been set. ‘’After talking to dozens of contractors, developers, operators and engineers, I came up with an idea. We could take the latest sensors from self-driving cars, retrofit them into off-the-shelf, time-tested equipment, and develop autonomous software designed specifically for the requirements of construction. And because heavy equipment moves slowly and construction projects are already controlled-access sites, we could safely deploy the technology years before self-driving cars hit the road.’’

This is not to say that automated machinery is being welcomed with open arms by the industry. There are many that are fearful of robotics and the effect it may have. In 2017, the senate was lobbied to omit autonomous trucks from a piece of important legislation on self-driving vehicles. This, had the legislation gone through, would have left companies working within the robotics industry in an undoubtedly precarious position. The legislation did not progress however, and a new draft is set to include these heavy vehicles. For Built Robotics, this is a moot point. If they are working on private land, the vehicle does not require this approval and as such, the company is already providing support to many facets of the construction world, mainly in the energy sectors such as wind, gas and oil. The reason for this strong lobbying and apprehension is unclear. It seems that there may be a misconception that robotics are a step closer to removing the need for humans in construction. This, according to Noah, is certainly not the case. ‘’The shortage of qualified labor is an industry-wide challenge right now and finding the skilled workers that large infrastructure projects demand can be even more difficult in locations like these. Our robotic equipment is able to shoulder some of the load by assisting with basic, repetitive tasks, freeing up human operators to focus on the more specific, complex and critical activities.’’

One genuine area of concern is safety. The construction industry is still, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one of the most dangerous in the country. Workplace deaths and accidents are still far too high for any modern industry and the construction world is in need of some mechanism or support to arrest this issue. Built Robotics claim to have performed over 10,000 hours of autonomous operations without a safety incident. Erol Ahmed, Built Director of Communications explained the technology behind the vehicle’s safety controls. ‘’Onboard cameras and the LIDAR systems will notify the autonomous machinery of nearby workers or other vehicles.’’ In addition to this, machine operators will be able to establish a ‘’geo-fence’’ that the robot is unable to operate outside of. Recently, the company has established a partnership with Mortenson, one of the most forward-thinking construction firms in the country. The partnership is focusing on renewables projects such as wind and solar farms. According to Molly Morgan, an equipment operator at Mortenson, safety is key to the ongoing success of these tools. ‘’I’m excited about the potential for Built’s technology. Our top priority is safety — if the robot can work on steep slopes, or near unstable ground, or in challenging or risky situations, then we one-hundred percent should use it.’’

While the future of autonomous robotics remains unclear and the technology is admittedly still in its infancy, there are encouraging signs that this may be adopted on a wider scale. For Noah Ready-Campbell, the proof of Built’s capabilities and potential across the construction industry is ready and waiting to been seen and tested. He feels that over time, the company will prove itself a worthy addition to any construction project. “We got a lot of questions early on about whether these robots are here to steal jobs. The answer is no. The computers are not smart enough, but they can free up operators to do the more challenging and valuable work. Suspicions typically evaporate fast once workers see how the technology can help make sites more efficient.’’

Events of the past year have shown that as a society, both nationally and globally, we still have much to learn about reacting to, and more importantly overcoming, struggle. The interconnected way that we as people work when faced with difficult situations is found to be lacking in numerous ways. As nations and industries emerge from the seismic challenges of COVID-19, the need for collective partnership is more necessary now than ever before. In addition to the horrendous health and mortality implications that the pandemic has inflicted on the planet, it has shone a light on many other aspects of society which are also in desperate need of support. Access to medicine, education, food, clear and accurate information; these are all areas of the modern world which need to be urgently restructured. The area of homelessness has, however, been a perpetual issue around the world. Unlike some other challenges faced by world leaders, it is not seasonal or cyclical. It is an omnipresent challenge that has been exacerbated enormously by the pandemic. While COVID-19 may not have caused a homelessness crisis, it has multiplied and magnified an existing problem.

While there is no clear cause for homelessness, there are certain demographics and cohorts of the population that are considered to be more at risk. In the U.S. alone, adult males are considerably more likely to fall into homelessness. Within this category, adult males of minority ethnicity make up the majority. When these figures are explored further and incidence per 10,000 people are factored in, men from the Pacific Islands, Native Americans and members of the Black community are the three largest subgroups by a considerable margin. This may well point to a wider systemic issue around education and opportunity, community engagement and mental health; however, the unfortunate truth is that currently the resources that are being allocated to assisting the homeless population are falling far short. Furthermore, the financial resources being put in place do not seem to be reaching those people at most risk of suffering from homelessness. A recent report published by endhomelessness.org acknowledged that ‘’Homeless services systems do not have enough resources to fully meet the needs of everyone experiencing homelessness.  Thus, it is helpful to examine the difficult decisions they must make, including how to allot the limited funds available to them.’’

“Simply put, there are not enough houses being built which, while also putting huge pressure on the housing market, is only making a homeless crisis even worse.”

This examination identified permanent support housing (PSH), emergency shelter beds and rapid rehousing as the three main support mechanisms, with PSH being the leading one. All three mechanisms have seen an increase in funding since 2007. This seems to be a sensible direction to move in, by any rationale. The issue that remains however is that despite almost 400,000 beds being made available for individuals in 2019 in the United States alone, there was still a shortfall of almost half that figure again. Despite policy moving in the right direction, problems remain. Simply put, there are not enough houses being built which, while also putting huge pressure on the housing market, is only making a homeless crisis even worse.

ICON is a growing business based in Austin, TX and was set up in order to meet the needs of an ever-deteriorating housing market. From the outset, the company identified three critical problems within the home construction industry: affordability, sustainability and availability. By acknowledging these as challenges that the company needs to overcome, the company is fast gaining a reputation as being one of the most innovative members of the home construction world. “Surely there is a better way to build homes that is more affordable, less wasteful, and more energy efficient than conventional building methods.” This was the question that one of ICON’s co-founders, Jason Ballard asked himself, having worked on thousands of homes in his previous role of CEO of an eco-friendly home upgrade company that aimed to normalize sustainable and healthy approaches to home improvement.

Between 2017 and 2018, Ballard worked with one of ICON’s two other co-founders, Evan Loomis to study and research ways to figure out what this ‘’better way’’ looked like. Around this time the pair also came into contact with Alex Le Roux, an engineer who was working in similar fields. The three men set up ICON and set about devising the technology required to work in a sustainable and affordable way, possibly changing the way homes are constructed forever. Their idea was to utilize 3D printing technology to build livable and affordable homes in a fraction of the time that it takes to construct a home using current methods. This resulted in the development of their Vulcan 3D printer, a cutting-edge printer that can build a home in under 24 hours.

In collaboration with non-profit organization, New Story, ICON worked with a cross section of engineers, environmentalists, designers and entrepreneurs to unveil the world’s first permitted 3D-Printed home created specifically for the developing world. The building was an example of one of the most forward-thinking construction projects ever imagined; homes between 600 and 800 square feet which could be printed in 24 hours to serve the needs of underserved communities. At the launch of the project, Jason Ballard discussed the innovative and sustainable aspects of using 3D printing. “With 3D printing, you not only have a continuous thermal envelope, high thermal mass, and near zero-waste, but you also have speed, a much broader design palette, next-level resiliency, and the possibility of a quantum leap in affordability. This isn’t 10% better, it’s 10 times better.”

This home, the culmination of dedication, ingenuity and next level innovation, was a game changer. The hope for all involved was that this project would be the catalyst for the development and reimagining of home production in areas most at risk of poor housing conditions and homelessness. The question for the ICON team now was where to take this technology next.

The partnership with New Story would develop further over the next year with the announcement in May 2019 of a project that would see a whole community of 3D printed houses built for low-income families in Tabasco, Mexico. The project would see fifty homes delivered ‘’to local families currently living in extreme poverty and makeshift, unsafe shelter.’’ Families were involved in the planning process and the houses are being built around green spaces and other necessary amenities with a community focus behind every decision. This announcement and the ongoing work with the project is evidence that collective thinking, community engagement and innovative technologies could be combined to address real world homelessness crises.

The technology designed and built by ICON also has the potential to be a contributory resource in tackling homelessness closer to home. In addition to the Tabasco project, ICON have partnered with the Austin non-profit Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF), an organization which is widely known for its working in supporting the local homeless and the Community First! Village, their fifty-one-acre master planned community that ‘’provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness.’’ This ongoing partnership has now resulted in the delivery of a series of 3D printed homes to the village. The 400 square foot homes are part of Phase 2 of the village which, when completed and at full capacity, will have around 480 people living there. This will represent about forty percent of Austin’s chronically homeless population. Jason sees this project as a necessary part of what ICON represents. ‘’We’re going to have to take some risks if we want a better world for ourselves, and the team at Mobile Loaves & Fishes shares a similar vision in their efforts to empower the community around them into a lifestyle of service with the homeless. We need a radical rethinking in the way that we approach solving vexing issues in our society like homelessness. At the end of the day, this is all about people and the dignity of human beings.”

“With 3D printing, you not only have a continuous thermal envelope, high thermal mass, and near zero-waste, but you also have speed, a much broader design palette, next-level resiliency, and the possibility of a quantum leap in affordability.”

Back in 2017, ICON identified key challenges to housing supply issues and have set about dismantling these challenges piece by piece. They have built ongoing communal relationships, using sustainable and affordable technology, to provide enduring and life changing support to some of Tabasco and Austin’s most needy people. The residual effect of the company’s actions will be far reaching. That is certain. What is uncertain is the ability for city planners and governments to access this technology and use it in its attempts to tackle homelessness and housing problems in general. With this in mind, it is encouraging to hear that, in partnership with Moderne Ventures, ICON raised $35 million in a recent series A round of funding with a view to moving the Vulcan printer from the research and development stage and into a larger scale production model. Jason stated that this is the first step towards a growing movement of 3D printed homes.  “In early 2018, there were no 3D-printed homes in North America and today, there are almost twenty and we’re gearing up for hundreds more.”

While challenges remain, successes have been minimal in comparison to the whole picture. There may be hope that, with strategic and carefully planned projects, homelessness can be an issue that we, collectively, tackle head on. “The present challenges the world is facing due to new coronavirus have only emphasized the tremendous gap between the housing that we have and the housing that we need. We are grateful to those who have believed in our mission from the beginning and are excited to have a larger team of global investors joining us in our belief that the housing of our future must be different than the housing we have known.”