Vitruvian proposes 3D‑printed homes, local training in presentation to Athens Affordable Housing Commission

Stefano Alba, director of operations at Vitruvian, told the Athens City Affordable Housing Commission that his company pairs concrete 3D‑printing technology with local workforce training as a way to produce durable, affordable housing while creating local jobs.

Alba said Vitruvian trained 27 high‑school students on concrete 3D printing last year and now has 106 members on its training platform across five schools. "We had the opportunity to train 27 high school students on concrete 3D printing," he said, describing partnerships with Local 23 bricklayers and the International Masonry Institute that allowed the program to seek state credentialing.

The presentation detailed technical choices the company used in recent builds: frost‑protected shallow foundations (which Alba said can "reduce concrete use by about 50%"), concrete 3D‑printed structural walls with poured‑foam insulation, metal insulated roof panels for rapid installation, and centralized mechanical cores to simplify plumbing and electrical work. Alba said the company aims to train people in roughly 30 days and to complete a housing product in about 90 days.

On cost and program alignment, Alba displayed a compact floor plan designed to meet Welcome Home Ohio delivery rules and said the company is "aiming to be able to deliver this for $200,000," which he described as roughly $20,000 less than a comparable sale price in his estimates. He also emphasized workforce outcomes with two participant examples: an intern pursuing an engineering degree and another trainee who secured full‑time work after a short placement.

Commission members asked how residents apply and whether Vitruvian is partnering with local career training. Alba said the company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Tri County Adult Career Center and that outreach and contact information could be shared as builds near completion. Commissioners also requested more process photos and documentation; Alba said an Ohio University professor scanned the construction with a 360 camera and a VR walkthrough is in development.

Several commissioners raised technical and constructability concerns. One commissioner flagged spray‑foam insulation as "very failure prone" and potentially toxic/off‑gassing, urging caution with that choice. Alba acknowledged that some materials require attention and said the company is focusing on clear drawings, pre‑kitted materials and local coordination so subcontractors can perform installations efficiently.

Alba said the company sees 3D printing as one element of a broader construction approach rather than a standalone solution, and invited the commission to advise on aligning the floor plan with Welcome Home Ohio rules and local credentialing. The presentation concluded with commissioners praising the workforce emphasis and asking for follow‑up materials and potential site visits.

Next steps: commissioners requested additional documentation (process photos, VR demo) and suggested further discussion about credentialing logistics with local schools and Tri County to ensure training credentials and program access align with local expectations.