A Dubai landmark has won a Guinness World Record as the world's first 3D-printed commercial building. The Office of the Future, a small white building at the foot of the World Trade Centre, is built entirely of 3D-printed walls, floors and ceilings. The building is 250 square metres, about a fifth the size of an Olympic swimming pool, and contains a workshop, an office and a classroom. It is made of 17 modules that are 13 metres wide and 3 metres tall. “They were all printed by a giant cement printer inside a warehouse in China that hung from the ceiling,” said Noah Raford, the head of global affairs at Dubai Future Foundation. “Imagine a giant robot printing all the elements of the wall, like big U-sections, which were shipped to us from China. "It was then assembled on site and built it into the beautiful building that you see today.” It took only 17 days to print and two days to install. The office opened in May 2016. “The most unique feature of this structure is that it was built using disruptive technology,” said Khalfan Belhoul, the chief executive of Dubai Future Foundation. “That’s what we are most proud about. Of course, it started in a building that’s not that large inside but it’s great in value and in significance.” The building’s thick white shell keeps the building cool. “Even in the hottest parts of summer, it’s extremely cool and efficient inside which means we need to use less electricity and emit less carbon,” said Mr Raford. “We also have sensors inside which determine how bright it is outside and accordingly adjust the light level inside.”
