Jason Ballard has a personal connection to the housing crisis, one that has shaped his mission to tackle it. Growing up along the Gulf Coast, he witnessed the devastation hurricanes brought to his hometown. \u201cMy family has spent Christmas in FEMA trailers,\u201d he recalls. To Ballard, the global housing crisis is not just a statistic; it is a lived experience affecting his community and loved ones.<\/p>\n
Currently, nearly 750,000 people in the U.S. are experiencing homelessness. This crisis is exacerbated by workforce shortages and supply chain issues in the construction sector. After volunteering at a homeless shelter in Boulder, Colorado, Ballard concluded that a revolutionary approach to homebuilding was necessary.<\/p>\n
In 2017, he co-founded ICON, a construction company focused on using large-scale 3D printing to create buildings. The company’s innovative method involves layering a proprietary concrete-like material, allowing for the rapid construction of homes. As of this year, ICON has successfully 3D-printed 260 structures. The technology can produce a 2,500-square-foot house in less than seven days while minimizing waste and costs. Moreover, the strength of the walls is designed to endure fires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.<\/p>\n
Ballard envisions a future where construction involves advanced materials and robotics, moving away from traditional tools. While he initially faced skepticism from lenders regarding the real estate value of 3D-printed homes, a breakthrough came when Wells Fargo announced they would finance mortgages for ICON’s houses, realizing the potential to reduce costs and construction time.<\/p>\n
Recently, ICON has started taking orders for its new Titan printer, capable of constructing multistory buildings, set to be delivered in 2027. This year, for the first time, the company had more orders than it could fulfill, indicating a surge in interest in this modern approach. \u201cFor eight years we fought so hard for every project, so it felt strange to have to pass on some,\u201d Ballard says. The growing demand reassures him that this method will become an essential part of construction.<\/p>\n
Beyond his work in housing, Ballard is eager about future possibilities, including collaboration with NASA to use 3D printing techniques for constructing lunar habitats using materials from the Moon. "The story of exploration is you have to learn to live off the land," he asserts.<\/p>\n
Grounded even while soaring high with his ambitions, Ballard connects his roots to the ethos of hard work instilled by his grandfather, a manual laborer. \u201cI ride horses and build robots,\u201d he reflects, capturing his belief that he is neither just a cowboy nor a tech person but someone passionately following his heart in addressing some of society\u2019s most pressing challenges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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