Da Vinci3D2 pitches low-cost 3D‑printed homes to Bandera council

Chase Whitaker, president of Da Vinci3D2, told the City of Bandera council on June 25 that his company can print concrete homes faster and at lower cost than traditional stick‑frame construction and is seeking local partners — cities, economic‑development groups and school districts — to pilot affordable housing and training programs.

Whitaker said the company’s 3D printing process deposits a continuous concrete mix in layers and that a typical 1,100‑square‑foot house can be printed in about 12 hours. “We can print 1,100 square foot home in about 12 hours,” Whitaker said. He described setup and move times of roughly 90 minutes and said the company expects to add a second and third printer in July to increase capacity.

The presentation emphasized costs and energy performance. Whitaker said an 800‑square‑foot model is targeted at about $100,000 and a 1,100‑square‑foot model about $150,000 when the company brings units to market. He said printed concrete walls give higher R‑ratings and that some projects have shown “up to 40%” energy savings compared with conventional houses.

Whitaker showed images of projects by other 3D‑printer manufacturers and described partnerships in Texas, including a multi‑phase project near Luling that uses a 380‑style agreement (land in exchange for affordable units). He said the company has worked with local economic‑development councils and that one goal is to use local trades: “Eighty percent of our trades have to come from the local community,” he said.

Whitaker also discussed workforce and education links. He said the company wants to cooperate with local school districts and vocational programs so students can learn trades on job sites; he identified mini‑splits and simplified mechanical approaches as part of the finished product, and said electrical and plumbing work is coordinated while the shell is printed.

On technical points, Whitaker said the company’s smaller printers can be set up quickly and moved between foundations, while larger machines require more assembly. He described plans to offer pre‑built wall segments for rapid deployment in disaster recovery. He also said Fannie Mae and other industry actors have begun recognizing 3D‑printed houses as meeting lending and valuation standards in some cases.

Whitaker invited cities to propose land or pilot projects and said his firm prefers phased agreements rather than single “one‑off” builds. He told the council the company will prioritize local permitting, use of local contractors and designs that reflect local character.

The presentation drew questions from council members about timeline, local hiring, and accessibility; Whitaker said the company can print duplexes and four‑plexes and can adapt floor plans so units can be varied instead of identical rows. He also described finance and insurance advantages he says are possible for concrete, non‑combustible shells.

Whitaker closed by offering site tours of the company’s demonstration homes and said the firm will be expanding printer capacity in July. Council members and the city’s economic‑development representative indicated interest in following up on workforce, land and pilot‑project options.