On May 7th, a crowd of community members, local officials, and supporters of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) gathered to mark the launch of a first-of-its-kind 3D-printed affordable home in Fraserville.
This groundbreaking project was made possible through the generosity of the former Bailieboro-Springville United Church, donated land from Don and Pat Wood, and a partnership with local construction technology company, Cormor Inc.
The project was initiated thanks to an extraordinary legacy gift of $100,000 from the Bailieboro-Springville United Church, made possible when the congregation restructured in 2022.Congregation members Don and Pat Wood added to that generous gift with one of their own: the donation of the lot on which the new home will stand, located on a boundary road separating Cavan Monaghan and Otonabee South Monaghan townships.
This innovative build will become home to local family Kayla, James, and their three children, who are thrilled to soon move into a safe, affordable place of their own. Consistent with Habitat for Humanity’s philosophy of providing a ‘hand-up,’ rather than a ‘hand-out,’ this family will not have to provide a down payment but will provide at least 500 hours of labour in the project. Once they take possession, their monthly payments will be geared to their income, ensuring their new home is affordable. The new, four bedroom single family home will provide stability to the family who look forward to building a secure and stable future in their forever home. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Habitat PKR has partnered with Cormor Inc. to construct this home using large-scale 3Dconcrete printing technology–one of the first Habitat for Humanity homes in Canada to use this method. This technology reduces construction time, minimizes waste, and keeps costs lower–a powerful tool in the face of today’s housing crisis.
“This 3D printed home is a model of what’s possible when we think differently, work together, and lead with heart,” said Hope Lee, Board Chair of Habitat PKR. “This project has faced the same challenges many affordable housing builds do–zoning hurdles, red-tape challenges, andrising construction costs–but the vision has never wavered: that everyone deserves a safe, decent place to call home.”
The project is also a great opportunity for Cormor Inc. to showcase the technology of their new construction process in a local setting, demonstrating their building technique in their own backyard. Dwight Corcoran, CEO and Co-Founder of Cormor Inc., hopes that “this milestone demonstrates the transformative power of additive construction in building sustainable, affordable homes across Ontario and beyond.”
“This build is about creating a lasting legacy and giving our congregation the chance to extend our faith beyond our place of worship and into the local community,” said congregation member Robin Maughan. “By supporting the construction of this Habitat home, we are putting our commitment to helping others into action and ensuring more families have an affordable place to call home. We also hope it inspires others to get involved and serve our community in such a hands-on, meaningful way.”
Thanks to the generosity of former church members, the innovative building processes utilized by Cormor Inc., and the support of local businesses, volunteers, and donors, this affordable home is becoming a reality. This innovative construction project might also contribute to alleviating the shortage of affordable housing across the province by showing construction techniques that make home building faster, more economical and more efficient. The project is also a testament to the kindness and support of a welcoming community.