How I Built This with Guy Raz 3D printing a housing revolution with Jason Ballard of ICON
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Feb 1, 2024 
Jason Ballard, Co-founder and CEO of ICON, talks about his company’s mission to revolutionize housing using 3D printing technology. He discusses how this innovation can create affordable, disaster-resilient homes while addressing urban housing crises and homelessness. Ballard reflects on the challenges and triumphs of developing a prototype in Mexico and the potential for extraterrestrial applications. His visionary ideas highlight the urgent need for new construction methods to meet global housing demands.
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Treehouse Rejection
- Jason Ballard, CEO of Treehouse, proposed 3D printing houses to the board.
- They rejected the idea as it didn't align with their retail business.
Initial Material Exploration & Team Formation
- Jason Ballard initially explored conventional building materials for 3D printing.
- He later teamed up with Evan Loomis and Alex LaRue, combining business, investment, and engineering expertise.
Concrete's Carbon Footprint
- Concrete's carbon footprint is complex, encompassing production and operational carbon.
- A resilient, energy-efficient concrete house may produce less carbon over its lifecycle.