Groundbreaking is expected next year in the Austin area to build what is expected to be the world's largest 3D-printed homes community.

Mouser Electronics in Mansfield wants everyone to know that the 3D-printed homes community is coming.

"Would you live in a 3D-printed house?" Mouser Electronics asked in a Friday, Nov. 5 Facebook post. "The world's largest 'printed' neighborhood is set to break ground in Austin, Tex. next year."

ICON, a construction technologies company that has pioneered large-scale 3D printing, and Lennar, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, are behind the new development.

ICON said in a joint announcement with Lennar in October that its innovative 100-home community in the Austin area was expected to break ground in 2022. The two companies have committed to building the largest community of 3D-printed homes using ICON’s robotics, software and advanced materials in the community co-designed by the architecture firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

The time is ripe for such a development, LENX President Eric Feder said in the joint announcement.

"Labor and material shortages are two of the biggest factors pushing the dream of home ownership out of reach for many American families," Feder said. "Lennar has always expanded the boundaries of technological innovation to keep quality homes affordable, and 3D printing is an immensely encouraging approach. We are excited to collaborate with ICON to develop solutions to emerging challenges in the coming years."

The 100 single-story homes would be "printed" onsite and would boast a proprietary wall system and advanced materials that are stronger and longer-lasting than traditional building materials. The building technique also would provide safer, more resilient homes designed to withstand extreme weather and natural disasters.

Additive manufacturing, such as the Austin 3D community project, could potentially revolutionize the build environment as it is adopted by the industry at scale, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group Partner Martin Voelkle said in the joint announcement.

"By partnering with ICON and Lennar, we are able to see this new technology roll out to the widest possible audience," Voelkle said. "The 3D-printed architecture and the photovoltaic roofs are innovations that are significant steps towards reducing waste in the construction process, as well as towards making our homes more resilient, sustainable, and energy self-sufficient."