World’s First 3D-Printed Hotel Takes Shape in Texas

By Evan Garcia

MARFA, Texas – It resembles a typical 3D printer, but this one is the size of a crane and is currently building a hotel in the Texas desert, piece by piece.

El Cosmico, an existing hotel and campground located on the outskirts of Marfa, is undergoing an expansion. This project involves the construction of 43 new hotel units and 18 residential homes across 40 acres, all utilizing 3D printing technology.

According to Liz Lambert, the owner of El Cosmico, this initiative marks the world’s first 3D-printed hotel, in collaboration with Austin-based 3D printing firm ICON and the architects at Bjarke Ingels Group.

Lambert emphasized the unique creative possibilities that this technology offers. "Most hotels are confined within four walls, and often you are repetitively building the same unit," she explained. "This technology allows for much less constraint and more fluidity… we can create curves, domes, and parabolas. It’s a revolutionary way to construct."

The design of the units includes architectural features that would typically be too costly to reproduce on a large scale using traditional building methods. The initial two units currently under construction consist of a three-bedroom residential space and a single-room hotel unit, with single-story walls rising 12 feet high. The printer, named Vulcan, is wide and towering, operating with a robotic arm to create the structures.

The material used in this 3D printing process is a proprietary cement-based mixture called Lavacrete, which is engineered for durability, printability, and cost-effectiveness. Jason Ballard, the CEO of ICON, noted that workers adapt the mixture’s ingredients based on actual weather conditions, citing factors like humidity and temperature that can influence both the material’s behavior and the final appearance.

ICON is also engaged in developing a neighborhood of 3D-printed homes near Austin.

However, there are concerns that 3D-printed construction may impact some skilled labor positions, as discussed by Milad Bazli, a science and technology lecturer at Charles Darwin University in Australia. He mentioned, "From a socioeconomic standpoint, especially in remote regions, the transition to 3D printing will pose challenges regarding local job markets."

The expansion of El Cosmico is anticipated to be completed by 2026, with hotel unit prices set to range from $200 to $450 per night.