Giant robotic printers building a community of houses might seem like a far-fetched idea, but homebuyers in Georgetown could soon have the chance to own a house built using the futuristic technology.

Icon, an Austin startup focused on 3D-printing technology, is planning to use its 3D printers to build 100 houses in Wolf Ranch by Hillwood, a master-planned community in Georgetown.

The company says the community would be the first large-scale 3D-printed housing development in the United States.

The use of 3D printing is growing in popularity. The technology consists of using computer-aided designs to create three-dimensional objects through a layering method. The process can use a variety of materials. In Icon's case, the company uses a proprietary cementitious-based material that it calls Lavacrete.

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Icon was co-founded by Jason Ballard and showcased its 3D-printed first home at South by Southwest in 2018. It has since used its Vulcan 3D printing technology to build dozens of homes and structures, including barracks for the Texas Military Department, and is even working with NASA to develop habitats for the moon.

Ballard has said he sees 3D printing as having the potential to revolutionize the way homes are built by offering versatility, range, speed and lower costs than traditional construction. The company's giant robotic printers are each capable of printing about a house a day, according to the company.

For the Georgetown project, the company is partnered with home-building company Lennar. The homes are co-designed by the architectural firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

Icon said its fleet of large-scale robots is already working to build out both exterior and interior walls, and the first homes' wall systems are completed. The company said the homes will feature architectural and energy-efficient designs that highlight the possibilities of additive construction.

Ballard said he believes the community will be the place robotic construction at scale begins.

“For the first time in the history of the world, what we’re witnessing here is a fleet of robots building an entire community of homes.  And not just any homes — homes that are better in every way … better design, higher strength, higher energy performance and comfort, and increased resiliency,” Ballard said. “In the future, I believe robots and drones will build entire neighborhoods, towns and cities, and we’ll look back at Lennar’s Wolf Ranch community as the place where robotic construction at scale began. We still have a long way to go, but I believe this marks a very exciting and hopeful turn in the way we address housing issues in the world.”

Austin 3D-printing company Icon lands $207 million to continue rapid growth

Prices for the homes are anticipated to start at about $450,000. Reservations for the collection will begin in 2023 and will be sold by Lennar. Potential buyers are already able to signal their interest.

The community will consist of Texas ranch-style homes, with eight different floor plans, ranging from 1,574 to 2,112 square feet. The homes will each have three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. Each will have rooftop solar panels and will feature smart home components such as a Ring doorbell, Wi-Fi-enabled deadbolt and smart thermostat.

Stuart Miller, executive chairman of Lennar, said the community will combine "innovative designs with sustainable features at an affordable price."

“Given the housing shortage that persists across the country, it has never been more important to innovate in order to find new methods of construction that will enable greater design flexibility and greater production at affordable prices," Miller said in a statement.

Last year, Icon raised $207 million to fuel its growth. At the time, Ballard said the company was "buried in demand," with hundreds of builders reaching out about building thousands of homes.

In March, Icon showcased one of its newest 3D-printed homes, "House Zero" in East Austin. Thousands of people viewed the home, which has more than 2,000 square feet, three bedrooms, 2½ baths and curved walls. The property also has a 350-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom accessory dwelling.

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At the time, Ballard said the company was prepared to graduate to bigger projects.

"If you can do 100, you can do 1,000. And you keep going, and maybe we've actually got a shot, with any luck, in making a dent in the global housing crisis," Ballard said in March.

Last year, Icon announced a contract with NASA to develop a space-based construction system using technology similar to the printers used on Earth and existing materials on the moon to build. The idea is to build structures that can help future astronauts explore, live and work directly on the lunar surface, and eventually on Mars.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin startup Icon plans 3D-printed home project in Austin area