Pennsylvania’s First 3D-Printed House Built in Centre County

Last year, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County partnered with local company X-Hab 3D to build the first 3D-printed house in Pennsylvania. 

“X-Hab 3D provided the engineering and technology side of the project, while Habitat brought the construction side,” said Stephanie Fost, executive director of the Centre County branch of Habitat for Humanity. 

“The folks at X-Hab are experts in the product they’re providing,” she said of the State College-based company with ties to the Penn State College of Engineering and College of Arts and Architecture. The company helps create durable, 3D-printed concrete buildings. 

Fost shared that while 3D-printed homes and buildings have started becoming more common, this is the first 3D-printed home in Pennsylvania.  

“It was a learning curve for both us and X-Hab,” she shared, noting that her branch of Habitat for Humanity reached out to others who have previously partnered with companies on 3D-printed homes, including those in Tempe, Arizona, and Williamsburg, Virginia. Both were adamant on the importance of engaging the code office early and often. 

This is where the process began, about a year and a half ago. Habitat worked closely with the Centre County code office to ensure they would build a high-quality home. Although they faced some challenges in finding a plot within the municipal area they wanted, they eventually found one and took ownership a few months later.  

Robin Homan, president of the Centre County Association of Realtors®, shared, “We were honored to be able to contribute grant proceeds from our American Dream Housing Fund to the Centre County Housing & Land Trust to aid in creating permanent affordability of the property. CCAR created the American Dream Housing Fund in response to the growing concern within Centre County to provide affordable housing and to help reduce the financial barriers for individuals qualified for homeownership.” 

“We broke ground in the middle of October,” Fost said. “We held information sessions, in partnership with CCAR and the Centre County Housing & Land Trust, right on the property during the printing so people could see the process and learn more about the product and affordable housing.”  Homan noted, “We had over 100 people attend, including a mixed audience of Realtors®, municipal folks, trades folks, Habitat volunteers and more, which was made possible through support of the NAR Realtor® Party Housing Opportunity Level 2 Grant.” 

The exterior walls of the home were printed in eight sections, which took about two weeks, and the process of adding the roof began last month. The home is expected to be finished sometime between May and July 2026, measuring approximately 1,300-1,400 square feet with three bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms.  

“We have always pushed to try new things,” Fost said of Habitat for Humanity. “It all comes back to making sure we’re doing a good thing for a homeowner, but if we can impact the housing industry and at the same time bring attention to the work Habitat is doing, then it is worthwhile.” 

“I think this will provide a level of awareness,” she added. “I think projects like 3D-printed homes can become more commonplace when you see them in your backyard. Hopefully, this encourages other Habitat affiliates and other construction companies to consider projects like this one.”