The first 3D printed commercial building in America has opened on Chattanooga’s Southside as the region’s biggest credit union realigns its downtown offices to accommodate its continued growth.
The Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union is displaying its iconic wave branding on the exterior of its newest branch – an 8,000-square-foot, drive-through office at 125 W. 20th Street.
The two-story structure, which is helping replace TVFCU’s former headquarters on Market Street downtown, is the first-ever building to use a 3D-printed exterior using a patented cellular fabrication method developed by Chattanooga’s Branch Technology. The 207 unique blocks that form the facade of the new TVFCU branch were prefabricated by 3D laser printers at Branch Technology’s Riverside Drive facility to feature the wave design and appearance of the credit union’s logo.
“This is the first example of a democratized design that could have never been built with conventional methods,” said Platt Boyd, an architect who gave up his 19-year design career and relocated to Chattanooga to participate in CoLab’s GigTank to launch his business. “Now through 3D printing, normal architects and normal clients can have amazing design features that are truly unique. This sets TVFCU apart from every other bank in town.”
Todd Fortner, president of TVFCU, said he was attracted to Platt’s idea and urged his staff to work with Branch Technology after Platt’s startup company won Chattanooga’s Spirit of Innovation award in 2016.