# 3D printing a housing revolution with Jason Ballard of ICON

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2024-02-01
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon

## Summary

Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO of ICON, explains how he pivoted from his building supply company, Treehouse, to develop 3D-printed concrete homes to address the global housing crisis. Ballard details the technical challenges of formulating non-Newtonian concrete that flows yet sets quickly, and the self-funded prototyping of the Vulcan printer with partners Evan Loomis and Alex LaRue. He describes the company's journey from garage-stage R&D to scaling production, including a major setback from a facility fire and a subsequent NASA contract to develop lunar construction systems.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=0) Introduction: Jason Ballard and ICON's Mission
- [1:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=95) Pivoting from Treehouse to 3D Printing Research
- [3:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=226) Forming the Team and Choosing Concrete
- [12:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=773) Self-Funding the Vulcan Printer Prototype
- [15:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=924) Solving Concrete Material Science Challenges
- [19:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=1171) South by Southwest Unveiling and Media Fallout
- [21:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=1263) Scaling to Mexico and Community 1st Village
- [26:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=1594) Market-Rate Homes and House Zero
- [30:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=1829) Recovering from Facility Fire and NASA Contract
- [34:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-01-3d-printing-a-housing-revolution-with-jason-ballard-of-icon#t=2092) Regulatory Hurdles and Future Vision

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- ICON (company)
- Treehouse (company)
- Vulcan (product)
- New Story (company)
- Community 1st Village (company)
- Three Strands (company)
- House Zero (product)
- NASA (company)
- Artemis (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep 296: Supercon Wrapup with Tom and Al, The 3DP Brick Layering Controversy, and How To Weld in Space](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-11-15-ep-296-supercon-wrapup-with-tom-and-al-the-3dp-brick-layering-controversy-and-ho) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [A Mission to Decarbonize the Construction Industry with Keegan Kirkpatrick, Founder and CEO of RedWorks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-29-a-mission-to-decarbonize-the-construction-industry-with-keegan-kirkpatrick-found) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [005: Miniature Construction Materials](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-04-05-005-miniature-construction-materials) (Product Startup)
- [Step into the Future: Doc Sols’ 3D Printed Revolution in Podiatry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-08-29-step-into-the-future-doc-sols-3d-printed-revolution-in-podiatry) (Additive Snack)
- [T-24-003 : Christina Perla - Industrial Designer to On Demand Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2024-10-09-t-24-003-christina-perla-industrial-designer-to-on-demand-manufacturing) (TRADEOFFS)

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