Five local companies and the University of Windsor will receive funds from the federal government to invest in innovative housing technologies.
Each organization will receive between $1.5 million and $2.3 million, totalling $12 million for the entire region.
All of the innovations are aimed at making houses more affordable and meeting the demand throughout the country.
"The goal for all of us is to make housing more accessible and more affordable," said Minister Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. "That requires creativity and resilience, and this is why we're here with bold ideas that this university and across the region that are meeting the moment."
The University of Windsor received $2 million to support the construction of a net-zero 3-D printed, three-story student residence.
"I'm hoping this will excite the other construction companies who are using traditional methods of construction to adopt this technology," said Sreekanta Das, Professor and Associate Dean with the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at the University of Windsor.
Construction of the residence will begin shortly and is expected to finish by spring 2026.
BK Cornerstone Design Build Ltd. received $2.5 million to construct a manufacturing facility that will automate the construction of wall panels for residential properties.
"It's a net-zero wall panel, so we're getting something that's better. It's better than what's currently being built. That's the nice part, we're reducing costs through technology. However, we are coming up with a solution that is actually better than what is currently available in the marketplace," said Brent Klundert, president of BK Cornerstone Design Build Ltd.
The manufacturing facility will be located in Tecumseh and will begin operations in 2026.
Other companies supported through Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario's Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative are Arctic Acres, Axe Buildings Inc., Dyck Exterior Installations Inc., and Infrastructure Development Partners Inc.
