Like many municipalities across the country, Philadelphia and its surrounding areas face a housing crisis, particularly for low-income and homeless residents seeking affordable, well-constructed homes. One of the primary considerations that local and state governments face is the construction cost for these much-needed homes. However, construction cost alone should not necessarily overshadow other critical factors and interests, including whether these homes are environmentally sustainable and quick to construct. Alternative building methods such as modular (or prefabricated) construction have already taken hold in the affordable housing area as a way for builders and municipalities to take advantage of the associated cost and time reductions and greater building efficiencies.

Another alternative building method to modular construction that has not yet arrived in Pennsylvania is 3D-printed construction. Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D-printed construction is championed as a more sustainable and efficient building method than other more traditional building methods. In 3D-printed construction, digitally created designs and models are constructed in the field using robotic arms that pour building material layer by layer. Proponents contend that this method lowers overall construction costs by reducing material and labor, is more energy efficient, leads to less material waste, and is completed within a fraction of the time compared to traditional construction. All of these factors can translate into an increase in the availability of affordable housing.