3D-printed cultural center offers new model for building smart, green cities

In Xiong'an New Area in Hebei province — China's "city of the future" near Beijing — a new cultural landmark is rising with the help of giant 3D printers.

The five-story cultural center, known as Xiong'an Wings, features sweeping, 20-meter cantilevered roofs that resemble a swan in flight. It is among the world's largest 3D-printed buildings and offers a glimpse into how advanced manufacturing can reshape urban construction, local authorities said.

The structure was designed to echo a classical Chinese poem depicting a white egret gliding over misty water, blending architecture with Xiong'an's ecological landscape.

"We wanted the building to tell a cultural story," said Zhang Xihuang, the project's technical director.

Its complex double-curved facade would have been difficult to realize using traditional aluminum panels, Zhang said. Engineers instead used 3D-printed panels made from modified plastic, layered with precision to form the flowing red "wings".

The technology allows for precise, waste-free manufacturing of complex shapes, Zhang said. He added that the method meets demanding design requirements while promoting energy-efficient and intelligent construction.

Zhang said the approach can reduce material consumption by 20 to 30 percent and eliminate the need for polluting molds, cutting construction waste at the source. Tests show the panels can retain more than 80 percent of their performance after 20 years of outdoor use.

The project relies on a fully digital workflow, using Building Information Modeling, or BIM, throughout its life cycle, from design to future operation. On site, drones equipped with laser scanners monitor the structure, enabling engineers to detect slight deviations and make immediate adjustments.

"If a scan shows even a 5-centimeter deviation, we know immediately and can adjust," Zhang said.

Engineers also applied topology optimization software to reduce unnecessary steel in the building's frame, improving efficiency without compromising structural strength. Once operational, the center's insulation and smart management systems are expected to cut annual energy consumption by more than 30 percent, Zhang said.

The complex is set to open as a community hub featuring spaces for opera, music performances and conferences. Large glass walls will overlook Jinhu Lake, incorporating the surrounding natural scenery into the events held inside.

Zhang said the project represents a new paradigm in which advanced technology, ecological considerations and human-centered design converge.

As the largest-scale 3D-printed building in China, Xiong'an Wings was jointly developed by the Power Construction Corporation of China and a team led by Yuan Feng, a professor at Tongji University. Zhang said multiple innovative technologies were applied to achieve high standards of energy efficiency.

Lessons from the project are being compiled into Xiong'an's first local technical standards for 3D-printing construction technology.

"It provides a replicable template," Zhang said.

From its digital design to its long-term operation, he added, Xiong'an Wings is more than a landmark. "It is a convincing example of how cities can be built smarter, greener and more beautifully for the future."

Yuezhi Juelin contributed to this story.