AMIE
The Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) demonstration project is a research and design collaboration of SOM and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Highly energy efficient, the 3D-printed building was designed by SOM to produce and store renewable power and to share energy wirelessly with a 3D-printed vehicle, which was developed by the DOE.
The project illustrates the potential of a clean energy future for a rapidly urbanizing world by demonstrating the use of bidirectional wireless energy technology and high performance materials to achieve independence from the power grid at peak-demand times.
Features
- Pushing the Limits of 3D Printing to Building Scale: the AMIE building explores the potential for a 3D-printed enclosure to condense the many functions of a conventional wall system into an integrated shell—structure, insulation, air and moisture barriers, and exterior cladding. This could lead to zero-waste construction, reduced material consumption and buildings that can be ground up and reprinted for new forms and uses.
- Bringing Design to Science: AMIE is the result of a unique creative partnership of science and design. The breakthrough embodies ORNL materials science, 3D-printing leadership and additive manufacturing capability combined with SOM multidisciplinary building design, integrated systems innovation, and project delivery experience.
- Maximizing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: The 3D-printed structure’s high level of insulated solid surfaces (79 percent) to glazed areas (21 percent) results in an efficient energy-conserving enclosure. The panels’ interior ribs are designed to host atmospherically insulated panels, vacuum-wrapped panels for the greatest thermal barrier in the least amount of space. Flexible photovoltaic panels are integrated into the roof form and supplement the vehicle energy source.
Its photovoltaics will work in tandem with a natural gas powered generator, located in the DOE-created vehicle, to supply energy for lighting, and the GE-developed central microkitchen that incorporates advanced digital display screens, inductive cooking surfaces, waste filtering faucet and sinks, and an undercounter refrigerator. The photovoltaics will charge the enclosure’s battery when the fixtures are not in use.
ORNL’s 3D-printed personal vehicle connects to the structure and its battery to provide supplementary power. AMIE demonstrates the use of bi-directional wireless energy technology and high performance materials to achieve independence from the power grid at peak demand times.
Team
Owner:
US Department of Energy
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Architecture & Design: