Faster timelines. Smarter systems. Resilient homes that look like works of art. Homebuilding is stepping into a new era, and it’s happening faster than most imagined. As traditional construction continues to face delays, labor shortages, and rising costs, innovators are rewriting the blueprint.
Two trailblazing CEOs, Graeme Waitzkin of ICON and Don Fry of Brodie Builders, took the stage at The #RealtyHack Summit to reveal how their technologies are changing the game. From 3D printed homes to luxury prefab builds, their solutions are not only accelerating timelines, they’re reimagining what’s possible in modern construction.
Table of Contents
3D Printing Meets Construction Innovation
3D printing is no longer just for small-scale models or novelty projects. ICON is leading the charge in turning this technology into full-scale, livable homes. Their mission is rooted in pushing boundaries and tackling challenges in construction head-on.
ICON’s process involves building massive, vertically integrated printers capable of producing homes directly on-site. They’ve worked on everything from local affordable housing to military projects and even lunar construction concepts for NASA. With a timeline of 60 to 120 days from start to finish, ICON homes are turning heads.
ICON’s Construction Process:
- Large-scale 3D printers built in Austin
- Proprietary low-carbon material called CarbonX
- Complete design, architecture, and software in-house
- Homes built on-site, not in a factory
- Capable of producing 50 homes per printer annually
The approach is both efficient and sustainable. It cuts down on wasted materials, improves consistency, and offers unmatched design freedom. The result? Homes that are durable, futuristic, and built faster than most traditional builders can promise.
ICON’s focus isn’t just speed, it’s about better housing for the long term. With ongoing projects in Wimberley, Marfa, and Community First Village in East Austin, the company is already having a real-world impact.
Prefab Homes Reimagined
Don Fry saw a bottleneck in construction years ago. Homes were taking too long, and labor was getting harder to source. So, he turned to prefab. Not the cheap kind, but luxury homes built under tight quality control, using modern materials and modular manufacturing.
Brodie Builders’ homes are constructed in factory-controlled environments before being transported to site-ready lots. What sets Don’s model apart is the architectural quality, hurricane resistance, and sleek modern design of each home. Think less mobile home, more magazine cover.
What Makes Brodie Builders Stand Out:
- Modern luxury prefab homes
- Hurricane-resistant builds up to 210 mph wind certification
- Vertically integrated teams in-house
- Austin-based factory focused on AI and future robotics integration
- Construction time slashed from 18 months to just 90 days
Don’s process prioritizes control, safety, and replicability. By training his crews to work with data, input systems, and manufacturing workflows, he’s streamlined home production in ways that traditional builders struggle to match.
His early factory was tailored for coastal regions prone to hurricanes. The latest evolution is aimed at scaling up with better AI and deeper integration with next-gen tools.
Building for Safety and Resilience
Modern construction isn’t just about speed, it’s about survival. Climate risks are rising. From wildfires to hurricanes, the need for stronger homes has never been more urgent.
Both ICON and Brodie Builders design with these risks in mind. ICON’s concrete structures offer natural resistance to fire and harsh weather. Brodie’s factories build to hurricane-grade standards, even when not required by local code.
Benefits of Resilient Construction Approaches:
- Concrete builds are naturally fire-resistant
- Factory-built prefab homes can be windstorm certified
- Higher consistency in building quality and structure
- Materials and systems tailored for durability
ICON even partners with regulatory bodies to help define 3D printing code standards, pushing the whole industry forward. Meanwhile, Brodie Builders found that adhering to higher structural codes just made sense, regardless of where the home was installed.
The market is starting to notice. Buyers want homes that are prepared for what’s next, and cities are opening their arms to new building types. In Texas alone, new zoning opportunities and state permitting advantages are making innovation easier to scale.
Navigating Code and Permitting
One of the biggest hurdles for new construction methods is red tape. Municipalities aren’t always ready for something different. But both ICON and Brodie Builders have cracked that code, literally.
Brodie’s modular builds follow the International Residential Code (IRC), just like site-built homes. But because their homes are pre-certified at the state level, local inspectors only need to check setbacks and aesthetic requirements. That speeds up the process and simplifies approvals.
ICON’s road has been tougher. Because their printing technology is so new, they’ve had to work closely with regulators to write the rules as they go. That includes developing detailed documentation, photography workflows, and working with international code councils to pave the way.
Highlights of Their Regulatory Approach:
- Brodie’s state-level certification overrides local permitting barriers
- ICON contributes to code creation at national and global levels
- Seamless processes for permitting and inspections
- Full transparency with documentation and reporting
As Austin continues to grow and other cities face housing shortages, these methods will only become more relevant, and more accepted.
Scaling for the Future
What happens when you link manufacturing efficiency with cutting-edge construction tech? You get scale. And both ICON and Brodie Builders are building for the long game.
ICON is preparing to mass-produce its new Phoenix crane-based printer. Each one can print 50 homes per year. With the capacity to make thousands of printers annually, they’re positioned to become one of the largest builders in the country, without laying a single brick by hand.
Brodie is eyeing expansion through either mega-factories or a network of “microfactories” that can serve localized markets. Both paths offer flexibility and potential to grow across the U.S.
When the housing market heats up again, expect these technologies to take center stage. In high-demand, high-risk regions, they could be the difference between years of backlog, or homes delivered in weeks.
The AI and Robotics Convergence
Technology is converging fast. AI is revolutionizing Brodie’s design and data systems. Robotics is at the core of ICON’s printing hardware. Together, these trends are creating an entirely new chapter for homebuilding.
Think about ordering a home like you’d order from Amazon, customized, precise, delivered fast. That’s where we’re headed. In Japan, for instance, homes depreciate like cars because they’re routinely replaced. Builders like Toyota and Honda are leading the way there, and a similar cultural shift could follow in the U.S.
As leaders like Graeme Waitzkin of ICON Builders and Don Fry of Brody Builders continue to challenge outdated building practices, they’re doing more than speeding up timelines or improving design.
They’re actively shaping the future of how homes are built, bought, and lived in. With scalable solutions, enhanced durability, and growing interest from across the country, their work is setting a bold precedent.
For real estate professionals, staying ahead means paying close attention to how these breakthroughs are changing the housing industry, because the future is already under construction.
Want to Learn More? 🎧
Listen to the Full Podcast Episode!
In this episode, Graeme and Don share:
- The current state of construction innovation in real estate
- How 3D printing and prefab homes are accelerating timelines
- What makes their homes more resilient and scalable
- Why the future of homebuilding is tied to automation and AI
- How cities and regulators are adjusting to keep up
Listen to the full session from The #RealtyHack Summit to understand how these construction pioneers are redefining what’s possible in real estate development.
To listen to more of our podcast episodes, visit The #RealtyHack Podcast Page. The #RealtyHack Podcast is also available to listen to on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Music, and your other favorite podcast directories.
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