Ontario university constructing Canada’s first 3D printed multi-storey residence
The University of Windsor has started building Canada’s first 3D-printed multi-storey residence, arriving as Ontario struggles to meet its home construction goals.
This innovative technology could offer what officials say is, “a solution” to an ongoing housing shortage in the province.
The project, located at 1025 California Ave. in Windsor, uses a large-scale concrete 3D printer to build the walls of a seven-unit student residence that will double as a research facility for the university’s engineering faculty.
Backed by $2 million from FedDev Ontario and supported by partners Printerra Inc. and Desjardins Ontario Credit Union, the initiative is being framed as a test case for whether additive construction can deliver homes more quickly and at lower cost.
“This project shows what’s possible when government, academia and industry work together with purpose,” said Dr. J.J. McMurtry, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Windsor, in a statement.
Engineering professor Dr. Sreekanta Das, who leads the project, says the on-site printing process will allow researchers to evaluate durability, energy performance and cost efficiency under real-world conditions.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
This data may help policymakers assess whether the net-zero technology can scale up for larger buildings.
Harald Bathelt, professor in the University of Toronto’s geography and planning department, says the Windsor project demonstrates that new approaches remain possible to address housing issues, despite skepticism in countries including the United States. Bathelt said there has been backlash related to global climate solutions, including net-zero technology.
“It shows and reminds us that different policy approaches are possible,” he said.
The Windsor pilot comes at a time when Ontario’s homebuilding ambitions are being repeatedly revised downward.
According to Ontario’s 2025 fall economic statement, the province now expects to build 81,700 fewer homes between 2024 and 2027 than projected earlier this year.
Current projections suggest Ontario may build just 40 per cent of its 2026 target.
Housing supply and affordability are among the “most significant challenges facing communities everywhere,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, in a news conference earlier this month aimed at tackling housing issues.
According to Dilkens, the city’s Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan, which has already mapped out roughly four square kilometres for residential intensification, is key to the city’s progress toward building 13,000 homes by 2031.
And now with this new technology, officials say that goal may be far more attainable.
“This milestone reflects advancing additive construction and providing a platform that enables its wider adoption,” added Leigh Newman, CEO of Printerra, the company behind the technology.
In a statement, Federal Economic Development Minister Evan Solomon chimed in to say the initiative is a “true example of how innovation and collaboration can drive change.”
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
The weather outside might be frightful but, depending where they live, some Ontario residents may soon get a reprieve from the snow — though only some.
Snow warnings are in effect for several parts of central and southern Ontario, with Environment Canada using its new alert system to issue yellow warnings for snowfall.
The new system now adds a colour to each weather alert — yellow, orange and red — to show the seriousness. Yellow alerts are issued when hazardous weather may cause damage or disruption, or impact health. These weather events are likely moderate, localized, and/or short term.
Current yellow warnings stretch south to cities such as London, Kitchener and Guelph, west to Manitoulin Island and north to Huntsville and Cedar Lake.
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Parts of the Greater Toronto Area are also under warnings including Peterborough, Markham, Milton and Vaughan.
These areas are forecast to see additional snowfall on Sunday, though the amounts vary. Places such as Cobourg and London expected to see two to five centimetres, while other areas, such as Kitchener and Manitoulin Island, are forecast to recieve five to 10 centimetre.
Environment Canada says the snow is expected to transition to flurries in most areas, and will likely to change to rain showers midday in several communities.
There are also several special weather statements in effect for some cities, with some, including Sault Ste Marie and West Nippissing-French River, expected to see between five and 10 additional centimetres of snow into the evening.
Those facing the snow are urged to make additional time for travel. Snow buildup will make roads and walkways difficult to navigate and visibility will be reduced.
Other cities, such as Niagara Falls, Kingston and the majority of the Golden Horseshoe, including Toronto and Hamilton, are under a special weather statement for strong winds.
Those winds are expected to begin later this morning, with strong southwesterly gusts that could hit 60 to 70 km/h. The winds will ease in the evening, but Environment Canada cautions that local utility outages are possible.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Toronto Fire crews remained on scene Saturday afternoon as a complex highrise fire at Thorncliffe Park Dr. and Overlea Blvd. continued to burn behind walls, with officials still unable to give residents a timeline for when they can go home.
Toronto Fire said they have made “positive” progress, but the blaze remains extremely difficult to access.
Acting Division Commander Robert Houston said firefighters have been “actively fighting a stubborn fire” for more than 48 hours and that early in the response they discovered “high levels of carbon monoxide throughout the building.”
All 408 units across the two towers were evacuated. No injuries have been reported.
The Red Cross is providing emergency assistance, delivering accommodations and food for 117 households and 239 people as of Saturday morning.
Officials said residents were moved from an initial hub into hotels.
One of those displaced is single mother Mohamee Muhammad, now staying with her daughter at a hotel in the Don Valley.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
They have been provided a card to buy meals but only have guaranteed accommodation until Dec. 2.
“You have to take it one day at a time,” Muhammad told Global News.
Her daughter Aisha learned about the fire from her school principal.
“I just hope we can go home back soon,” she said, adding the experience is deeply disruptive. “I wasn’t expecting this. I just thought it would be a normal day until I got the call.” She was permitted to briefly enter to retrieve her school supplies.
Another resident, Nihal Sheikh, said his wife called him while he was at work to say the building was being evacuated. They have a two-month-old and two other young children.
“Things happened suddenly,” he said. “It was so chaotic.”
He said responders escorted him upstairs to retrieve medications and diapers. “We don’t know what’s going on… we are just getting updates from fire department and police.”
Houston said temperatures and carbon monoxide levels have “successfully lowered,” but crews still “do not have eyes on the fire… just behind walls,” relying instead on heat readings and air monitoring.
He confirmed “there is no timeline” for when residents can return. “We just can’t see. We’re in the middle of trying to mitigate the situation.”
Earlier on Friday, Fire Chief Jim Jessop said the blaze is being fuelled by insulation burning “slowly” between the walls of both towers, creating “high levels of carbon monoxide” due to “incomplete combustion.” Crews had recorded readings of 850 parts per million, a life-threatening level.
Jessop said he expects it to be a “prolonged event,” with no estimate on when it will be brought under control. Once it is, it will still take firefighters another 24 hours to ensure there are no flare-ups.
Crews were first called around 1:30 p.m. Thursday to reports of “light smoke” on multiple floors at 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr., before the fire spread into the adjacent building at 21 Overlea Blvd.
City officials thanked emergency responders and urged any remaining displaced residents to contact the Red Cross, saying, “The most important thing is that everybody in this community is safe.”
– With files from Gabby Rodriguez
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Broccoli florets sold under the Your Fresh Market brand are being recalled across several provinces due to possible Salmonella contamination, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says.
The CFIA issued the recall Friday for packaged broccoli florets distributed in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase. The agency says the product should not be eaten, sold, served or distributed.
Food contaminated with Salmonella may look and smell normal but can still cause illness.
Symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness.
The CFIA says anyone who believes they became sick after eating the product should contact a health-care provider.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
-
Uncategorized6 months agoShop Proud, Eat Proud, Be Proud — Ottawa Canada Day Market This June 28th
-
6 months agoOntario First Nation residents take shelter in Toronto-area amid wildfires
-
5 months ago161 bricks of suspected cocaine found on truck trying to cross Canada-U.S. border
-
6 months agoRing of Fire road to bring prosperity to First Nation, problems for caribou: report
-
6 months agoMeasles circulating in northeastern B.C. community, health officials warn
-
6 months agoCanada’s world junior trial saw juries tossed, intense testimony. Here’s a recap
-
6 months agoFormer major leaguer, Jays doctor Ron Taylor dies
-
6 months agoJagmeet Singh apologizes for attending Kendrick Lamar concert after Drake calls him out