jar546
Forum Coordinator
In the realm of homebuilding, a groundbreaking innovation is taking root in South Florida, poised to potentially revolutionize the entire construction industry.
The idea behind it is deceptively simple.
"We're building adult size Legos to build adult size homes," remarked Ken Smuts, President of Renco USA, a Miami-based company at the forefront of this transformative technology. Renco is harnessing the power of renewable composites to craft foundation blocks that are changing the way houses are built.
The inception of this ingenious concept occurred when Smuts journeyed to Turkey and returned with the inspiration of renewable composite Lego blocks.
These blocks have undergone rigorous testing, including assessments related to wind, fire, and water ratings, earning approvals from Miami-Dade County and Tallahassee. Notably, they have been tested to withstand winds exceeding a remarkable 250 mph, which is ten times stronger than conventional unreinforced concrete blocks, which typically break under compression at about 1600 PSI.
One of the significant advantages of this new design is its ability to expedite home construction. Smuts explained, "We don't have to use tools, we don't have to use heavy equipment, and the building literally flies up, taking just eight weeks to complete."
The construction process is reminiscent of how timeless children's toys operate, with 22 unique Lego-like pieces. A construction crew follows a color-coded diagram to assemble these pieces, using glue to create a chemical bond that surpasses the strength of the material itself.
The inaugural project for this innovative technology is a 96-unit apartment complex in Palm Springs, located west of Lake Worth in Palm Beach County. Construction costs have proven to be 20% more affordable compared to traditional methods, potentially leading to reduced insurance rates.
Smuts emphasized, "We've seen rates in the building process 40% lower for builder's insurance."
This concept has evolved from a resemblance to a child's toy into a renewable, composite interlocking system, considered by some as the first transformational approach to construction in over a century. Renco is on the verge of establishing a fully operational factory in Jupiter, with plans to manufacture composite blocks on a large scale. The company's vision includes producing a minimum of 5,000 apartment units annually and expanding into single-family home construction in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
The idea behind it is deceptively simple.
"We're building adult size Legos to build adult size homes," remarked Ken Smuts, President of Renco USA, a Miami-based company at the forefront of this transformative technology. Renco is harnessing the power of renewable composites to craft foundation blocks that are changing the way houses are built.
The inception of this ingenious concept occurred when Smuts journeyed to Turkey and returned with the inspiration of renewable composite Lego blocks.
These blocks have undergone rigorous testing, including assessments related to wind, fire, and water ratings, earning approvals from Miami-Dade County and Tallahassee. Notably, they have been tested to withstand winds exceeding a remarkable 250 mph, which is ten times stronger than conventional unreinforced concrete blocks, which typically break under compression at about 1600 PSI.
One of the significant advantages of this new design is its ability to expedite home construction. Smuts explained, "We don't have to use tools, we don't have to use heavy equipment, and the building literally flies up, taking just eight weeks to complete."
The construction process is reminiscent of how timeless children's toys operate, with 22 unique Lego-like pieces. A construction crew follows a color-coded diagram to assemble these pieces, using glue to create a chemical bond that surpasses the strength of the material itself.
The inaugural project for this innovative technology is a 96-unit apartment complex in Palm Springs, located west of Lake Worth in Palm Beach County. Construction costs have proven to be 20% more affordable compared to traditional methods, potentially leading to reduced insurance rates.
Smuts emphasized, "We've seen rates in the building process 40% lower for builder's insurance."
This concept has evolved from a resemblance to a child's toy into a renewable, composite interlocking system, considered by some as the first transformational approach to construction in over a century. Renco is on the verge of establishing a fully operational factory in Jupiter, with plans to manufacture composite blocks on a large scale. The company's vision includes producing a minimum of 5,000 apartment units annually and expanding into single-family home construction in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.