ICON and Firmah Architecture unveil 450-acre 3D-printed surf community in Waco, Texas

Construction company ICON and Austin-based Firmah Architecture have revealed designs for Desperado, a 450-acre residential community in Waco, Texas, featuring 88 3D-printed houses. The development, an extension of the existing Waco Surf water park, will surround two artificial surf lagoons, including a new kidney-shaped wave pool. Renderings show gently curved concrete structures with wooden ceilings and wide, shading roofs. The housing mix includes 44 standalone homes and 44 duplex townhomes, all designed around the concept of 'flow' by Firmah Architecture founder Ashley Heeren, who previously led ICON's House Zero project in Austin. Waco Surf co-president Luke Schock described the community as blending 'Texas ranch life' with 'high-level surf' and 'intentional living,' centered around an old-growth forest and prairie land. The car-free neighborhood will offer amenities like pickleball courts, a 13-hole golf course, fishing lakes, and 'the world's longest' lazy river. Construction is set to begin in summer 2026, with move-ins expected by summer 2027. ICON, a Texas-based 3D printing construction firm, is also involved in other printed neighborhoods in the state, such as Wimberly Springs and Wolf Ranch, and has collaborated with architecture studio BIG.