FAIRBANKS, ALASKA — X-Hab 3D, Inc., has successfully used its mobile, robotic arm-style 3D concrete printing (3DCP) system in Fairbanks, Alaska, to print the walls of a structure designed to withstand the arctic environment’s extreme conditions, including temperature swings from 90°F to -40°F, seismic activity, snow loads, heavy wind, and rain. This project marks a historic achievement in 3DCP construction. It is the first 3DCP structure in Alaska and the northernmost in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, at 64.8° N latitude.
Led by Xtreme Habitats Institute, this demonstration and test project is supported by grants from Housing and Urban Development, the Denali Commission, the City of Nome, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, and the Rasmuson Foundation. Penn State is responsible for the architecture and structural engineering, while National Renewable Energy Laboratory is responsible for the building’s environmental envelope and will conduct testing and monitoring over the arctic winter. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is leading the effort to develop locally sourced and produced concrete mixtures in Alaska, with support from Penn State. Fairbanks Block and Materials provided the location for printing the test structure, and Local 528 Concrete and Masonry Union provided concrete construction support. The Innovative Readiness Training Unit of the U.S. Department of Defense is providing logistics support.
This test structure in Fairbanks is the first step toward demonstrating the viability of 3DCP for affordable housing in Alaska. Next spring, the team plans to print a 1,200-square-foot house in the City of Nome, based on lessons learned from the test structure.
“This achievement showcases our technology’s capabilities and represents a significant step forward in providing affordable and resilient housing in challenging environments,” said Bruce Kraselsky, CEO of X-Hab 3D.
Keith Comstock, Executive Director of Xtreme Habitats Institute, added, “This collaboration demonstrates how innovation and community support can address housing challenges in harsh climates.”