The future of housing construction runs through Fairbanks

The new Automated Construction and Advanced Materials Lab (ACAM) is being established to address rising housing demand, high construction costs, and environmental challenges. “Climate change significantly impacts Alaska, especially with permafrost thawing,” said Dr. Nima Farzadnia. “We need resilient and sustainable construction solutions.”

A collaborative effort is underway involving a concrete 3D printer. Recently, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, Penn State University, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) unveiled a device that can 3D print a house in just a few days.

UAF and HUD are testing 3D-printed concrete structures in Nome, chosen for its locally sourced materials and expected population growth. “Alaska needs over 27,000 new housing units in the next decade,” said Solomon Greene from HUD. This technology, first tested in an extreme environment, could have broader applications beyond Alaska.

See the news report here.