Reimagining Construction: 3D Printing of Large-Scale Structures

3D printing has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything; yet materials currently being used are neither environmentally sustainable nor optimized for the 3D-printing process. Applied to large-scale structures, 3D printing is becoming a topic of growing interest in large part because of the urgent need to increase both productivity and safety on construction sites. Part of the appeal of the 3D printing of large-scale structures is that it offers the opportunity to robotically automate construction in extreme or hostile environments. The race to print buildings in three dimensions is intensifying globally. However, while the extrusive material of choice for most investigative researchers is currently concrete, the concrete industry is one of the largest contributors to human-produced CO2 emissions worldwide. This roundtable will discuss the environmental and technical opportunities and concerns related to concrete 3D printing, and alternative approaches.