The barracks house 72 soldiers each and are the largest 3D-printed structures in the Western Hemisphere
The U.S. Army completed a pilot program in which new 3D-printed barracks were constructed at Fort Bliss, Texas.
The barracks house 72 soldiers each and are the largest 3D-printed structures in the Western Hemisphere, according to a Newsweek report. If the Army uses this technology more widely, it could reduce construction costs, speed up deployment, and make infrastructure more durable in both domestic and combat settings.
Using mold-resistant materials, the barracks were engineered to withstand environmental hazards, including severe weather and seismic activity. The Department of Defense collaborated with Austin-based ICON, which used a large gantry-style 3D printer to make the buildings out of Lavacrete material.
This initiative was spearheaded by the Army’s Defense Innovation Unit, which is testing new construction methods for durable and energy-efficient housing construction at lower costs.
