Somerset Community College (SCC) is embracing technology and bringing innovation to the construction industry.
Through additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing technology, those in the college are aiming to provide affordable and resilient housing solutions that could be essential for surviving and rebuilding after natural disasters.
Additive Manufacturing With Concrete
The vision is to employ additive manufacturing technology to build resilient homes capable of withstanding future floods and tornadoes.
In recent years, Kentucky and the Appalachian regions have faced devastating losses from tornadoes, floods, and even hurricanes.
In response to these challenges, SCC’s adoption of additive manufacturing, serves as a beacon of hope for many homeowners.
“Over a decade ago, Eric Wooldridge, Director of KCTCS Additive Manufacturing Center at SCC, seeing what was about to happen with the technology, began the movement to bring additive manufacturing skills and education to Kentucky at large,” said Andrew Clapper C3DP Project Manager, a member of the SCC team. “SCC was the first institution in the nation to develop a statewide additive manufacturing certificate program.”
Wooldridge and his team are now aiming to expand their efforts in additive manufacturing on a grander scale with using concrete.
“Over the past decade, we’ve learned a great deal of valuable lessons,” said Wooldridge. “Because of our amazing partnerships with the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, our sister KCTCS colleges along with direct support from the National Science Foundation and the USDA Rural Development, we were able to become the pathfinders in how to democratize and rapidly scale 3D printing education across an entire state. Now it is time to do the same with concrete 3D printing.”
The Next Generation Of Homes
SCC’s foray into this innovative technology has garnered funding from the USDA and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
While experts at SCC acknowledge that fully integrating this technology into existing residential building codes and standards will take time, it is already being successfully implemented in other states and countries.
“Our project aims to demonstrate how building code requirements can be met with additive manufacturing technology used for structures, ensuring they meet all permitting standards,” said Wooldridge. “We also want to demonstrate to contractors and developers how this technology paired with cutting edge engineering applications can effectively to produce affordable, next generation homes that meet federal financing qualifications.”
Those in the program stress that additive manufactured structures are exceptionally durable and the cost and timeline to build with this technology compared to conventional methods are markedly different.
For more information about the additive manufacturing program at SCC, visit somerset.kctcs.edu.
