ICON & TMD Unveil 3D Printed Barracks in Texas
By Strategic Research Institute on Sep 10, 2021 10:00 am
The Texas Military Department has partnered with Austin based construction technologies company ICON to design and 3D-print an innovative training barracks at the Camp Swift Training Center in Bastrop in Texas. As the largest 3D printed structure in North America, the 3,800 square feet building is set to house up to 72 soldiers or airmen at their primary facility while they train for missions in Texas or overseas marking these the first soldiers in the world to live in 3D-printed barracks. This marks the first project underway for ICON with the Texas Military Department and is a result from a SBIR Strategic Fund Increase (STRATFI) contract through the AFVentures to which TMD contributed funds. TMD and AFWERX, the USAF in-house innovation incubator, sought out to create barracks of the future by using construction scale 3D printing technology.
The 3D-printed barracks, designed by Logan Architecture and structural engineering by Fort Structures,, is the latest project using ICON’s next generation Vulcan construction system and proprietary material to deliver sustainable and resilient housing that is longer-lasting than traditional buildings. ICON’s proprietary technology provides a new option for the U.S. Military to leverage commercial additive manufacturing to produce safe, strong and energy efficient structures at speed and with design freedom for our soldiers at home and overseas.
This innovative technology intends to deliver military barracks at an increased speed compared to traditional construction and will replace temporary barracks that are beyond their intended lifespan with more efficient permanent structures. The 3D printing process is being evaluated for suitability as an expeditionary solution to enable printing of facilities in forward deployed locations, potentially reducing time, cost and construction risks.
The National Guard is on the front lines of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions. This technology has the potential at scale to build structures faster and at a cost savings compared to traditional methodologies. It will enable the U.S. Military to build infrastructure that will support local communities to rebuild faster from natural disasters.
To commemorate the unveiling of the first-ever 3D-printed Barracks, The Texas Military Department and ICON held a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 16, 2021 with a host of Government Officials and members of the Texas Military Department. Soldiers in training will begin to inhabit the new 3D-printed Barracks beginning Fall 2021.