Kentucky State Association Views Demo of State's First 3D Concrete Printed Building

The Kentucky Concrete Association (KCA) recently attended a live demonstration of Floodbuster 1, Kentucky’s first 3D concrete printed (3DCP) structure located at Somerset Community College (SCC) in Somerset, KY. KCA Executive Director Brett Ruffing represented the concrete industry in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; both KCA and NRMCA members attended the event. NRMCA Associate member Sika Corporation donated raw materials, technology transfers and employee resources to SCC for the 3DCP program. Another NRMCA Associate member, Quickrete, also provided materials for the live demo while Producer member Irving Materials, Inc. (imi) provided concrete for the foundation and footers for the live demo.

Over the last few years, Kentucky has experienced numerous natural disasters across the entire state, including tornadoes and severe weather, snow and ice storms, wildfires, flooding and even remnants from hurricanes that have hit the southeastern United States. These natural disasters have severely damaged many communities, including cities, with Somerset itself recently in the path of a tornado that was on the ground for approximately 90 minutes and covered a path of nearly 60 miles.

SCC launched the nation’s first statewide additive manufacturing certificate program under the vision and expertise of Professor Eric Wooldridge, PE, RA, MsEng, director of the Kentucky Community Technical College System (KCTCS) Additive Manufacturing Center which includes 3DCP. This program has trained more than 5,000 college students, over 250 K-12 teachers and over 100 dual-credit instructors, and has introduced more than 10,000 K-12 students to the principles of 3D printing.

SCC is also leading the development of Floodbuster 1. Building on over 10 years of expertise in additive manufacturing, SCC is transforming its research and educational efforts into a tangible model of future housing innovation. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving educational institutions, nonprofit organizations and industry partners dedicated to pushing the boundaries of contemporary construction. SCC aims to demonstrate how cutting-edge design and advanced building technologies can address the increasing need for durable, efficient, resilient and flexible housing solutions.

“It is important to realize we are not talking about the distant or even the near future,” said Wooldridge. “We already have the [3D printing] technology right here and now to build a cost-effective structure, that compared to wood, might as well be virtually indestructible.”

According to Kendrah Winters-Pearson, EdD, executive director of technical programs for KCTCS, “Technical higher education is not just a pathway to personal success, it’s crucial to the economic strength of our communities. These programs connect classroom learning directly to industry needs, preparing students for high-wage, high-demand careers that can’t be outsourced. These are the jobs that keep Kentucky running. They matter because it’s our neighbors, our towns, that are affected by weather disasters and other hardships. When students make those connections, it’s not just about fixing brakes, it’s about helping a neighbor get to work. It’s not just about building a house, it’s about rebuilding someone’s life with a more resilient, adaptable home.”

Floodbuster 1 is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders. To continue the success of Floodbuster 1, Floodbuster 2 will be developed and is expected to include a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Floodbuster 2 will be constructed in Kentucky’s Appalachian Region.

Click here to view a selection of photos. For more information, contact Brett Ruffing at brett@kyconcrete.org.