Despite these advantages, the architectural and structural potential of concrete 3D printing remains largely unexplored relative to the maturity of precast construction. While precast systems have benefited from decades of industrial optimization and codification, concrete 3D printing is still emerging, particularly in relation to reinforcement strategies, long-span systems, and building-scale structural applications. Ongoing work on architected and geometry-informed structures highlights how digitally driven fabrication may support new structural typologies that go beyond the limitations of conventional prefabrication. As research and prototyping continue, concrete 3D printing holds the potential not simply to replicate existing construction systems, but to redefine prefabrication as a materially efficient, performance-driven, and customizable mode of architectural production.

Objectives

This studio aims to investigate innovative methods for the design, assembly, and disassembly of prefabricated concrete components produced by 3D printing that meet the functional requirements of a mid-rise building. The assembly method should evolve progressively to ensure the structural integrity of the building. The overarching objective of the studio is to:

• proposes innovative prefabricated methods of construction and labor using concrete 3D printing;
• research conventional method of concrete prefabrication and develop equivalent, more efficient, design-oriented methods using concrete 3D printing;
• minimize waste in both pre-production and post-production; and
• explore the architectural freedom provided by 3d printing for design purposes.