--- title: "The Army wants to 3D print an entire barracks to save time and money" description: "A 9,500-pound 3D printer will be used to build three, 5,700-square foot barracks at Fort Bliss, Texas within the next 10 months." date: "2022-04-06" modified: "2022-04-06" authors: - name: "David Roza" job_title: "Senior Reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/david-roza.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-3d-printing-barracks-fort-bliss/" categories: - "Army" - "Around the World" - "Field Guide" - "Military Branches" - "Military Life" - "News" - "United States" --- # The Army wants to 3D print an entire barracks to save time and money ![3d print barracks]() *Soldiers walk up to new barracks made with 3D printing technology at the Camp Swift Training Center in Bastrop Texas in an ICON promotional video (Screenshot via YouTube/ICON)* A few dozen Army soldiers may soon be among the first in the country to sleep in something that came out of a printer. No, we’re not talking about the belligerent one in the office corner that runs out of toner every time you need it. We’re talking about a machine that could change both military bases and the U.S. housing market by reducing costs and saving time on building places to live and work. The machine, a 9,500-pound, 46.5-foot-wide 3D printer called Vulcan, will be used to build three, 5,700-square foot barracks at Fort Bliss, Texas within the next 10 months. If all goes well, the barracks will be the largest 3D printed buildings in the western hemisphere,[ according]() to a recent Department of Defense press release. "Constructing facilities using this cutting-edge technology saves labor costs, reduces planning time, and increases the speed of construction of future facilities," said Army Lt. Gen. Doug Gabram, head of Army Installation Management Command, in the release. “We are looking at other ways to use this innovative technique for rapid construction of other types of facilities beyond barracks.” A 3D printer uses heat and pressure to shape a material, such as plastic, metal or concrete, layer by layer into a 3D object, kind of like how a soft-serve machine spits out ice cream, as[ CBS]() described it. While you may have seen a desktop-sized printer crank out toys or knick knacks, the technology has exploded over recent years to produce anything from[ aircraft parts]() to[ guns]() to[ human organs](). Now, a company called ICON is using large-scale 3D printers to build homes fast and cheap across Texas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuBDyQEyTWA How does it work? ICON sets up the Vulcan on the construction site, and, like all 3D printers, the machine’s computer follows a blueprint to build the walls layer by layer. The Vulcan spits out Lavacrete, a special kind of concrete used by ICON which the Department of Defense said can “withstand extreme weather and greatly reduce the impact of natural disasters.” [**Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today**]()**. Get the latest in military news, entertainment, and gear in your inbox daily.** ICON has been in the news a lot recently for building the first[ 3D printed homes]() sold in America and for planning to print [entire neighborhoods](). The walls of the first floor of the homes were 3D printed in less than a week, according to CBS, while traditional construction was used for the foundation, roof, wiring and plumbing. Printing the walls was several times faster than it would have taken with wooden framing. 3D printing definitely saves on labor, since you don’t have to pay the Vulcan overtime. That’s a key feature, since the U.S. is facing a historic[ 3 million-home housing shortage]() and a “[crisis-level]()” construction worker shortage, according to one housing expert. That means it could be time to send in the machines. ![3d printed barracks]() *A concept image created by Logan Architecture shows digitally rendered plans for ICON’s 3D-printed barracks in Fort Bliss, Texas. (Photo via DoD/ICON)* “We’re filling a gap,” ICON CEO Jason Ballard told CBS. One of those gaps could be housing for service members. U.S. military housing around the world both on and off-base is notorious for being filled with[ mold](),[ rodents](), and[ asbestos](), and to be so poorly-maintained and hazardous that one defense secretary said the conditions were “[frankly unconscionable]().” Fixing those problems would require[ better oversight]() of private military housing companies, but the Department of Defense has also pledged to “[replace, repair and modernize]() facilities” and tear down obsolete ones. Could their replacements come from a printer? Perhaps, as both the Army and Marine Corps seem to be testing the waters of the new technology. In 2020, the Marines worked with ICON to transform a blank patch of dirt[ into a concrete bunker]() for vehicles at Camp Pendleton, California in 36 hours. In 2021, the Texas Military Department worked with ICON to 3D print a[ 72-soldier barracks]() at the Camp Swift Training Center. The 3,800-square foot building was the largest 3D-structure in North America at the time, but the upcoming Fort Bliss barracks will likely nab that record if all goes well. ![military 3d printing]() *A concrete bunker for vehicles is 3D-printed by ICON and the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, Calif. (Photo via DoD/ICON)* Hopefully it will be worth the switch: Axios[ reported]() on Tuesday that ICON has won at least $15 million in Defense Department contracts since 2019, but ICON officials “declined to say how much the new barracks \[at Fort Bliss\] would cost, except that the project would be "10-30% cheaper than traditional construction." ICON could soon have competition: the Department of Defense recently released new Unified Facilities Criteria which, for the first time, includes specifications for building 3D-printed concrete walls. A military [press release]() says the criteria will encourage more companies to 3D-print buildings for service members. “This project supports all three Army priorities,” Gabram said, “people, readiness and modernization.” ## What’s new on Task & Purpose - **Air Force investigates cargo plane crew for ‘unplanned’ landing to** [**pick up motorcycle in Martha’s Vineyard**]() - **‘Top Gun’ sequel isn’t even out yet and we already know** [**they f–ked up the uniforms**]() - **The Marine Corps has** [**an eating disorder problem**]() - [**The Army knows its op-tempo is ‘unsustainable’**]() **but can’t seem to fix it** - **‘Call that a good day’ — An American is live-tweeting** [**his part in the war in Ukraine**]() **Want to write for Task & Purpose?** [**Click here**]()**. Or check out the latest stories on** [**our homepage.**]() ## Author David Roza is a senior reporter at Task & Purpose with extensive experience covering aviation, technology, military pay, benefits, health care, child care, culture, and a range of other personnel matters.David previously covered the Air Force and Space Force for Task & Purpose from 2019 to 2023 and for Air & Space Forces Magazine from 2023 to 2025 before returning to Task & Purpose as a scriptwriter for the team's YouTube channel. Share tips and story ideas with David at david.roza@recurrent.io. ## More - [Company that 3D-printed Army barracks wants to build habitats on the Moon]() - [Fort Bliss gets a glimpse into the future with 3D-printed barracks]() - [101st Airborne troops will stay in 3D-printed barracks on border deployment]() - [On The Dark Web, 3D-Printed Gun Designs Sell For As Little As $12]() - [Meet RAMBO, The Army’s Brand New 3D-Printed Grenade Launcher]() - [The Army wants to use 3D-printed drones to spot threats soldiers can’t see]() - [The Navy Can Now 3D-Print Submarines On The Fly For SEALs]() - [We Have Some Questions About That Airman-Designed 3D-Printed Gas Mask]()