Texas A&M Receives Grant to Develop 3D-Printable ‘Hempcrete’ Buildings

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/30/22

Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, recently received a $3.74-million grant to research and develop the ability to 3D-print buildings using concrete made from hemp—or “hempcrete.” Local news reports that the substance made from hemp powder or fibers, lime and water could be used as a light, cheap and green building material and could help reduce the environmental impact of construction and make housing cheaper.

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Harnessing Emissions into Structures Taking Inputs from the Atmosphere (HESTIA) program, according to university news.

The project will be led by Dr. Petros Sideris, assistant professor at the university’s Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. According to a university news story, his team will include assistant professor Dr. Maria Koliou, professor Dr. Zachary Grasley, and professor Dr. Anand Puppala; and associate professor Dr. Manish Dixit and professor Dr. Wei Yan from the College of Architecture.

“While production of conventional construction materials such as concrete requires large amounts of energy and releases large amounts of CO2 (carbon dioxide), hempcrete is a net carbon-negative material, which can provide major environmental benefits,” Sideris said. "Resilience to natural hazards is intertwined with environmental sustainability because building damage and subsequent repairs due to extreme events such as hurricanes result in major environmental impacts.”

The project aims to make building designs printable and to meet modern design codes for structural integrity and energy performance. The digital designs will allow the process to be easily adopted by the construction industry at large.

“Hempcrete has excellent fire resistance and thermal insulating properties that can reduce heating and cooling energy demands," said Sideris. "It is water-resistant and offers good acoustic properties.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • EPA to Provide $26M in Grants to Protect School, Child Care Drinking Water

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it will award $26 million in grant funding to test and fix lead-contaminated water at U.S. schools and childcare centers, according to local news.

  • Abstract colorful arrows in front of a contemporary university building

    Spaces4Learning 2025 Trends in Higher Education

    With 2025 well underway, it’s time to take a look at some broader trends submitted by you, our Spaces4Learning readership. We asked for your thoughts on topics like classroom design, health & safety, materials & construction, and technology in both K–12 and higher-education environments. Below is a roundup of 2025 trends in higher education from the experts in the trenches.

  • S4L Launches 2025 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey

    Spaces4Learning recently launched its 2025 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey, which gathers information on K–12 and higher education construction projects nationwide from the previous year. The data we get from you, our readers, forms an industry report offering an overview of current trends in school facilities.

  • Boosting Student Wellness and Safety Through Indoor-Outdoor School Spaces

    Engaging students through facilities designed for indoor and outdoor learning and activities reflects a growing awareness of how children learn and thrive, with educators recognizing the importance of getting outside and disconnecting from technology. And, as today’s youth grapple with the urgent mental health crisis of increased anxiety and loneliness fueled by both the pandemic and technology, along with a related crisis in youth physical health, the wellness benefits of getting outside have never been so palpable.

Digital Edition