Tag: 3Dprint

Reimagining Oil City with Concrete 3D Printing

SCHRADERGROUP’s Architectural Designer, Dan Pawluczyk, was recently invited back to his alma mater Penn State University as a juror overseeing students presenting 3D concrete printing concepts. 3D concrete printing is a new branch of design, and many believe it is the future of affordable, sustainable housing and architecture at large. Dr. José Duarte, Stuckeman Chair in Design Innovation, leads efforts at Penn State to 3D print these structures.

Selina Pedi-Smith and her husband Don Smith sponsored the upper-level architecture studio class in their endeavors, striving to revitalize the once-booming town of Oil City, PA. The couple identified a plot of land for the students to conceptualize the future possibilities of the town. The town is abundant with natural resources, and the couple hopes to use 3D concrete printing to breathe life back into the area through tourism, employment, and of course: affordable housing.

3D concrete printing involves a large mixer, a machine, and a vision. The printing process is quick and affordable compared to traditional construction methods, and the students utilized the studio and tools Dan used during his time at Penn State to create various housing concepts on the plot in Oil City. The students presented mock-ups and concept designs to the panel for review. Dan was able to combine his experience from SCHRADERGROUP and expertise from Dr. Duarte’s class and provide helpful insight and feedback to the current students.

We at SCHRADERGROUP are excited to see our members succeed and are proud of Dan’s achievements. We are interested in the future of architecture, engineering, and design and the ways people create communities through these mediums. We are endlessly inspired by students paving the way for the future.

Photos c/o: Dan Pawluczyk

SCHRADERGROUP Aids in the Fight Against COVID-19

Due to COVID-19 causing a dire need for personal protective equipment (PPE), the SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team joined efforts to print 3D face shield visors for local healthcare workers in need. Sets of 3D printed face visors were paired with a laser-cut shield and shipped to Mercy Catholic Medical Center in West Philadelphia on April 15, 2020.

3D printed face visor

The SG team decided to join Cornell University’s “Operation PPE” effort to provide protective gear for medical professionals. Cornell University started Operation PPE with the intent to use their on-campus digital fabrication facilities to produce temporary personal protection equipment for healthcare workers on the front lines. An open-source 3D print file was made available to produce the visor portion of a protective face shield. Architecture schools and firms around the world have joined the effort to produce this equipment in attempts to slow the curve. To learn more, click here.

SG is appreciative of Cornell University’s accessible solution that allows architecture schools and firms to aid in the fight against COVID-19. The SG team hopes to have made a difference for healthcare workers during this desperate time.