Walmart and Alquist have announced the completion of the second groundbreaking 3D Concrete Print (3DCP) project at the Owens Cross Roads, Ala., Supercenter. The walls supporting the 5,000-square-foot pickup expansion were completed in one week.
In Alabama, the five-person Alquist team, utilizing two 3DCP systems, printed the 16-foot-high walls on the Owens Cross Roads expansion in just 75 hours during seven operational days, faster than traditional building methods.
The Alquist 3DCP crew set a new company record for a project this size, based on speed, and established a new benchmark for cost efficiency in commercial construction. Utilizing 3DCP reduced overall costs for this project versus traditional construction, showing that costs can continue improving as usage scales to additional projects, underscoring the technology’s benefits to retail construction timelines and budgets.
Alquist’s team showed a distinct advantage from traditional construction methods, having successfully printed through weather conditions known to delay and halt traditional CMU block construction, allowing the project to proceed ahead of schedule.
FMGI, the general contractor, provided on-site coordination, ensuring the advanced 3D printing process worked seamlessly with conventional construction tasks. Sika USA supplied specialized concrete mixes formulated to deliver both speed and durability under real-world conditions.
As the demand for advanced construction methods grows, Alquist is committed to building a robust, future-ready workforce through its comprehensive 3DCP curriculum—an integral part of the Alquist Ecosystem. Developed in collaboration with Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado, this multifaceted program equips the next generation of builders with the necessary skills essential for executing and managing large-scale 3D printing projects. By combining hands-on technical training with an emphasis on innovation, the curriculum ensures that workers are prepared to drive the industry forward and embrace the transformative potential of 3D concrete printing.