COBOD’s 3D construction printing tech in Ukraine

Ukraine has faced severe challenges due to the full-scale invasion of Russia, resulting in the destruction or damage of over 2,000 schools, with 277 schools completely demolished, as reported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. In light of this crisis, the primary goal of this project is to swiftly respond to the dire shortage of educational infrastructure in the country.

By introducing 3D printing technology into the construction process, the project initiators aim to expedite the creation of educational facilities and lay the foundation for the reconstruction of housing and vital infrastructure throughout Ukraine.

Jean-Christophe Bonis, Founder and Chairman of the Team4UA humanitarian foundation, shared his perspective on the initiative: "The school construction project based on 3D printing technology is designed to provide access to education for children affected by the full-scale war in Ukraine, as well as to create an inclusive space for internally displaced children in Lviv. Destroyed schools and other educational institutions deprive the younger generation of the opportunity to receive a quality education, which can have a negative impact on their future and the future of the state. Innovative solutions will help to overcome this problem right now, more efficiently and much faster – just see how much have been done here in just 3-4 days of printing. Virtually half of the printing is already complete."

The primary school is being built on the premises of the existing school number 23 and will serve as a beacon of hope for internally displaced children affected by the full-scale war. The one-story school building, spanning an area of 370m² will provide a nurturing environment for the young learners. The architect chose to clearly show that the building has been 3D printed by opting not to print with COBOD’s flaps technology, enabling the printing of very smooth walls. Also, remarkably, 90% of the construction materials will be locally produced, further stimulating the economy and empowering the community. In fact, 99% of the materials for the 3D printed concrete has been sourced at low cost locally.

This pioneering endeavour to construct the first 3D-printed school in Europe embodies the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people to rebuild their nation and ensure a brighter future for the next generation. It represents a turning point in the reconstruction efforts and offers a blueprint for leveraging cutting-edge technology to address urgent societal challenges.

Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder & General Manager of COBOD said: “We are proud to have delivered the technology that makes this project possible. The proud people of Ukraine deserve all the support we can provide, and I am happy we have been able to donate all that we have been doing in this project for free. Out of respect for the impressive fighting will Ukraine has shown on behalf of all of the rest of Europe and the rest of the democratic world, this is the least we could do.”