In the summer semester of 2026, the KGBauko Institute will conduct an experimental design and research project as part of the course Structural Design. The objective of the project is the development and realization of a 3D-printed concrete shell, which will be conceived, structurally designed, and implemented by students in collaboration with an industrial partner.

The course focuses on the integrated application of digital design and fabrication methods in structural engineering. Students will have the opportunity to design innovative shell structures and develop them both geometrically and structurally. Particular emphasis will be placed on the design and optimization of a grid shell, whose structural behavior and performance will be analyzed and further refined throughout the project.

The planned components will be produced using 3D concrete printing technology. The printed elements will be designed as integral formwork, serving not only as a shaping element but also as a functional component of the structural system. Reinforcement elements will be integrated into the printed components, which will subsequently be filled with cast-in-place concrete to create a load-bearing composite structure. Through this combination of additive manufacturing and conventional construction techniques, the project will investigate a hybrid construction approach that offers both architectural and structural potential for future building processes.

Throughout the semester, students will develop and evaluate a range of design and construction concepts. At the end of the semester, one selected design will be realized at full scale, printed, and assembled in collaboration with the industrial partner Sika. This provides participants with the unique opportunity to experience the entire process—from conceptual design and structural planning to the physical realization of an innovative structural system.

All interested students are warmly invited to participate in this course.

Registration is available via TUCaN.