Starbucks is opening its first 3D printed store in the U.S. this week in Brownsville, Texas, a city located along the U.S.-Mexico border. The new drive-thru location is unique because a robotic arm was used to layer concrete for the construction, a method often seen in residential buildings but rarely used for commercial projects. This store marks Starbucks’ entry into the small group of large retailers experimenting with 3D printing in construction.
The store, set to open on Friday, features a compact rectangular design with walls that have a distinctive ridged texture, resembling stacked tubes. While Starbucks has not disclosed whether it plans to build more stores using this technology or why it chose Brownsville for the first project, the store stands out as a demonstration of the evolving use of 3D printing in the construction industry.
Experts in construction believe that while 3D printing in commercial building is still in its early stages, it represents an innovative direction. James Rose, the director of the Institute for Smart Structures at the University of Tennessee, views this as a good step toward figuring out the best uses for the technology, even though there is still much experimentation to be done.
Local residents, like Faviola Maldonado, observed the unusual construction process with interest. She described it as a “super high technology” development, highlighting the novelty of the method.
While 3D printing for construction is still more expensive than traditional methods, Andrew McCoy, associate director of research and innovation at Virginia Tech, believes that the technology could eventually become more cost-effective. He noted that it is becoming faster, more compact, and easier to use, making it a promising solution to labor shortages and construction delays.