CTLGroup’s Plain-Concrete Concept Lands in NASA Building Challenge

CTLGroup staff received one of three Best of Class Awards in America Makes, a $2.25 million competition in which sponsors NASA and the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute challenge participants to develop advanced architectural concepts that take advantage of 3-D capabilities. The designs will contribute to future Mars exploration and construction in remote areas on Earth.

From a pool of 150-plus teams submitting proposals, Skokie, Ill.-based CTLGroup was among 30 finalists displaying concept models at the World Maker Faire in New York. Team Mars’ Seed Habitat concept was based on ancient concrete designs without reinforcing steel—owing to production difficulties on Mars and material delivery challenges from Earth. The team included former CTLGroup researcher Dr. T.D. Lin, whose 1980s work involved research on lunar concrete. Ross Kelly and Scott Nettles represented CTLGroup in New York.