A University of Kentucky Pigman College of Engineering alumnus is at the helm of one of the country’s most ambitious housing innovation projects.
Eric Wooldridge, director of the Kentucky Community Technical College System (KCTCS) Additive Manufacturing Center, located at Somerset Community College (SCC), is spearheading the Floodbuster 1 project, reimagining how homes can be built to withstand disaster, reduce costs and speed up construction using 3D-printed concrete.
Floodbuster 1 is a first-of-its-kind pilot project that applies years of research in additive manufacturing to the creation of a flood- and tornado-resilient home. The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Appalachian Regional Commission to advance resilient, cost-effective housing solutions for Appalachia and beyond.
Wooldridge, professional engineer and registered architect, brings over two decades of engineering expertise and education to this project. He earned his Bachelor of Science in biosystems engineering in 2001 and later returned to UK to complete a Master of Science in manufacturing systems engineering in 2019, with a focus on additive manufacturing.
Under Wooldridge’s leadership, SCC has become a national leader in additive manufacturing education and applied research. His vision for Floodbuster 1 merges cutting-edge engineering with community-centered problem-solving—showing how advanced technology can be made accessible, affordable and impactful.
“It is important to realize we are not talking about the distant or even the near future. We already have the [3D printing] technology right here and now to build a cost-effective structure, that compared to wood, might as well be virtually indestructible,” said Wooldridge.
Floodbuster 1 is a direct response to the urgent need for more durable, affordable housing. Across the U.S., families are burdened by rising construction costs, aging homes and increasing exposure to natural disasters. Using 3D-printed concrete, AI-optimized structural design and accelerated automation, Floodbuster 1 aims to:
Floodbuster 1 is the product of collaboration between education, industry and mission-driven partners, each contributing unique resources and expertise to bring this concept to life. Habitat for Humanity Pulaski County contributed reference plans during the design phase and will furnish the completed home with appliances to help simulate a real-world living environment.
A live printing demonstration will be held on Friday, June 27 at the KCTCS Additive Manufacturing Center in Somerset, Kentucky. Remarks will begin at 10:30 a.m., with print viewing open through 3 p.m. The public is invited to witness real-time 3D concrete printing and learn more about the future of housing innovation. RSVP here.
