Revitalization through Innovation: Penn State students leverage 3D printing to redesign oil city in Pennsylvania.
Diverse Designs: Various demographic groups considered to promote community and tourism.
Concrete 3D Printing for the Future: Students presented sustainable and quickly deployable residential areas.
Penn State Harnesses 3D Printing to Revive Pennsylvania Oil City.
In the federally designated Oil Region National Heritage Area in the northwestern part of Pennsylvania, the modern petroleum age began in the 1800s. While Oil City, Pennsylvania, is part of this region, the oil companies that once supported the town's economy and infrastructure have moved away, prompting the town to seek a new identity.
In their quest to bring vitality back to the area, Selina Pedi-Smith and her husband, Don Smith, reached out to José Duarte, Stuckeman Chair in Design Innovation, and director of the Stuckeman Center for Design Computing at Penn State. Duarte is instrumental in Penn State's efforts to use concrete for 3D printing sustainable, affordable housing—a perfect partnership to explore how this technology could revitalize the Oil City region.
The challenge for students was to design a 62-acre area featuring various housing options made using 3D-printed concrete, along with public attractions and community amenities to complete their urban design projects.
Students presented designs that considered different demographics, focusing on community engagement and tourism. Some groups included amenities encouraging community gatherings, such as libraries, gyms, playgrounds, museums, athletic fields and courts, community pools, and art studios.
A team focusing on 'digital nomads' proposed a community with an agrihood component—a residential area centered around community farming. The students aimed to revitalize the city by highlighting its best features, showcasing an appreciation for the area's natural beauty, and adding the futuristic appeal of 3D-printed housing.
