Russian Students Push the Boundaries of Future Construction Tech
Universities in Russia are betting on additive manufacturing and digital modeling to reinvent how buildings are designed and constructed.
At Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building, rector Viktor Vlasov says his students are deep into exploring 3D-printing methods and digital replicas of real structures.
The technology doesn’t just cut costs across the construction cycle—it also gives architects far more creative freedom. Zigzagging walls, domed ceilings, and other complex shapes that are difficult to realize with conventional methods become possible with 3D printing.
Students at Tomsk have already designed public infrastructure projects intended for additive manufacturing. Their latest: a bus stop that is set to be built first in Tomsk and later rolled out to other Russian cities.
Alongside additive tech, the university is also training students in digital modeling. They’re building “digital twins” of real-world buildings, which make it possible to test engineering systems in detail and stage lifelike virtual walkthroughs of interior spaces.
