A groundbreaking new Starbucks location in Brownsville, Texas is making history as the first 3D-printed coffee shop in the United States, marking another milestone in the country's expanding automated construction industry.
The innovative 1,400-square-foot building, designed primarily for pickup orders and drive-thru service, represents a $1.2 million investment in next-generation construction technology. German company Peri 3D Construction led the project using a Cobod BOD2 printer to create the structure's distinctive ribbed concrete walls.
The construction process involved a large robotic printer following digital blueprints to lay down successive layers of specialized cement mixture. Once the automated printing was complete, traditional construction workers installed windows, a porch area, and other finishing touches needed for a fully operational coffee shop.
Set to open its doors on April 28, 2024, this pioneering Starbucks joins a growing list of 3D-printed structures across the United States, including a Walmart extension, Marine barracks, and an experimental Mars habitat mock-up.
The Texas location showcases how 3D printing technology continues to transform commercial construction. In the same state, construction technology company Icon has already completed multiple 3D-printed housing developments, including projects at Wolf Ranch and Community First! Village.
This automated building approach demonstrates the increasing adoption of robotic construction methods in mainstream commercial projects, potentially offering new ways to build retail spaces more efficiently.