Learn about the first 3D-printed house in Alaska (plus other updates) on our News page.
Research to build what works in extreme environments
Xtreme Habitats Institute (XHI) is a research nonprofit advancing automated and industrialized construction for extreme environments, starting in Alaska. We pair applied R&D with real deployments, then publish what works so communities, agencies, and builders can adopt faster with less risk.
We are not a production builder. We exist to validate methods, de-risk adoption, promote affordability, and make the evidence easy to use. Let’s build the future together.
Together we thrive. Thank you for being part of our journey!
What Works?
Building living spaces in extreme environments is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Take Alaska for example. Traditional building methods (the ones used in temperate climates, and/or where there is plentiful access to skilled labor), are not conducive to building structures affordably to withstand long-term the harsh conditions (snow, storms, high winds) that are a reality in remote Alaska. Wood rots quickly. Pipes freeze. Transporting building materials to remote roadless locations is very expensive. There is a shortage of skilled labor. As you can imagine, these obstacles exacerbate an already critical housing shortage in these communities.
XHI’s purpose is to research alternative building methods and materials that can be used in these extreme areas to build living structures in an efficient, timely, repeatable, and affordable way. XHI researches, pilots, and tests methods and materials, sharing the lessons learned with the public and the building industry.
Research and Partnerships
We work with a myriad of material scientists and construction industry partners to do materials research and refine methodologies to build what works in extreme environments.
Applied R & D
Our research leads to practical experiments and pilot projects, both in the lab and in-situ. Testing over time in harsh environs leads to important discoveries and refinements.
Train and Share
We turn lessons learned into replicable guidance like datasets, checklists, documentation, and adoption playbooks that shorten the diligence cycle for implementers. It’s all part of the XHI development lifecycle.
Alaska: Our Proving Ground
Alaska concentrates the hardest constraints: climate, isolation, shipping windows, and skilled labor scarcity. Success in Alaska provides high-confidence proof for other remote and high-cost settings, all while helping to immediately address Alaska’s severe housing shortage in its rural locations.
XHI is using 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) as one avenue to help bring down costs. Improving concrete formulations via locally sourced materials where possible lowers costs and provides long-term resilient structures that can withstand the toughest conditions in Alaska. XHI is also working to increase access to foldable housing solutions, featuring enhanced insulation and an idealized shipping form factor to reduce transportation and installation costs. This represents a huge advantage over traditional methods, and allows the affordable housing shortage to be addressed much more quickly.
See the work
Explore active and completed demonstrations, what we learned, and what is now ready for replication.
Featured Project
Nome 3D-Printed Housing Demonstration
Our flagship Alaska demonstration is designed to prove the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of 3D concrete printing (and supporting systems) under sub-Arctic logistics and code requirements. The result is a full-scale prototype structure that can inform broader adoption.
Public update: the 3D-printed walls were completed in fall 2025. As commissioning continues, XHI will publish additional proof artifacts and measured performance outcomes.
