About Xtreme Habitats Institute

Xtreme Habitats Institute (XHI) is a research nonprofit focused on developing, validating, and sharing practical construction technologies that reduce the cost and complexity of building in extreme environments, starting in Alaska.

Our goal is not to compete as a conventional builder. Our goal is to field-validate approaches, de-risk adoption, and publish what works so others can deliver at scale.

The XHI “What Works” Lifecycle

As per our mission, the problem we are addressing is to “Build what works in the world’s harshest conditions”. Different extreme habitats have different problems, but in all cases, the usual methods of building don’t apply. Traditional materials are too expensive to deliver with long lead times, the materials can’t withstand local conditions, etc. Discovering how to adapt local materials to print structures is a major cost savings. Devising methods to build resistant structures and ship and install quickly is another line of inquiry for improvement.

In any case, a typical lifecycle is: (1) Research for the raw materials, and for capabilities to use local materials, to meet the extreme climate specifications by working with local community and research partners; (Such as our HUD project in Nome, Alaska) (2) Build and pilot using promising solutions; (3) An in-situ pilot (such as our cutting-edge 3D Concrete Printing project in Nome) to test feasibility and ensure that the desired specifications are met by the solution; and (4) As testing yields results and pilot projects mature, the final step is to create training and adoption playbooks to share with the building industry as a whole, so that everyone can benefit (such as our 3DCP training event at the AHFC in February 2022)

Throughout this lifecycle, XHI will share all research with any interested party to improve their methods, and seek to transfer the knowledge and technology with the entire construction and building industry.

XHI is always seeking like minded partners in materials and application research, as well as partners to assist with increasing the adoption of these technologies into the public domain by improving partner products and reducing costs for building in extreme environments.

Work With Us

Are you building in Alaska or other extreme environments? Do you have a need to reduce costs and speed deployment? Do you have or are you researching materials or automated construction tools and methods? Are you a government, housing authority, builder or even a potential owner of a next generation home or other structure?

Let's talk!

Become an XHI Partner

Leadership

Keith Comstock

Keith Comstock

Executive Director, Board Member

Keith Comstock is Executive Director of Xtreme Habitats Institute (XHI), leading research partnerships that advance resilient, affordable housing for extreme environments. Mission He guides XHI’s work on mobile 3D concrete printing and arctic building systems, including pioneering demonstration projects in Fairbanks and Nome, Alaska, supported by public and philanthropic partners. Known for translating engineering constraints into field solutions, Comstock coordinates universities, labor, and community stakeholders to accelerate deployable construction innovation.

Wyatt Johnson

Wyatt Johnson

Board Member

Wyatt Johnson joined Xtreme Habitats Institute’s Board in 2025. Though among XHI’s youngest directors, he is one of the nation’s most experienced 3D concrete printing (3DCP) operators, having supported early commercial deployments—including the first two Walmart 3DCP projects with Alquist. A former U.S. Army Ranger and current Northrop Grumman project manager, he holds PMP and Lean Six Sigma credentials and maintains a TS/SCI clearance, bringing field-tested execution discipline to XHI.
Keni Kalama

Keni Kalama

Director of Global Partnerships, Board Member

Keni serves as Xtreme Habitats Institute’s Director of Global Partnerships and has been an active Board Member since 2023. A former Career Services Manager with a decade of experience, he has helped thousands of students, alumni, and professionals access transformative opportunities across the U.S., Hawaii, Asia, and the Pacific. Fluent in Tagalog and English, Keni specializes in building cross-cultural relationships and institutional partnerships spanning employers, universities, and public-sector stakeholders. He is known for deep, trusted friendships around the world that advance XHI’s mission.

Ben Kellie

Ben Kellie

Board Member

Ben Kellie is a newly appointed Board Member of Xtreme Habitats Institute. An Alaskan engineer and entrepreneur, Ben is Co-Founder and CEO of Applied Atomics, advancing clean power for industry. He began his career at SpaceX, then founded The Launch Company, which bootstrapped hardware and autonomous launch systems and was acquired by Voyager Space. Ben has served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence with the University of Alaska’s Center for Economic Development and writes The Next 30 Trips newsletter.
Scott McPherson

Scott McPherson

Board Member

Scott McPherson has served on Xtreme Habitats Institute’s Board since 2024. A nationally recognized technology evangelist and sought-after speaker, Scott is a former Chief Information Officer for the Florida House of Representatives, where he led enterprise operations, cybersecurity, continuity, and pandemic planning. He founded Florida’s pioneering Office of Information Security (“SecureFlorida”) and is a Public CIO Hall of Fame awardee. Today he is a Senior Fellow with the Center for Digital Government, focused on innovation.

Governance

As a nonprofit research institute, XHI is structured to serve a public-benefit objective: building transferable capability, publishing lessons learned, and reducing risk for adopters—delivering outcomes that can be replicated, improved, and adopted widely.