USUST hosts the ‘Model, Print and Selfie’ concrete 3D printing competition

On 1 May 2026, the final stage of the ‘Model, Print & Selfie’ competition was held at the SEI ‘Prydniprovska State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture’, USUST. The event focused on contemporary approaches to digital design and the application of additive manufacturing technologies in the construction industry.

 

The main objective of the competition was the development of digital parametric models for student selfie zones suitable for subsequent concrete 3D printing under real construction conditions. The participants included architecture and engineering students Maria Bieliaieva, Diana Terekh, Kateryna Romaniuk, Ihor Herasymenko, and Roberto Brunelli, who used advanced BIM solutions, particularly Autodesk Revit, in the design process. While working on their projects, the students considered not only the visual and architectural aspects of the concepts, but also the technical requirements of additive manufacturing, including printing algorithms, geometric optimisation, and process-related constraints.

Special attention was devoted to the transformation of digital models into physical structures. The next stage of the project takes into account the fabrication of the designed constructions using a construction-scale 3D concrete printer. This process will involve model preparation, segmentation, layer-by-layer slicing, and the generation of extrusion paths for printing. By participating in the competition, students gained practical experience across the entire workflow, from conceptual design and digital modelling to the creation of a full-scale prototype.

 

The competition’s general partner and sponsor was Origin company, which supported the project and joined the award ceremony for the authors of the best works. The company’s representative, Mr Mykhailo, emphasised the participants’ high professional level, the importance of such initiatives in bridging education and technology, and the contribution of Artem Sopilniak to the organisation and implementation of the competition.

 

‘Model, Print & Selfie’ has become a platform for training a new generation of specialists who are able to work at the intersection of architecture, engineering, and digital technologies. The event contributes to the development of BIM design skills, the mastery of additive manufacturing, and the introduction of innovative approaches in the construction sector.

 

The competition was organised within the framework of The BRIDGE international Erasmus+ project, which aims to develop digital competencies and integrate BIM technologies into modern engineering and construction education.

 

Overall, ‘Model, Print & Selfie’ demonstrated that the future of Ukraine’s construction industry lies in digital transformation. By combining BIM design with real concrete 3D printing technologies, students not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also become architects of a new generation. The successful implementation of such initiatives confirms the readiness of Ukrainian higher education to adopt the most advanced global standards in engineering.