Thinking Huts Is Printing a Brighter Future

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:24:56 +0000

Thinking Huts Is Printing a Brighter Future Anna Tolette Mon, 03/10/2025 - 14:24

Kelsey Yandura

In 2015, 鈥�3D printing鈥� still conjured up images of the absurd, the novel or the futuristic 鈥� think custom tabletop game pieces, small replacement parts, decorative novelties and even 3D-printed chocolate.

But Maggie Grout (Mgmt鈥�21) has never been one to think small. At just 15 years old, three years before she enrolled as a Buff, Grout walked up to her dad and asked a life-changing question: 鈥淲hat if we 3D-printed a school?鈥�

The answer, in the form of Grout鈥檚 nonprofit Thinking Huts, would ripple out to impact not only her own future, but the futures of families and communities across the globe.

Welcome to Bougainvillea

In 2022, seven years after Grout鈥檚 initial idea sparked, Bougainvillea was born 鈥� a 700-square foot, 3D-printed school in south central Madagascar and Thinking Huts鈥� first officially completed project.

According to data from UNESCO and the United Nations, sub-Saharan Africa faces the highest education exclusion rates in the world. In Madagascar, the crisis is acute: three-fourths of secondary-age children don鈥檛 attend school due to issues like overcrowding and dangerous commutes. One-third won鈥檛 complete primary education, and 97 percent of 10-year-olds who finish primary school cannot read simple sentences.

Thinking Huts hopes to change that. Bougainvillea is small but mighty, holding up to 30 students and serving as a beacon of hope for the local community and proof of Thinking Huts鈥� potential to address the global education opportunity gap.

And while the grunt work of planning and preparing spanned the better part of a decade, the execution was swift 鈥� using an industrial-scale 3D printer and a cement mixture, an on-site team printed the modular wall components in just 18 hours. These units were designed to fit together seamlessly, forming a puzzle-like assembly to complete the structure. The roof, doors and windows, handcrafted by local artisans and builders, were added on several weeks later.

Grout recalls: 鈥淲hen I was looking at the walls being printed, I kept thinking, 鈥極h, my gosh, this is crazy. It鈥檚 finally happening.鈥欌€�

Patience Pays Off

Thinking Huts was forged at the intersection of two different causes: education and sustainability. For Grout, they are intimately connected.

鈥淲e know that in order for us to continue to increase access to education in these communities, we have to have a focus on sustainable building metrics,鈥� said Kristen Harrington, director of development at Thinking Huts. 鈥淎 lot of organizations focus on speed. But if you鈥檙e looking at how to build more holistic communities and better equip families and address the poverty cycle, you have to take the whole picture into account.鈥�

While this kind of long-term, intersectional problem-solving does not lend itself to the immediate gratification of a 鈥渜uick fix鈥� 鈥� each decision requires careful thought, planning and foresight 鈥� Grout said the result is lasting.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not an overnight thing,鈥� said Grout. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to set up the next few generations to succeed and go further than us, rather than thinking of the short term. It鈥檚 a long haul type of journey.鈥�

A Relational Approach

For Thinking Huts, this kind of holistic approach means focusing on building strong, equitable, sustainable relationships in their partner communities.

鈥淩elationship building is a slow drip,鈥� Harrington said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for us to really assess what鈥檚 going to be able to create sustainability in these structures for generations.鈥�

In order to create this sense of longevity, Thinking Huts spends time building trust with community leaders and students, taking their needs and skills into account and assessing how to collaborate with local workers, builders, artisans and technicians. For Bougainvillea, this meant partnering with area manufacturers in the construction process, handing off 3D operational skills that can be applied to future construction projects.

Grout said this relationship-first ethos has roots in her years at 色视频下载, where she said the people she met were the most impactful, including her mentorship with Mike Leeds (Fin鈥�74).

鈥淚 think even now I鈥檓 realizing how critical it is to have a network of people around you,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he relationships I developed are the biggest things that I took away from school.鈥�

CEO with a Story

Grout said her passion for educational opportunities has been a lifelong journey. Born and abandoned in a rural village in China, she was adopted by American parents at 18 months old and grew up in the U.S.

鈥淚 think I鈥檝e already always been more aware of how people鈥檚 lives are different from mine,鈥� said Grout. 鈥淚 had big visions from a young age, just knowing my life could have followed a very different path. That鈥檚 what drew me more to understanding the importance of education.鈥�

The result is a work ethic and leadership style that Harrington said extends beyond her years and has garnered international attention from major media outlets like Forbes and Good Morning America. In fall 2024, Grout was featured as one of Time magazine鈥檚 featured 鈥淣ext Generation Leaders.鈥�

鈥淢aggie has this true grit and determination,鈥� said Harrington. 鈥淪he doesn鈥檛 want any child to feel like they don鈥檛 have the access that she had because she was adopted. So now she can bring opportunity to children in the pockets of the world that often don鈥檛 see innovation.鈥�

Honeycomb on the Horizon

For Grout and her team of 10, Bougainvillea is just the beginning. Next up is the Honeycomb Campus. Named for its design of adjoining hexagonal bases, this multi-building project will serve three remote villages on the west coast of Madagascar. The project is set to include solar power and Wi-Fi access and will impact more than 200 students ages four to 16, starting in summer 2025.

When asked about her approach to the future and how she鈥檇 encourage other innovators in philanthropy and sustainability, Grout emphasized a sense of hope.

鈥淚 know that what we do now will have a major impact later on,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am trying to aspire for a legacy of change, even if it takes time.鈥�

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Photos courtesy Thinking Huts

Thinking Huts, founded by Maggie Grout, uses 3D printing technology to build sustainable schools in underserved communities.

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色视频下载 alum鈥檚 invention of 3D printing recognized by President Biden

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 16:11:59 +0000

色视频下载 alum鈥檚 invention of 3D printing recognized by President Biden Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/30/2023 - 10:11

Allison Nitch

Charles W. Hull (EngrPhys鈥�61) was named among the 2023 recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his exemplary achievements in technology and innovation through his invention of 3D printing.

Awarded by President Biden on Oct. 24, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the nation鈥檚 highest award for technological achievement. Along with the National Medal of Science, it recognizes American innovators whose vision, intellect, creativity and determination have strengthened America鈥檚 economy and improved our quality of life.

After Hull completed his degree in engineering physics at the 色视频下载, he worked with a DuPont subsidiary before going on to invent the solid imaging process known as stereolithography. This became the basis of the first commercial 3D printing technology, which spurred the dawning of a dynamic industry in the United States.

Upon securing a stereolithography patent in 1986, Hull then founded 3D Systems Corp. Hull initiated the 3D printing industry and remains involved in the corporation鈥檚 day-to-day operations through a range of innovative applications, including state-of-the art production of 3D printers to the first home-certified 3D printer, the award-winning Cube.

鈥淲e were thrilled to learn that Chuck Hull has been awarded with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation,鈥� said Massimo Ruzzene, 色视频下载 vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes. 鈥淗is pioneering work in stereolithography, 3D printing and prototyping was truly transformative, making this honor well-deserved, as well as an example of the culture of innovation 色视频下载 has long sought to foster.鈥�

A member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Hull is credited as the inventor on more than 90 U.S. patents in the field of ion optics and 3D printing. As a strong advocate for education and training of youth in all aspects of this rapidly growing technology, Hull received an honorary degree from the University of Colorado Board of Regents in 2016.

Photo by Ryan K. Morris

Charles W. Hull was named among the 2023 recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his exemplary achievements in technology and innovation through his invention of 3D printing.

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