Greeley-Based Alquist 3D to Scale Commercial Construction Projects with Walmart Partnership
Alquist 3D, the construction technology company headquartered in Greeley, will expand its 3D-printed building operations to more than a dozen commercial retail projects across the United States in 2026, marking the largest deployment of 3D concrete printing in American commercial construction.
The company announced November 24 it has formed a partnership with Hugg & Hall, an equipment rental dealer, and FMGI, a general contractor, to execute large-scale projects for Walmart and other national retailers. The first project under this model will begin in Lamar, Missouri in December, representing Alquist's third Walmart facility using robotic 3D printing technology.
"For the first time ever in our industry, we have the right partners in place to scale 3DCP at a massive level," said Patrick Callahan, chief executive officer of Alquist. "For years, 3DCP has been an emerging idea. Now, it's a proven solution being deployed by some of the nation's largest companies."
The partnership structure allows FMGI to own and lease Alquist A1X printers, financed and serviced by Hugg & Hall, to complete commercial construction projects nationwide. Alquist retains intellectual property rights to its printing systems and training methods while expanding access to the technology through equipment sales, leasing and rental to the broader construction industry.
Technology Deployment and Project Timeline
Alquist completed its first Walmart project in Athens, Tennessee in 2023, printing an 8,000-square-foot online pickup and delivery facility. The company finished a second 5,000-square-foot grocery facility in Huntsville, Alabama in May, according to industry construction data.
The 3D concrete printing process uses robotic gantry systems to extrude specialized concrete in sequential layers following digital building models. For the Huntsville project, Alquist completed structural walls in seven days compared to approximately 20 days required for conventional masonry construction, according to construction industry reporting.
The technology reduces on-site labor requirements, with five-person crews operating two printers for large commercial builds. Material waste decreases through precise extrusion compared to traditional concrete forming methods.
Alquist relocated its headquarters to Greeley in October 2023 following a public-private partnership exceeding $4 million with the City of Greeley, State of Colorado and Aims Community College. The company projected creating 79 to 146 jobs in Weld County through the expansion, supported by state tax incentives totaling $1.43 million over eight years.
Northern Colorado Operations and Workforce Development
The company operates training programs through Aims Community College, offering a 30-hour workforce certificate in 3D concrete printing technology. The curriculum integrates Alquist equipment into computer-aided design, construction management and industrial technology programs at the college.
Alquist has completed residential construction projects in Weld County through partnership with Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity. The Hope Springs development near the Greeley-Evans border includes 491 planned homes, with the first 3D-printed structures completed in June 2024. The project features 22 single-family homes, 154 duplexes and approximately 315 multifamily units.
The company also manufactured 3D-printed curb systems with integrated drainage for the City of Greeley at Aims Community College facilities in 2023, representing its first infrastructure application in Colorado.
"What drew us to Alquist was how practical this technology really is, it's faster to mobilize, cleaner on-site and delivers consistent quality in every print," said Darin Ross, president and chief executive officer of FMGI. "For us, this partnership is about transforming how large-scale projects actually get done."
Construction Industry Standards
Colorado building departments require 3D-printed commercial structures to comply with International Building Code provisions for structural integrity, fire safety and occupancy. Each project undergoes review of structural calculations, material certifications and inspections at foundation, wall extrusion and finishing stages.
All commercial contractors using 3D concrete printing must maintain Class A or B contractor licenses in Weld and Larimer counties. Projects require engineered plans stamped by licensed professionals and third-party inspections for novel construction methods.
The company continues working with residential builders and educational institutions to advance construction technology training in Northern Colorado, with additional education partnerships to be announced later this year, according to the announcement.