Thinking Huts Relies on 3D Printing to Increase Access to Education

Thinking Huts is an association that seeks to promote access to education through 3D technologies. By 3D printing schools, it hopes to rapidly multiply the number of available infrastructures, as well as seeking to create jobs locally while promoting more ecological and sustainable construction. We covered them in January as their first pilot school will be 3D printed in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar and is set to open its doors later in the year (pandemic willing). The founder of the association, Maggie Grout, intends to go even further and aims to develop this project of 3D printed schools worldwide. She is convinced of the potential of 3D printing and wants to combine high value-added technological solutions with humanitarian values, thus enabling even more children to go to school. We met her to learn more about her vision!

3DN : Can you introduce yourself as well as your link to AM?

Hello, my name is Maggie Grout and I am the founder and CEO of Thinking Huts, a nonprofit that seeks to increase global access to education with innovative, humanitarian-driven technology solutions. We seek to leverage AM to build 3D printed schools with communities where they are needed most.

Maggie Grout (photo credits: Thinking Huts)

3DN : How did the idea of creating Thinking Huts come about?

I first had the idea to 3D print schools about 6 years ago. I was 15 years old at the time with a vision to increase access to education. There was a nostalgic moment as I was in my dad’s office discussing the future of technology and asked him: “What if we 3D printed them?” Thinking Huts was born from that question.