From Yahoo Finance: 2025-04-29 14:53:00

Starbucks unveils its first 3D printed store in the U.S., located in Brownsville along the U.S.-Mexico border, featuring a drive-thru only format. The innovative construction method marks a shift towards technology in commercial building, with experts highlighting its potential to address affordable housing challenges.

The compact rectangular store, built with computer-controlled robotic arms pouring layers of concrete, showcases the industry’s experimentation with 3D printing technology. Starbucks remains tight-lipped about future plans for similar stores, leaving experts to speculate on the technology’s evolving role in construction and retail design.

Industry experts like James Rose and Andrew McCoy praise the new 3D printed Starbucks store as a pioneering example of innovative construction methods. While 3D technology currently comes at a higher cost compared to traditional methods, experts anticipate it becoming more cost competitive over time due to labor shortage solutions and faster building times.

Read more: Starbucks’ new drive-thru in Texas is the coffee giant’s first 3D printed store in the US