JR East to rebuild Osano Station using 3D printing technology

JR East has announced plans to rebuild Osano Station on the Kamaishi Line in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, using construction 3D printing technology. The project aims to replace the existing 78-year-old station building, which has suffered from aging.

This marks the first time JR East will utilize construction 3D printing within its network. Furthermore, the method of installing the printer directly at the construction site to shape the structure on-site is a first for a station building in Japan. The new single-story reinforced concrete structure will have a floor area of approximately 7.5 square meters.

The design concept, “The path of the wind flowing from the mountains to the sea,” features exterior walls designed to evoke the sensation of wind. Construction is scheduled to begin in October, with the new station expected to open in March 2027. Through this initiative, JR East intends to verify the potential of digital technology to improve design quality, standardize construction through automation, and reduce labor requirements in railway architecture.