3D-Printed Concrete Evacuation Center Nears Completion at Haven Humane in Redding

The new facility can shelter up to 90 dogs and 100 cats during emergencies.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:23pm

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A highly textured, abstract painting in earthy tones depicting the intricate structural forces and materials involved in 3D-printing a fire-resistant concrete building, conceptually representing the innovative engineering behind Haven Humane's new emergency evacuation center.A cutting-edge 3D-printed concrete facility provides Redding's Haven Humane Society with expanded emergency animal shelter capacity and community education resources.Redding Today

Emergent Construction, a Redding-based company that specializes in 3D-printed fire-resistant concrete buildings, is nearing completion on a new 'Emergency Evacuation and Education Center' at the Haven Humane Society campus in Redding, California. The $2 million facility, funded by the Zogg Fire settlement, can shelter up to 90 dogs and 100 cats during emergencies and also includes a community education center.

Why it matters

The new 3D-printed concrete evacuation center at Haven Humane will provide critical emergency shelter capacity for animals in the fire-prone Redding area, which has faced numerous wildfires in recent years. The facility's dual purpose as an education center will also allow Haven Humane to expand its community programming.

The details

Emergent Construction, founded about five years ago, has focused on printing fire-resistant concrete homes in the Northstate and Southern California. The company's owner, Don Ajamian, was motivated to start the business after his childhood home in Southern California was destroyed in wildfires. The new evacuation center at Haven Humane is Emergent's largest project to date, featuring kennels that can house up to 90 dogs and 100 cats during emergencies. Haven Humane CEO Jim Lewis chose Emergent due to the fire risk in the region, and the $2 million facility was funded by the Zogg Fire settlement.

  • Emergent Construction launched about five years ago in Redding.
  • The new evacuation center at Haven Humane is nearing completion as of April 2026.

The players

Emergent Construction

A Redding-based company that specializes in 3D-printing fire-resistant concrete buildings.

Don Ajamian

The owner of Emergent Construction, who was motivated to start the business after his childhood home in Southern California was destroyed in wildfires.

Haven Humane Society

A nonprofit animal shelter in Redding, California that is constructing the new 3D-printed concrete evacuation center on its campus.

Jim Lewis

The CEO of Haven Humane Society, who chose Emergent Construction for the evacuation center project due to the fire risk in the Redding region.

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What they’re saying

“I was actually born and raised in Southern California in a town called Alta Dena, which, if you've heard, they had a bunch of fires just about a year ago. In fact, three of the homes that I grew up in burned to the ground in those fires. And so, it was really kind of rewarding to go down there and present this type of construction as an alternative for rebuilding down there. And I'm happy to say we've got seven contracts, so far!”

— Don Ajamian, Owner, Emergent Construction

“Haven Humane operates at about a hundred to 110% capacity most of the year. So when a disaster strikes, we're limited on how we can help the community as far as sheltering goes in those emergencies. This building will allow us to have kennels open and ready—waiting—for those emergency situations.”

— Jim Lewis, CEO, Haven Humane Society

“The bonus part of it is the 'education center' part. So half the building is a classroom area; we'll be able to use that for our own internal classes, our summer camp programs and we're also making it available to the community to use for events as well.”

— Jim Lewis, CEO, Haven Humane Society

What’s next

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 3D-printed concrete evacuation center at Haven Humane is planned for about a month from now.

The takeaway

The new 3D-printed concrete evacuation center at Haven Humane represents an innovative approach to emergency preparedness and community resilience in fire-prone regions like Redding. By leveraging advanced construction techniques and funding from the Zogg Fire settlement, Haven Humane is enhancing its capacity to shelter animals and educate the public during natural disasters.