SPRINGFIELD, Mo., October 3, 2024 — Drury University is excited to welcome Mai Whelan, Founder of the upcoming “Mother Mai” docuseries and Winner of “Squid Game: The Challenge,” as she highlights the work of Eden Village and The Gathering Tree in their mission to end homelessness. These organizations will be featured in the pilot episode of her prospective series, which spotlights nonprofits transforming communities across the U.S.
“We are thrilled to see Mai Whelan and her series shine a light on The Gathering Tree’s successful efforts to provide dignified housing for our most vulnerable community members,” said Traci Sooter, Professor of Architecture and Director of Design/Build Programs. “Our ongoing partnership with The Gathering Tree, and now their 3D concrete printer, is providing invaluable, cutting-edge experiences for our Architecture students that also touch the heart.”
Whelan has taken a strong interest in Eden Village, the nation’s first master-planned tiny home community for chronically homeless individuals. Drury University plays a key role in supporting this effort, housing the advanced 3D concrete printers used to build affordable homes for those in need, while Architecture students collaborate on the designs and builds.
“Eden Village is a great example of a nonprofit organization I want to showcase for my upcoming docuseries,” Whelan said. “I hope to bring awareness to the amazing nonprofits in our country — and the passion behind their projects.”
The 3D-printed homes offer a durable, cost-effective solution to housing the chronically homeless, focusing on sustainability and safety. Recent tests by Miller Engineering show the 3D-printed walls can withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour, meeting standards for E5 tornado shelters.
“One of our core values is to change perceptions of homelessness by housing people and placing them in a community,” said Nate Schlueter, Chief Visionary Officer for Eden Village. “The use of 3D printing technology allows us to do this more efficiently and resiliently than ever before.”
Drury students shared their excitement about working on this project with Whelan:
“I’m really enjoying working on this project with Eden Village,” said Tylin Heathman ’26. “Not a lot of schools have access to technology like this, so it sets us apart by giving us real-world experience and plugging us into our community.”
“The project we are featuring with Eden Village is a student print designed by me,” Brayden Roth ’26 noted. “I’m excited to see the 3D printer’s capabilities and what it can do for architects and society.”
“This project is about innovation,” added Jasmyn Douglas ’26. “While Professor Sooter has given us guidelines, we also have the liberty to push boundaries and explore new ideas.”
For more information about the Hammons School of Architecture’s Design-Build project, contact Traci Sooter at tsooter@drury.edu or (417) 873-7416, or visit drury.edu/architecture/design-build/.
About Eden Village
Eden Village is a first-of-its-kind tiny home community providing housing for chronically disabled homeless individuals, with a focus on dignity and community. For more information, visit edenvillagespringfield.org.
About Mother Mai
Mother Mai channels her passion into making a real difference — supporting underprivileged individuals, saving animals, and protecting the environment. For more information visit www.mothermai.com.
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Media Contact: Traci D. Sooter, FAIA, LEED AP, Professor of Architecture, Director of Design/Build Programs | Office: (417) 873-7416 | Email: tsooter@drury.edu
