Concrete is a huge contributor to worldwide CO2 emissions, and Concrete Masonry Units (aka cinder blocks or breeze blocks) make up a significant part of this. However, a new project by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), in collaboration with Prometheus Materials, showcases an alternative algae-based block that’s far better for the environment.

SOM’s prototype is currently installed at the 2023 Chicago Architecture Biennial and is named the Spiral. It takes the form of a simple structure made up of Bio-Blocks, which are developed by Prometheus Materials, a start-up company that originated from a research program at the University of Colorado.

The blocks are created using naturally occurring microscopic algae that sequesters carbon. The micro-algae is combined with water, sunlight, and CO2 to create a material that’s similar to the calcium carbonate generated in coral reefs. When mixed with an aggregate, this forms a net zero-carbon building material that has similar – or in some cases improved – physical and thermal performance properties to standard Portland cement-based concrete.

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