UCalgary alum startup goes from Makerspace dreams to concrete reality

Despite how much Cameron Curilla might joke, late nights in the University of Calgary’s Schulich Makerspace, surrounded by the whirring of 3D printers, was more than just an arts and crafts exercise for himself and William Thomlinson; it ignited a vision. 

Curilla, BSc’24, BComm’24, a recent graduate of UCalgary’s dual degree program in mechanical engineering and business, and Thomlinson, BComm’24, a Haskayne School of Business alum, co-founded CarbonStone Designs, a startup that pushes the boundaries of 3D printing by crafting custom moulds and using sustainable concrete to create models, trophies and other objects.

Their journey began in 2024 with a trophy they designed for the AB2050 sustainability case competition: a topographical map of Alberta that was made using a type of low-carbon cement additive supplied by a sponsor for the event. 

“We presented it to all the winners and judges at the competition and, from there, we got a lot of interest from our stakeholders to take things to the next level,” says Curilla. 

From competition to startup idea

That initial spark — fuelled by their involvement as co-presidents of Fuse Collective, the energy and environment club hosting the competition — quickly transformed into a promising business after Cameron got his first 3D printer and they created a personal workshop.

With the duo’s knack for combining creativity and engineering, Curilla says CarbonStone Designs distinguishes itself through its dedication to customization and quality. 

“No task or idea is too daunting,” he says. “The opportunities are endless. Almost anything that I can model in 3D software, I can then print and then make a concrete mould of.”

Each piece is hand-poured and hand-sanded, ensuring a level of craftsmanship that sets them apart from competitors. The company integrates fly ash, a coal industry byproduct, into their concrete mix, reducing carbon emissions and water usage while enhancing the material’s strength.

Curilla says their innovations have been resonating with corporate clients. The company designed a model of downtown Calgary for Calgary Economic Development, and award trophies for their TalentED 2025 ConnectED Expo project. CarbonStone has even created concrete curling stones for some City of Calgary outdoor rinks. 

CarbonStone embodies start something spirit 

One of Curilla’s favourite projects, a detailed model of the UCalgary campus he made to showcase on UToday, embodies the company’s ability to capture meaningful locations. “It’s neat to visualize the place that I spent the past five and a half years studying at,” he says.

Curilla credits his UCalgary education for many of his achievements. 

“My dual degree studies have been extremely valuable,” he says, grateful for the computer-aided design modelling knowledge he got from the Schulich School of Engineering, and the entrepreneurial knowledge he gained from Haskayne. “There’s been multiple points now where I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m so glad I learned that in class!’”  

UCalgary’s start something spirit, a hallmark of Canada’s entrepreneurial university, is evident in the success of CarbonStone Designs. 

From 3D topography to medical tools and drones

Looking ahead, Curilla hopes to keep expanding their portfolio through two service lines.

“One is the aesthetic design where we come up with the cement bases and different 3D models. The other is utilizing those 3D printers with a variety of different filaments for strength and structure to create technical parts,” he says. 

For example, CarbonStone Designs was commissioned to create a gasket in a medical tool for a dermatology clinic earlier this year and is exploring the potential to create custom airframes for drones. 

While navigating the challenges of starting a small business, including legal and accounting complexities and actively seeking investors to support their growth, Curilla remains passionate. “This has been one of the most rewarding pursuits I’ve had,” he says. “The effort and energy put into this comes right back.”

You can learn more about CarbonStone Designs on their website.