Through initiatives like the Construction Innovation Hub the UK government is investing significant time and effort into establishing standardised components specifications and even asset types.
Lessons Learned.Superstructure: The platform system reduces embodied carbon.
Further development can be undertaken to explore reducing whole life carbon further.Ideas could include:.Replacing Comflor with a less processed material which can act as formwork.
Adjusting the concrete mix to be flowing rather than self-levelling which would reduce the cement content.Exploring the use of low carbon concrete columns instead of steel ones.. Façade: Opportunities to improve the embodied carbon of facades, including finding alternatives to unitised and curtain walling systems, and their materiality.. Cladding: Elongating a material or components’ lifespan may increase the day one carbon but over the lifetime of the building the whole life carbon can be minimised, where replacement cycles are reduced.. Aluminium procurement: Minimising transport miles is important for materials.
However, the country of origin is also important for materials and components which are heavily manufactured, such as curtain walling.
Sometimes the additional transport miles might offset the manufacturing emissions in counties with greener energy grids.. Substructure: Omitting basements should be the starting point of projects.. Raised floor: Reuse existing materials, both from demolition on site but also local existing buildings which are undergoing renovation or demolition.Next generation of architects (Gen Z).
Randy is optimistic about the current generation of architecture graduates, describing them as loyal, dedicated, and environmentally conscious.He predicts a 5-7 year 'renaissance' period where these new professionals will drive significant change in the industry, before many potentially move into startups or entrepreneurial ventures.. 4.
Evolution of architectural education.He notes that traditional architectural education needs to adapt to tech-savvy students who often know more about certain tools than their professors.
(Editor: Magnetic Gaming)