Researching Best Practice To Deliver Next Generation Buildings

Looking at the latest innovations and R&D activities in prefabricated building construction for Australia’s built environment is a key focus of this year’s

PrefabAUS 2016 Conference.

Innovation in Applied Design Lab (IAD Lab) in 2015 with

Associate Professor Mathew Aitchison from the Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Design.

‘The Lab’s focus is on industry-engaged research in the area of industrialised building, often associated with prefabricated and modular construction, particularly of housing”, says A/Prof Aitchison. ‘The Lab now has four concurrent research grants operating, which represents the largest concentration of research projects in this field in Australia”.

Parallel to these initiatives, the Lab’s development of research projects in collaboration with industry is engaged in humanitarian projects, disseminating their expertise developed in the commercial market to international development agencies, not-for-profits, and NGOs.

A/Prof Aitchison will present at the conference along with Tuan Ngo, Research Director of the ARC Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing.

Looking at growing opportunities for the prefabricated industry, CEO of prefabAUS, Warren McGregor says, “At just around 3% of the construction market in Australia, offsite construction remains at the early stages of living up to it’s acclaimed potential. Contrast that with Sweden where 80% of homes are factory built. In Australia we have been cushioned by a milder climate but concerns around carbon emissions and rising energy prices are focussing attention on how to deliver superior buildings”.

A key industry supporter and principal sponsor of the prefabAUS conference this October,

XLAM Marketing and Strategy Manager Paul Kremer says, “This industry offers considerable benefits compared to traditional construction. We see a real benefit in supporting the development of the entire prefabrication and off-site manufacturing building and construction industry.”

XLAM is the first Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) manufacturer in the world to have their product registered as LBC compliant under

Declare. Like plywood, CLT is very strong and when designed into a building can replace the structural elements of an entire building construction that would otherwise be built using more traditional materials, such as concrete and steel.

“We see it as part of our responsibility to help the entire industry by not only developing a great 'product', but to also be part of the growing movement of companies providing solutions for customers that prefabrication offers; including program efficacy and risk management throughout the off-site and on-site construction and building process,” says Paul.

PrefabAUS encourages attendees to engage with the conference’s optional site visit on Monday 10^th of October to see a 200-room student accommodation project at The University of Sydney incorporating bathroom pods and Australia’s largest CLT project – The Gardens 101 apartment complex at Campbelltown being built by Strongbuild for Affordable Housing Provider BlueCHP Limited (a live site); StrongBuild MD, Adam Strong will present at the conference about the project.

Location: Seymour Centre at The University of Sydney, Architecture Design and PlanningDates:

Monday 10 October (optional) site tour conference event
10am

Tuesday 11 October
8am - registrations
8:30am - 5:00pm Conference
7:00pm cocktail party at The Ivy 'Sunroom'

Wednesday 12 October
8:00 - 8:45am - provisionally prefabAUS AGM TBC (prefabAUS members only)
9am - 4pm ConferenceFor more information and to book: 

http://www.prefabaus.org.au/conference/