Oakenwoods Group Ltd’s Post

From the September 2022 issue of the Construction Index Magazine // Down to earth – Traditional earthen building materials are being trialled on a commercial development in the middle of London. #construction #materials #london #blocks #building #buildings #earth #earthblocks #decarbonise

Deteriorating high-rise towers, a lack of community space and a growing concern over fires sparked the transformation of Gascoigne Estate by Be First Regeneration Limited, the regeneration arm of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Farrimond House is the first net-zero carbon in operation scheme to be delivered as part of the estate’s transformation. Working with Pitman Tozer Architects, we developed a part precast and part in-situ concrete design that balances carbon efficiency and buildability. This hybrid approach, a refinement from the original fully precast design, reduced embodied carbon by 5-10%, without compromising on durability or fire resilience. Associate Nathan Fieldsend adds, “If you think of the construction industry as having a carbon budget, then I would argue that buildings like this are exactly where you should be spending it – using concrete to create long-lasting, affordable and fire-resilient housing.” Read our interview with The Concrete Centre to see why Farrimond House might provide a template for estate regeneration: https://hubs.la/Q02-vrNX0

What explains the uptick in #masstimber? It’s a combination of engineering advances, domestic sourcing, plus critical building code changes that allow projects to get increasingly spacious. Mass timber buildings are widely regarded as considerably more sustainable than their concrete and steel counterparts. Developers have taken notice, seeing mass timber as an attractive option for meeting the challenges of construction efficiency, sustainability and tenant appeal. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/gd9YYnap Gabriel Frank Commercial Property Executive Arnie Didier

While brick remains prevalent in #residential construction, there has been a discernible uptick in the adoption of alterative building materials.    💡Explore modern construction trends with insights from Greg Devine, Founder and CEO of Griffin Group, in his latest article! 

#Flashback to the incredible and rapid construction of Aurora Melbourne Central. 👀 1. Speedy Construction: The $730m project progressed quickly, completing a level every week at its peak. Starting construction in 2015 and completing in 2019, Aurora Melbourne Central was built by Probuild. 2. Record-Breaking Heights: At 286 meters and 86-storeys, Aurora Melbourne Central is the 3rd tallest building in Melbourne but was the 2nd tallest when completed, only to be overtaken by Australia 108. 3. Innovative Design: The building’s sleek, crystalline facade was designed by Elenberg Fraser, a leading architectural firm known for its creative and environmentally conscious designs. 4. Foundation Challenge: The construction team had to excavate more than 40 meters below ground level to lay a solid foundation, a task made even more challenging by the urban setting. 5. Sustainable Approach: Aurora incorporated energy-efficient systems, water-saving fixtures, and other green building practices. The reinforcing steel supplied by InfraBuild Construction Solutions comprises recycled steel material and aided in earning its sustainability ratings

The Residential and Mixed-Use buildings project in Gledswood Hills adopts innovative construction methods to address the housing crisis in Sydney with practical efficiency. The project introduces modular steel frame construction, including the Slimdek concrete floor slab system, reducing the need for extensive formwork usage while also speeding up construction time and costs significantly. By prefabricating components off-site, the project will ensure expedited construction timelines whilst minimizing costs. This accelerated pace contributes to mitigating the housing shortage by swiftly delivering over 358 new homes to meet the growing demand in the region.   In essence, the residential project for Gledswood Hills represents a harmonious integration of efficiency, speed, and sustainability through the innovative application of a “kit of parts” construction system. By leveraging the inherent advantages of steel and modular architecture, this project will set a new standard for contemporary residential development, promising high-quality homes delivered with efficiency and precision.

🚧 The Future is Hybrid: The Next-Gen Walls That Use 50% Less Wood 🪵 A revolutionary approach in construction is here, with timber-and-concrete sandwich designs that promise to reduce wood usage by up to 50% while maintaining superior load-bearing capacity. 🔎 Key Highlights: 1️⃣ Innovative Design: Developed by Metsä Wood, the “Kerto-Ripa®” wall elements allow continuous wall spans up to 20 meters, eliminating the need for load-bearing partition walls. This innovation makes it ideal for high-stress buildings like apartment complexes and offices, enabling thinner wall constructions that maximise usable floor space. 2️⃣ Material Efficiency: This new wall construction technique saves significant amounts of wood and enhances sustainability. Metsä Wood's calculations indicate a 50% reduction in raw materials for ground floor walls in an eight-story building compared to traditional solid structures without compromising structural integrity. 3️⃣ Accelerating Prefab Construction: The Kerto-Ripa® walls are paving the way for increased adoption of prefab construction methods in Europe. Collaboration with companies like VVR Wood Oy is driving the development of hybrid timber-and-concrete systems, further opening up business opportunities in the market. 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How can innovations like the Kerto-Ripa® wall elements reshape the future of sustainable construction? What challenges might arise in the transition to more hybrid building materials? 🔗 To learn more about Metsä Wood’s innovative timber-and-concrete sandwich walls, click here: https://lnkd.in/gk7DQ5vZ #Construction #Sustainability #HybridBuilding #Timber #Innovation #PrefabConstruction #MetsäWood #KertoRipa #BuildingMaterials #EcoFriendlyDesign

Mass timber buildings are rising across New Zealand, with architects, engineers, and construction professionals recognising an uptick in the volume of engineered wood products used in projects – thanks largely to prescriptive design methods. https://zurl.co/rDk5

🚧 The Future is Hybrid: The Next-Gen Walls That Use 50% Less Wood 🪵 A revolutionary approach in construction is here, with timber-and-concrete sandwich designs that promise to reduce wood usage by up to 50% while maintaining superior load-bearing capacity. 🔎 Key Highlights: 1️⃣ Innovative Design: Developed by Metsä Wood, the “Kerto-Ripa®” wall elements allow continuous wall spans up to 20 meters, eliminating the need for load-bearing partition walls. This innovation makes it ideal for high-stress buildings like apartment complexes and offices, enabling thinner wall constructions that maximise usable floor space. 2️⃣ Material Efficiency: This new wall construction technique saves significant amounts of wood and enhances sustainability. Metsä Wood's calculations indicate a 50% reduction in raw materials for ground floor walls in an eight-story building compared to traditional solid structures without compromising structural integrity. 3️⃣ Accelerating Prefab Construction: The Kerto-Ripa® walls are paving the way for increased adoption of prefab construction methods in Europe. Collaboration with companies like VVR Wood Oy is driving the development of hybrid timber-and-concrete systems, further opening up business opportunities in the market. 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How can innovations like the Kerto-Ripa® wall elements reshape the future of sustainable construction? What challenges might arise in the transition to more hybrid building materials? 🔗 To learn more about Metsä Wood’s innovative timber-and-concrete sandwich walls, click here: https://lnkd.in/grUvg2xU #Construction #Sustainability #HybridBuilding #Timber #Innovation #PrefabConstruction #MetsäWood #KertoRipa #BuildingMaterials #EcoFriendlyDesign

Commercial Building Tip: Choosing durable, high-quality materials can reduce maintenance costs and extend the building’s lifespan. #WWBuilders #Oklahoma #Construction #Architecture #Design #Building #Renovation #Engineering #Contractor #ConstructionLife #ConstructionSite #HomeImprovement #Roofing #ConstructionWorker #ProjectManagement #DesignBuild #CommercialConstruction #ResidentialConstruction #Concrete #Earthwork #Carpentry