Salas O'Brien’s Post

Congratulations to the winners of the UNB Off-site Construction Research Centre Student Design Competition and to all the teams for their dedicated efforts! The competition showcases student design innovation in #modular, and challenged teams to innovate with #offsite construction solutions. The objective was to develop a #modulardesign for a housing unit that will be ‘open source’ and be used by manufacturers to meet the demand for #affordablehousing in New Brunswick. The design was focused on a repeatable #volumetric module that could be used to combat the “missing middle housing” problem. A great initiative and hopefully we will see more of this across North America!! https://lnkd.in/gZm2r2Un #housingcrisis #modularconstruction #modularhousing #rapidhousing

Here are some fun facts from KCADC and many reasons we felt Kansas City was a great place to start the first Midwest chapter of the CCC. KC is home to 4 of ENR’s Top 150 Global Design Firms―second most of all other U.S. metros―and 11 of ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms. Nearly half of global sports architecture originates from the Kansas City region along with creating the gold standard for Olympic stadiums. In the last 10+ years, architecture and engineering services grew by 24 percent in the Kansas City metro, compared to only 9 percent for the U.S. Innovation is needed in every type of project and the 70,000 A/E/C workforce in KC pushes the boundaries daily – elevating it to a $24 billion industry. Companies in the KC region designed 15% of the world's power systems. KC firms led the green revolution in architecture and continue to advocate for sustainable design with a passion for preserving our planet. Reference ~ https://lnkd.in/giFTfpt7

At IE University, renowned investor Michael E Marks recently discussed the future of construction using Onx Homes as a case study. He highlighted Onx's $35 million automated factory in Florida, emphasizing the need for innovation and efficient manufacturing to address global affordable housing issues. Marks addressed the construction industry's lack of evolution, attributing it to disincentives for efficiency among architects and contractors. He advocated for companies to play multiple roles in the design and construction process, creating a closed loop for greater efficiency. Addressing competition, Marks anticipated new entrants rather than existing players as the source of innovation in making construction more efficient. The conversation, part of the IE Berkeley Tech Catalyst Leadership Program, provided insights into the challenges and opportunities in reshaping the construction industry. Read full article about the insightful conversation clicking below!

Every time students dream of a better world, we get a little closer to a brighter future.💡 Great concepts from the UNB Off-site Construction Research Centre Student Design Competition winners, who were looking for potential solutions to the housing crisis. In the interest of someone implementing them someday, all the designs are open-sourced. Check them out here: https://lnkd.in/g8ux5r-t. #scoutenengineering #thinkingbeyond #princegeorgebc #civilengineering #structuralengineering

Three cheers for mass timber in the mainstream press! Check out this article on our new UC Berkeley building. (We just happened to also work on the CCA and UC Santa Cruz project mentioned!)

Innovation at its best!

NEWS: Case Western Reserve University Breaks Ground on Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building -- Case Western Reserve University will break ground in May of 2024 on the $300 million Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building in Cleveland. Designed by HGA and Van Auken Akins Architects, the 189,000-sf facility will house the School of Engineering and provide additional capacity for the College of Arts and Sciences. Flexible research labs will be complemented by dedicated technical suites for the discovery of new medical treatments, energy solutions, and sustainable manufacturing modalities. The five-story structure will also accommodate offices, gathering spaces, and café. The development is part of a strategic revitalization of Case Quad and will feature a landscaped outdoor courtyard that links to an ADA-accessible pathway. A sophisticated glazed façade will put science on display while supplying abundant natural light throughout the facility, which is targeting LEED Platinum certification. Representing a contract value of $200 million, the project is being delivered by Discovery Builders, a joint venture of Turner Construction Company, Adrian Maldonado & Associates, Next Generation Construction, and The AKA Team. Occupancy is expected in fall of 2026. https://lnkd.in/dvNb3EK7 #researchanddevelopment #highereducation #engineering #informationtechnology #biomedical #interdisciplinaryresearch #collaboration #sustainability #energyusereduction

It is good to see this nationwide programme of school rebuilds following the RAAC crisis is underway with this contract win for BAM Construction and Ryder Architecture. Last September, Emma Greenland, our Education Sector lead, wrote a short piece highlighting the key acoustic considerations that should be given to projects requiring improvement works including:- >When replacing RAAC roofing slabs, a replacement lightweight roof needs to be checked to ensure environmental noise ingress (for schools near to airports for example), rain noise and fixed plant noise ingress is not going to be an issue, and sound insulation of walls is not compromised by transmission via the partition head. >Replacement ceilings need to include fixed or suspended sound absorption and/or acoustic wall panels in order to achieve good control of reverberation time and hence suitable listening conditions for all students, but particularly those with: - Special Hearing and Communication Needs - English as an additional Language, - younger children, - Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) and AD/HD - SLCN, Language Impairment and even Dyslexia If your school is affected by the RAAC crisis, or you happen to be involved with the refurbishment of one, we can offer advice to check the potential impact of alternative facilities and upgrade schemes on acoustics and listening in schools. Read the full piece here:-https://lnkd.in/evqJy9X2 #educationestates #schools #rebuild #raac #acousticdesign #acousticconsiderations #architects #contractors

Our latest blog! Our Charter School project with Miles Construction has been completed!

🦘 Brisbane to Dust Off Welcome Mat Before World Conference on Timber Engineering! 🥇Ahead of the 2032 Olympics, Brisbane will spotlight timber's pivotal role in sustainable construction. 📆The University of Queensland, alongside the ARC Advance Timber Hub, invites global experts to the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE) from June 22-25, 2025, focusing on 'Advancing Timber for the Future Built Environment.' 🔍 Key Insights: 1️⃣ Olympic Vision: With the Athletics Village at Hamilton Northshore set for mass timber construction, the conference aims to demonstrate timber construction's carbon benefits and innovation to Queensland government stakeholders and global participants. 2️⃣ Scientific Forum: WCTE stands as the premier event in timber technology, structures, and architectural design, welcoming papers that push the boundaries of timber engineering and its application in modern architecture and construction. 3️⃣ Sustainability and Innovation: Themes will include sustainability, material performance, and timber's role in a circular economy, underlining the critical importance of timber engineering in responding to the growing demand for sustainable construction solutions. 📣 #questionforgroup: As we approach the Brisbane Olympics, how can timber construction shape the future of sustainable sports infrastructure and beyond? What opportunities does this represent for innovation in timber engineering and architecture? 👇 Share your thoughts on the potential of timber construction in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics and the broader built environment. 🔗For more details on the conference and how to contribute, read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gkZqYZ3u #wcte #uq #sustainableconstruction #olympics #brisbane #australia #qld #qldgov #brisbane2032 #architectureanddesign #architecture #engineering #masstimber #sustainability #innovation #greenbuildings #woodcentral #woodcentralau1 #woodsolutions #theultimaterenewable #timberhub #advancetimberhub #crosslaminatedtimber