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DECEMBER 2022

Dear Colleagues


2022 marks the second full year of operations for the Building 4.0 CRC and we feel like we’re hitting our straps. Here are some of our achievements for 2022:

  • We completed 27 projects and launched 14 new projects, and have another 24 projects in the pipeline.

  • We have 7 Lighthouse projects in the planning stage.

  • Our first showcase profiled 4 of our partners at simultaneous event across 3 states.
  • We held another 11 public events and 24 workshops across 4 cities.

  • We welcomed new partners and held discussions with many more prospective partners.
  • We awarded another 15 PhD scholarships, bringing our total number to 31. And we launched a third round.
  • We produced 68 publications.  


Thanks to everyone who has helped make 2022 such as successful year – industry partners, the executive team and researchers. The foundational work we’ve completed over the past 2.5 years has positioned us well to take our research and adoption activities to the next level in 2023.


I wish you all the best for a relaxing holiday season and look forward to seeing you all again next year. Our office will close Wednesday 21 December 2022 and reopen Monday 16 January 2023.


We hope to see you at the Annual Showcase, which will be held in Melbourne on Wednesday 23 March 2023, please Save the Date!


Best wishes from Mathew and the Team

     

Our Inaugural Annual Conference 

The highlight of 2022 was our inaugural annual conference. Thank you to our Partners, exhibitors, presenters, researchers, Executive Team and those who attended for making it such a successful day. 

  • 210 participants
  • 16 globe wide presenters
  • 38 project posters
  • 24 PhD posters
  • 7 industry demonstrators
     

 4 new projects

We have 17 active projects, launching another 4 since our newsletter in August:

#32 Acoustic flanking performance of mid-rise light gauge steel (LGS) structures –  aims to develop design recommendations that will give the building community confidence about how to reliably design and construct LGS buildings. Partners on this project are BlueScope, Monash University and the University of Melbourne.  

     

#36 Academic validation of performance gap research in energy rating systems – involves undertaking research to understand the outcomes of the Closing the performance gap report in the context of international contemporary academic studies and literature.  Partners on this project are Green Building Council of Australia and Monash University.  
     

#59 Innovative Steel–Timber–Concrete Composite StrongFloor – aims to develop a novel structural flooring system covering mid- to long-spans that minimises material use, provides the possibility of fast and modular construction, reduces manufacturing and construction costs. Partners on this project are VIRIDI Group and the University of Melbourne. 
     

#60 Mass Timber Wellness in Workplaces – aims to demonstrate the organisational and wellbeing benefits of mass timber buildings e.g. reduced illness, increased job performance and reduced stress and fatigue. Partners on this project are Monash University, QUT, Sumitomo Forestry Australia and VIRIDI Group. 
     

We're looking for more PhD students

  

We launched our 3rd round of PhD scholarships in November.  We have 14 new scholarships available, spread across our 3 partner universities. Applications close Monday 13 March 2023.  
     

We need your help to create a sustainable digitally integrated building industry in Victoria

Project #38 Victorian Government Digital Build – Translating theory into practice aims to facilitate greater uptake of digitally integrated building and offsite construction in Victoria. You can help, by telling us what you think are the key challenges and implications of managing digital assets in building projects.  

Survey closes Friday 3 February 2023.  
     

We hosted and participated in many events

We're continuing to make the most of opportunities to come together.

Sustainable Solutions to the Housing Crisis (25.10.22) Dr Tanja Tyvimaa led a panel discussion exploring options to address the housing crisis faced in Brisbane and elsewhere. Listen to Professor Mathew Aitchison's follow up podcast with Dr Cameron Murray.
     

Energy Efficiency for Future Buildings (9.11.22) Professor Tuan Ngo led a panel discussion that explored key changes and practicalities involved in meeting new energy efficiency requirements in the National Construction Code (NCC). 

  

We held the session at the Master Builders Association Victoria's Building Leadership Simulation Centre (BLSC).The BLSC is one of only three in the world and the only one in the southern hemisphere! 
     

Better Buildings and Better Bottom Lines (Workshop 1, 15.11.22) Building 4.0 CRC is collaborating with prefabAUS and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, to explore how to take advantage of industrialisation and digitalisation, and the role that business model an value chain innovation holds for the industry's future. We held workshop 1 in Adelaide in November 2022. 

SAVE THE DATE – WORKSHOP 2, THUR. 23 FEB. 2023, MELBOURNE. 

SAVE THE DATE – ANNUAL SHOWCASE WED. 22 FEB. 2023, MELBOURNE.
     

We welcomed some new faces

George Konstandakos (left) is the Tier 1 Director for 2023. 

Clare Blizzard (middle) is our Executive Assistant and Events Manager.  

Associate Professor Dane Miller (right) is our Lighthouse Projects Manager.