Ahead of our Offsite Development Conference we spoke exclusively with Edinburgh Napier University of their work in the MMC sector, timber engineering and the use of MMC in university estate projects.

Q. Edinburgh Napier University has a history of researching the sector, how has the university used and supported offsite & modern methods of construction?

The Centre for Offsite Construction + Innovative Structures was established approximately 10 years ago. It has consistently delivered research that serves the needs of industry with a primary focus on industrialized timber construction. Edinburgh Napier helped to establish Offsite Solutions Scotland (OSS), a cooperative of lead offsite operators in Scotland who are collaborating to scale. Recently, ENU was a collaborating partner on Offsite Ready with City of Glasgow, College, The Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Ministry of Building Innovation and Education and Construction Wales Innovation Centre to develop flexible learning content for upskilling in offsite construction. [emaillocker id=”71749″]

The content created is free available for all Further and Higher Education providers via www.offsiteready.com

Q. What led to the genesis of the University’s Institute for Sustainable Construction?

The Institute of Sustainable Construction was formed as a result of research centre critical mass including expertise in Smart Cities, Energy Performance, Timber Engineering, Acoustics and Offsite Construction. Two significant European Funded projects were secured, the Low Carbon Building Technology Gateway and the Wood Products Innovation Gateway. These projects resulted in significant research, innovation and knowledge exchange with industry for improved forms of construction delivery via expert teams.


Q. How active has the universities sector been in adopting offsite technology on their estates projects?

The University has utilised offsite construction primarily for the delivery of student accomodation. The Orwell Terrace development for example saw Glasgow-based construction and manufacturing specialist CCG (Scotland) Ltd using the latest offsite construction methods to build high quality and environmentally efficient accommodation in the quickest time possible.

More info here: https://staff.napier.ac.uk/news/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=2047

Q. How integral is the role of universities in advancing research & development in the off site and modern methods of the construction sector?

Recently a research project has been secured that will see Edinburgh Napier and OSS further collaborate with The City of Edinburgh Council, the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Scottish Futures Trust and Scottish Government to improve levels of digitisation and standardisation of offsite construction systems capable of meeting net zero carbon ambitions whilst also implementing improved business model and collaborative procurement practices. This type of evidence based research will be key to transforming the sector and moving toward specifying systems based upon whole life value performance.

Q. How transformation is the usage of timber in reducing the construction sector’s emissions?

Productivity of construction has stagnated at best and yet still manages to consume approximately half of all extracted materials whilst contributing an estimate 39% of all emissions. Now, more than ever before, there is a necessity to move towards progressive delivery approaches harnessing the trifecta of timber, digitisation and factory underpinned by the next generation of built environment professionals. Timber offsite construction has enhanced levels of productivity, minimises waste and sequestrates carbon whilst producing energy efficient buildings.

Q. What are some of the latest developments within Timber engineering?

Biogenic Offsite Manufacturing (Bio-OSM) is industrialised forms of construction that utilise naturally renewable resource with an emphasis timber, factory, and digital approaches. Future research and development efforts should be focussed on accelerating the utilisation of bio-OSM given the climate crisis and corresponding necessity to achieved net zero carbon adopting a circular approach.

  • Product development of Wood -rich products and systems – value add to existing products and the research and creation of new products that are rich in wood fibre but offer unique sell point to the market.
  • Advanced manufacturing of wood rich systems – ensure advanced levels of factory enhancement or pre-manufacture to ensure zero waste on site, high levels of quality and customer value add via mass customisable approaches (client customisation utilising standardised produces and processes for efficiency)
  • Extending the life of wood rich products – quality assured and durable methods developed via informed specification, novel technical detailing and the modification of material properties.  
  • Digitisation of wood product information – The implementation of a digital thread for the whole supply chain from forest floor to built asset with a feedback loop from it to validate the predicted performance.
  • Holistic Value Proposition – utilise the codified research content and digitised information to present the whole life value proposition of built assets to ultimately influencing the business model and procurement approaches.

Q. What is Edinburgh Napier hoping to share at the upcoming Offsite Manufacture Conference?

In order to address the above and accelerate change in approach there is a need to rethink research and development investment. Improved levels of collaboration and connectivity between academia and industry are required. I’d like to explore this concept with delegates to determine what is possible going forward.

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