Laing O'Rourke Centre Drives Leaner, Greener Construction

The Laing O’Rouke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology is influencing the construction industry in a unique way, by forging vital links between academia, industry, and government. 

So far, the centre – part of the University of Cambridge and supported by Laing O’Rourke – has promoted engagement between academia, industry and policymakers and pioneered advanced manufacturing techniques, influencing global construction practices and fostering collaboration between industry leaders and academics worldwide.

Through targeted education, collaborative research, and evidence-based guidance, the centre has created a strategy to improve the construction industry that focuses on three critical outcomes:

• Sustainable infrastructure (net-zero carbon and biodiversity)
• Improved productivity
• Enhanced social value in built environments

These focuses have led to digital engineering, modern construction methods, whole-life performance analysis, innovative procurement, and workforce upskilling and recent work with other construction companies Ramboll and Severfield.

Laing O’Rouke Construction Centre Engages in Unique Projects

The centre has recently released a compelling review of its activities. Through collaborating with industry influencers like Ramboll, Severfield, Laing O'Rourke and Trimble, it has made significant strides in revolutionising construction practices.

Laing O'Rourke, Trimble and Ramboll, the consulting engineering firm, has collaborated with the centre and its students on a module design project, as did Severfield, a steel fabrication company, successfully building a 13-meter bridge in under three days. 

The project aimed to provide students with the opportunity to work with experts in the construction industry and gain valuable experience in sustainable offsite construction to inspire a generation of engineers driven by innovative and sustainable solutions.

Already having worked with multiple companies, the centre is now part of the data gathering and analysis activities required to generate performance metrics for the industry.

The Centre aims to further enhance productivity, sustainability, and innovation in construction. Its research has influenced industry standards and government policies on modern methods of construction.

Professor Campbell Middleton, Director of the Laing O'Rourke Centre, says: "We are committed to shaping the future of construction through research, education and thought leadership" 

Adding: "We start by sharing a vision of what a construction project might look like in 2030."

As the construction industry faces unprecedented challenges, Laing O'Rourke's initiative stands as a beacon of progress, inviting us to envision—and build—a more advanced, responsible future. 
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