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 forges key partnerships
The centre has recently released a compelling review of its activities. Through collaborating with industry influencers like Ramboll and Severfield, it has made significant strides in revolutionising construction practices.
Ramboll, the consulting engineering firm, has collaborated with the centre on module design projects, as did Severfield, a steel fabrication company that has worked with the centre on collaborative projects.
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.
- Developing AI-driven project management tools, reducing planning time by 30%
- Pioneering modular construction techniques, cutting on-site assembly time by 40%
- Implementing virtual reality training programmes, improving worker safety by 25%
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.
Results show a 20% increase in productivity across partner projects and a 15% reduction in carbon emissions.
How will Laing O’Rouke Centre impact construction industry?
The Laing O’Rouke Productivity Initiative, for instance, has developed crucial on-site performance metrics, providing insights that are empowering project managers to boost efficiency and reduce costs significantly.
The impact on the construction industry includes:
Cutting-edge practices: over 5,000 construction leaders being trained in cutting-edge practices
Sustainable building: research that has influenced government policies on sustainable building
Reducing project timelines: assisting companies reduce project timelines by an average of 15%
Increase of maximum material condition (MMC): initiatives that have contributed to a 10% increase in the use of MMC across the sector
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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