Cluster of Excellence IntCDC Receives Funding for a Further Seven Years

Architecture, engineering, and construction face a significant societal challenge. The building sector accounts for a major part of CO₂ emissions, consumes 50 % of all extracted raw materials, and produces 50 % of global waste. Much-needed new construction and renovation of existing buildings are falling far behind; a transformation is urgently needed.

The shared vision for this Cluster of Excellence is to establish the methodological foundations for transforming how buildings are designed and constructed by unlocking the full potential of digital technologies through integration and interdisciplinarity. So far, we have developed an overarching code‐design methodology that enables significantly reducing resource consumption and carbon emissions, increasing fabrication productivity and construction automation, integrating new forms of human–machine collaboration, and fostering a digital building culture.

In the new IntCDC building, we integrate our research innovations in functionally graded concrete slabs, a carbon-negative multi‐story timber system, a high-performance timber roof structure, and biocomposites to create the climate-neutral future home of the cluster and to achieve direct impact.

Now we are ready for the next scientific leap, asking critical questions such as: How can we enable resource-efficient, regenerative, and carbon-negative built environments? Why don’t we fully integrate the specific characteristics of bio-based materials into computational design and construction? What kind of next-generation bio-based structures will enable this, and what new resource-efficient mineral-based systems could be developed? What does it take to empower effective and circular computational design, cyber-physical construction, and renovation? How can AI enhance integrative design and construction? What new construction robots will be needed for this? How can we push robotic construction beyond automation to autonomous, adaptive, and collaborative systems? What new methods can support collaboration between AI, robots, and humans?

Humans need to be at the center of all technologies we develop. It’s essential that our research responds to societal needs and fosters regenerative, inclusive building cultures. We are here to continue transforming architecture and the building sector.