An innovation advisory board made up of construction clients, contractors and consultants has met to shape how innovation is placed at the heart of this year’s UK Construction Week (UKCW). It will also assist in scrutinising the latest projects, products and technologies being pitched for a new Innovation Zone, partnered by the Construction Innovation Hub (the Hub), at this year’s UKCW event in October.
Arbiters from Willmott Dixon, Luton Airport, Bryden Wood, Mace, TfL, The Princes’ Foundation and Castle Planning will decide what will appear in the Innovation Zone. They will also choose the winner of UKCW’s Innovation Award 2019 which will be announced on the second day of the show.
George Clarke’s educational charity, MOBIE, has also teamed up with the Hub to inspire future designers. The Student Design Challenge asked students to design the ultimate 21st century house. They had to consider technology, affordability, size, space, family growth, sustainability, comfort, individuality and aesthetics. The winning design will be on display at UKCW.
Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, says:
“We are embarking on a period of rapid change, and construction is ideally placed to capitalise on the new tech revolution. Everyone would love to claim their product, project or solution is innovative, but it’s the specifiers and clients who should judge these things. We are extremely grateful for their support in vetting what is truly innovative at this year’s event.
“By creating this zone in partnership with the industry, and the innovation award, we are planning to promote a wide range of new ideas of relevance to many markets. It’s also a message to the whole construction supply chain that fresh thinking and new technical solutions are available right now to boost quality, speed, sustainability and social cohesion. This celebration of ingenuity is needed to stop the race to the bottom created by placing cost ahead of all else.”
Modern Methods of Construction
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) will be a key theme throughout the show with full scale builds showcasing live demos of houses being assembled, BIM demos and simulations at the MMC Hub. The MMC Hub will explain how offsite construction is being used beyond housing, in healthcare, education, leisure and retail.
The four full scale buildings, include:
- Modular care annex for the healthcare sector
- SIPS panel residential building
- Modular bathroom pod for high end hotel sector
- Offsite solutions for the education sector
Learn
With lots happening in the world of design, specification and construction the comprehensive conference programme and free CPD sessions will give insight into key topics such as the circular economy and biodiversity with the opportunity to ask experts questions.
Hear from speakers from Atkins, Mott McDonald, Multiplex, BRE, Project Etopia, Homes England, Passivhaus Trust, consultancy Action Sustainability, bio materials expert Adaptavate, plus many more. Understand more about deleterious materials, BIM, AI, modern methods of construction, the UK housing crisis and the economic forecast for the construction industry.
The show will also address day to day issues faced by architecture practices such as mental health, work balance and diversity. The new UKCW Careers Centre provides workshops on topics such as career progression and attracting and retaining talent. There is an advice centre too for a more in-depth chat with specialist advisors.
Network
New business and networking lounges will provide flexible spaces to meet up with new and old acquaintances or a quiet moment to catch up on your emails. Architecture practices are also invited to hold their own events at the show, with support from UKCW, such as breakfast briefings and awards.
Free tickets for UKCW are available here and also include access to Grand Designs Live on 9 and 10 October.
Follow UKCW on Twitter at @UK_CW and use the hashtag #UKCW2019 to keep up to date with the show.