Build-in-Wood Demonstrator - A big step towards sustainability in construction

"The Build-in-Wood Demonstrator is a test and demonstration building under construction at the Danish Technological Institute near Copenhagen. It is part of the "Build-in-Wood" project, an initiative supported by the EU through the Horizon 2020 program.

Designed on two floors and covering an area of 340 m², the Demonstrator is more than just a building; it is a vision come true. Constructed from glulam, CLT and lightweight timber façade elements, the building is intended to be an example of what the future of construction could look like. This structure is not just an architectural achievement, it is also intended to be a showcase for Build-in-Wood.

What is "Build-in-Wood"

"Build-in-Wood" aims to develop a structured and integrated, sustainable and innovative system for the construction of multi-storey timber buildings. The ambition of the project is to optimize and monetize these timber construction methods and to build a common practice, a kind of building standard in the European construction sector. In other words, the aim is to develop, demonstrate and document cost-effective, wood-based building systems.

Build-in-Wood partners

The project involves a consortium of 21 partners from different sectors and countries. All aim to revolutionize timber construction, promoting the use of wood as a sustainable and competitive building material. They are

1. Danish Technological Institute (Coordinator) - Technological Research, Denmark
2. Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology - Wood Technology, Norway
3. C. F. Møller Architects - Architecture, Sweden
4. National Technical University of Athens - Technology and Education, Greece
5. Urbasofia - Urban planning, Romania
6. Metropolitan Agency Brasov - Government agency, Romania
7. Waugh Thistleton Architects - Architecture, UK
8. Alexandra Institute - IT Research, Denmark
9. University of Siena - Education, Italy
10. proHolz Tirol - Timber Association, Austria
11. Bimetica - BIM Consultancy, Spain
12. Rothoblaas - Building solutions, Italy
13. rtd services OG - Consulting, Austria
14. Adserballe & Knudsen - Construction services, Denmark
15. Ergodomus - Wood engineering, Italy
16. Habitech - Green Building Cluster, Italy
17. Stora Enso - Timber and construction solutions, Finland
18. Knauf - Building materials, Germany
19. Scandi Byg - Timber construction, Denmark
20. hsbcad - Construction Software, Germany
21. EllisDon - Construction Services, Canada

Cities participating in the Build-in-Wood project

In order to understand and implement the Build-in-Wood solutions, seven very different European cities, called "Early Adopter Cities", have been selected to apply the results of the project. They range from capital metropolises to small and medium-sized mountain towns. The aim is to demonstrate that any city can choose to build with wood and benefit from its advantages, and their stories should inspire cities around the world to rethink building and social responsibility.

Participating cities are Brasov (Romania), Trento (Italy), Innsbruck (Austria), Copenhagen (Denmark), Trondheim (Norway), London (UK), Amsterdam (Netherlands).

"The Build-in-Wood Demonstrator is intended to be a living laboratory where the Build-in-Wood system will be intensively tested. From acoustics and indoor climate to insulation efficiency and moisture resistance, the project aims to gather valuable data that could revolutionize the way we build with wood. With its capacity for easy dismantling and reconfiguration, the building is not just a structure, but a dynamic research tool that will provide insights into new solutions and practices. Its construction started in February 2024 and has an estimated completion time of 6 months.

With several companies already interested in using the Demonstrator for their own research and documentation, it is clear that this initiative is at the forefront of a significant shift in the construction paradigm. To watch.

Source "Build-in-Wood"