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The Future Of Construction

by | Dec 22, 2015 | Design Build, Energy Efficiency, Mechanical Building System |

In October, we shared an article on how buildings are getting smarter, and the next generation of green buildings are expected to do more than ever. In this article, we share some futuristic building technology and materials that will change the way we construct buildings in the years to come.
1) 3-D Concrete Printing 

In the last few years, several new applications in the world of 3D printing have emerged.  The 3D printing industry has now discovered a way to construct buildings. Potential advantages of this process include quicker construction, lower labor costs, and less waste produced.

Click here to read an article on the world’s first 3D printed apartment building in China.

Click here to read an article on a 3D printing machine that can build a 2,500-square-foot concrete house in just 24 hours.

 

2) Graphene

Graphene, a substance made of pure carbon, has been called a “miracle material” because it’s thin, strong, flexible, conducts electricity, and its nearly transparent.

Some are calling the Graphene ‘the new steel’ of the future. Graphene is a one-atom thick layer of carbon that is said to be lighter than a feather, more conductive than copper, and stronger than steel. It is thin, strong, flexible, conducts electricity, and is virtually transparent.

It’s potential uses in construction include LEDs, impermeable paint, corrosion-proof steel, interactive panels, spray on solar-panels, and self cleaning concrete.
Source:http://www.construction-manager.co.uk/on-site/graphene-six-applications-industry-536/

3) Self Healing Concrete

When it comes to building materials, the great downfall of concrete is unavoidable cracking, caused by exposure to water and chemicals.

A new development from a team in the Netherlands could extend the life of concrete, with bacterial spores that fill cracks completely when water seeps through. Click here to learn more.

Source:http://architizer.com/blog/material-trends-for-2014-and-beyond/  

4) Super Waterproof Material
Imagine a super water-proof material makes drops bounce. A new super-hydrophobic surface, created by a team at Brookhaven Laboratory in New York, is unlike other water-resistant material. It can stand up to conditions such as extreme temperature, pressure, and humidity.


The material made up of tiny cones not only repels water, it can stand up to extreme changes in temperature, pressure, and humidity. The water droplets bounce off, carrying dirt with them, making the material antibacterial.

These surfaces not only don’t get wet, but would stay cleaner since the water droplets carry dirt with them as they roll off. The material would be useful for preventing ice or algae build-up or even as an antibacterial coating.

Source: http://www.wcoes.org/2014_04_01_archive.html

To learn more about how to save time and money on your next construction project, contact BC Comfort’s Design Build team today.