Future of Construction Symposium 2024
Bringing together leading experts from academia, industry, and government to discuss critical advancements in the construction sector with focus on sustainability and leveraging new technologies.
The external page Future of Construction 2024 Symposium, held from 5 to 7 November 2024 at USI Mendrisio in Switzerland, brought together leading experts from academia, industry, and government to discuss critical advancements in the construction sector.
This initiative was a collaboration between ETH Zurich, led by Prof. Silke Langenberg, Chair for Construction Heritage and Preservation, and Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) led by Prof. Ena Lloret-Fritschi, Professor of Fabrication & Material Aware Architecture.
The symposium explored themes such as sustainability, digital fabrication, and innovative material technologies, with keynote speakers including Stuart Smith of Arup / Holcim Foundation (DE), Mario Carpo of the Bartlett School of Architecture (UK), Roger Boltshauser of Boltshauser Architekten (CH), and Annette Gigon of Gigon Guyer Architects (CH). It addressed pressing issues like AI in architecture and material reuse, fostering a dialogue on reshaping the future of the built environment.
Participants engaged in workshops and industry presentations that highlighted the practical applications of emerging technologies. Sessions like “Scaling New Materials for Net Zero” and “Undo: Human-Robot Reconfiguring Timber” provided hands-on insights into innovations such as robotic timber construction, circular economy practices, and advanced 3D printing methods. These activities underscored the intersection of cutting-edge research with real-world applications.
The symposium concluded with a call to action for greater interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle the challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and digital transformation in the construction industry. By bridging the gap between research and practice, the event reaffirmed its role as a critical platform for shaping a sustainable, forward-thinking future in construction.
It was impressive to see many ITA members and NCCR DFAB researchers actively participate in this year’s symposium, now in its third edition. The very first Future of Construction symposium, was indeed hosted here at ETH, led by our sister organisation the NCCR DFAB, with our insititute playing a core role.
For more details, view the full symposium programme external page here.