Insights
Five Newly Developed Construction Materials
PROPELLING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
From spiked material costs and natural disasters to environmental concerns and lowered productivity, the construction industry is struggling to meet current economic demand while maintaining output. These five newly developed building materials are making waves, and have the potential to propel the construction industry towards a more sustainable future.
1. LAMINATED TIMBER
Laminated timber holds the potential to support tall structures and reduce upwards of 150 tons of carbon per story.
2. SELF-HEALING CONCRETE
Reducing Infrastructure maintenance requirements and cutting greenhouse gases.
3. MODULAR BAMBOO
Create earthquake-resistant buildings, new architecture forms, and reinforcing steel bars.
4. TRANSPARENT ALUMINUM
Smart dynamic windows that allow the user to control the amount of light and reduce HVAC costs.
5. WOOL BRICK
The transition to wool bricks is reducing greenhouse gases from firing traditional bricks and increasing building cold climate resistance. They have also been proved to be up to 37% stronger than normal bricks, this being achieved by adding both wool and a natural polymer found in seaweeds to the clay used in their creation.
“BY REMAINING FOCUSED ON NEW TRENDS DISRUPTING THE INDUSTRY, WE’RE ABLE TO AVOID A PAINFUL SHIFT, WHILE CONSTANTLY DEVELOPING THESE NEW MATERIALS.”
– Randy Thomas, Principal at Abbott.
