> Facades and partitions are getting lighter Light construction goes far beyond the main structure. It also includes solutions for facades, partitions, ceilings, interior and exterior insulation, and cladding. In partitions, for example, Glasroc® X gypsum board with a modified, glass-fiber reinforced gypsum core, is lightweight while providing moisture protection and UV resistance. Cross-laminated timber panels can replace reinforced concrete panels, while glulam or laminated veneer lumber (LVL) columns or beams can replace steel. Combined, these light solutions bring significant benefits in terms of decarbonization through reduced raw material consumption and time savings that lead to improved productivity. Especially when it is necessary to build a lot, build quickly and build well. Prefabrication gaining ground The strength of light construction lies not only in the weight of the materials used, but also in the intelligence of the building processes, in particular those that allow off-site construction, such as prefabrication. The benefits are numerous: • Speed of implementation: Off-site construction decreases the hazards of a project by reducing the involvement of specialized craftsmen, whose work is complicated by needing to be done in a set sequence. Only cranes and assembly tools are required to complete construction; • Streamlined transport: By limiting the weight of materials to what is strictly necessary, the weight of shipments and the number of journeys are reduced; • Fitters' health: Less cutting on site leads to a lower risk of accidents and less dust; • Circularity: Waste is reduced and confined to the factory, limiting the need to sort, store and return waste from construction sites. Combined, all of this significantly reduces the carbon footprint of buildings and improves workers’ health and safety. Only a few hours were required to assemble the prefabricated wood modules of the Sara Kulturhus. To achieve this feat, architectural firm White Arkitekter selected local sustainable wood, sourced within 200 km of the construction site, which it combined with steel structures. 63 CONSTRUCTING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
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