Annual Conference 2024 – Making it happen
Building 4.0 CRC’s third annual conference, held recently in Melbourne, delivered a compelling vision for the future of the building industry. With a clear focus on actionable solutions, the event brought together 230 participants, featuring 8 international speakers and 18 expert panellists, to address the industry’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.
Under the theme “2024 is the year of solutions,” Prof. Mathew Aitchison, CEO of Building 4.0 CRC and Dr Bronwyn Evans AM, Chair of Building 4.0 CRC, emphasised the diverse pathways to future building innovations. The conference was designed to highlight practical solutions that attendees can support and implement in their respective fields.
“2024 is the year of solutions. There’s no one right way to get to the future of building – there are many. Our focus is getting there. We’re putting forward solutions that people can get behind.” Prof. Mathew Aitchison, CEO, Building 4.0 CRC
“Our theme of Making it Happen captures Building 4.0 CRC’s fierce focus on bringing together solutions to unlock the future of building. And our proactive and ambitious agenda has never been more important, as our housing crisis and building insolvencies continue to escalate and our commitment to emissions reduction must be unstintingly pursued.” Dr Bronwyn Evans AM, Chair, Building 4.0 CRC
The Building 4.0 CRC Conference was a testament to the creativity and dedication of professionals committed to advancing the building industry. As we look ahead, it’s clear that the future is not a distant concept but something we are actively designing and shaping through innovative solutions and collaborative efforts. Thank you to all attendees, speakers, and panellists for contributing to a successful and inspiring event.
| 230 attendees 8 international speakers 18 esteemed panellists |
Keep reading for a wrap up of the day’s highlights.
The conference was an opportunity for people to discuss the burning questions facing the industry.
Making MMC a Reality
- Dr Jerker Lessing (Stanford University (USA) and Linköping University (Sweden)) delivered the inaugural Andrea Chegut Memorial Lecture, in honour of Andrea’s contribution as a world leader in building innovation research. In his address, Dr Lessing emphasised the potential of MMC to address housing shortages and climate impacts and stressed the need for consumer-centric approaches in adopting these methods.
“Modern methods of construction can increase housing stock and reduce our climate footprint. But, we need to put consumers at the centre.” - Arlan Collins (Sustainable Living Innovations (USA)) presented a pioneering project—a net zero energy multi-family tower in Seattle—demonstrating the practical applications of MMC in achieving sustainable living.
“SLI is already using modern methods of construction (MMC) to create the world’s first net zero energy multi-family tower in Seattle.” - Daryl Patterson (West Island Workshop) identified the keys to making MMC a success – consistent solutions, a distributed supply chain and designs that leverage standardised parts.
“The parts are standard, but the designs are not.”
Housing retrofit and MMC
Justine Prain (Energiesprong UK) shared a transformative strategy for whole-house refurbishment aimed at achieving net zero homes, while Emanuel Heisenberg (ecoworks) detailed serial renovation techniques involving a second skin around existing buildings to enhance residential energy efficiency.
Ensuring equal access to affordable housing
Ash Livingston (Aboriginal Housing Office) showcased innovative construction methods, such as 3D-printed houses, being employed in their work to ensure every Aboriginal in NSW has equal access to, and choice in, affordable housing.
Skills | Training | MMC: Creating the Industry of the future
A session led by Dr Robert Sobyra (BuildSkills Australia), Dr Corrie Williams (Master Builders Association of Victoria) and Chad Gladovic (Holmesglen Institute) explored how to develop the future workforce in building and construction, highlighting the importance of training and skills development in the evolving industry landscape.
Planning it! Build better, faster
Hon. Sonya Kilkenny, Victorian Minister for Planning and Minister for the Suburbs, shared her vision for a planning system that fosters building innovation.
Mixing Chamber
In the Hot Takes from Businesses, Rebecca
Jinks (Taronga Ventures) introduced 4 trailblazing companies reshaping the building industry:
- Tara Goldsworthy (Fleetwood)
- Murray Ellen (PT Blink)
- Jeremy McLeod (Breathe/Grounded)
- Daniel Fink (Republica).
In the Hot Takes from Young Guns, Claire O’Leary (Building 4.0 CRC) presented emerging leaders who shared their big, future-shaping ideas:
- Giulia Scagliotti (Stanford University)
- Will Young (Finding Infinity)
- Irma Del Valle Nachon (Breathe)
- Tyler Pullen (Terner Labs).
News Ways to Deliver Social Housing
Tyler Pullen (Terner Labs) discussed the drivers behind global increases in homelessness and housing insecurity, taking a deep dive into the Californian market. Michael Wheatley (Homes NSW) spoke to incorporating MMC to deliver quality social housing faster. Andrew McKenzie provided learnings from Kainga Ora’s experiences in New Zealand.
Regulatory Reform and the Industrialisation of Building
Gary Rake (Australian Building Codes Board), Alexandra Waldren (Master Builders Australia) and Prof. Perry Forsythe (UTS) examined the regulatory reforms needed to support the industrialisation of building.
New Ideas and Policy to Improve Building Sustainability
Giulia Scagliotti (Stanford University) and Dr Dominique Hes (Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group) proposed initiatives to embed circular economy principles in the building sector, fostering sustainable practices and innovative solutions.
The Future is Now – Bold Ideas for a Better Future
At the end of the day, people were still sharing their bold ideas for a better future.
“The best way to predict the future is to design it.”
Seven presenters shared their one idea to make it happen:
- Dr Sarah Breen Lovett (University of Newcastle) – Leverage the self-build component of the construction industry.
- Jeremy McLeod (Breathe) – Form follows finance.
- Daniel Fink (Republica) – The real salvation is going to come from the user.
- Murray Ellen (PT Blink) – Making homes attainable and affordable to young people.
- Tyler Pullen (Terner Labs) – More international study tours builds need and momentum.
- Giulia Scagliotti (Stanford University) – More collaboration between different stakeholders.
- Justine Prain (Energiesprong UK) – Build a transportable home so people and builders can touch and see what a home that is comfortable is like.
