"What if - a building research center in Lusatia" - under this motto, Manfred Curbach and his team invite you to a digital get-together on March 9, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.

Manfred Curbach is director of the Institute of Concrete Structures at the Technische Universität Dresden and initiator of the project idea LAB - Lausitz Art of Building. LAB is one of six concepts for two large research centers that are planned in Lusatia in Saxony and in the central German area. As part of the funding initiative "Knowledge creates perspectives for the region" of the Free State of Saxony and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, a contribution to structural change in the traditional lignite mining areas is to be made. One of the consequences of phasing out coal for local people is the loss of jobs and the associated concerns about their personal future and that of the region. One solution could be Europe's largest laboratory in the construction industry for research, development, and transfer. So that the development of such an important center is not decided over the heads of the population, the LAB team invites all interested parties to a digital meeting. Lusatian residents are cordially invited to contribute their ideas, wishes, and ideas, which should be taken into account in the concept. In this context, the participants can find out about the planned plans for a building research center. "The original idea was to organize an event on-site, close to the people, but given the corona situation, we cannot take responsibility for it at the moment. However, since direct dialogue with the Lusatian population is very important to us, we would like to meet digitally". Registration is possible at any time and of course free of charge at www.lab-lausitz.org.

The LAB team, consisting of top researchers from all over the world, strives to change the construction and a shift towards a world in balance. The future of people is decided by the construction industry. Because the topic affects everyone - regardless of activity, place of life, phase of life. A basic human need is a structural protective cover to ensure warmth, weather protection, and safety. At the same time, however, construction causes around 25% of CO2 emissions, consumes around 40% of the energy generated, and requires vast amounts of resources. With the LAB, the construction industry has what is perhaps a unique opportunity to make its major contribution to creating climate neutrality by 2045.

The buildings of the future will not be designed and built using the materials or methods we know today. Instead, they are planned, constructed, and calculated using methods of artificial intelligence, manufactured in a resource-efficient manner, equipped and operated with AI-supported building technology, monitored and controlled with highly sensitive sensors, and accompanied by a digital twin. In order to achieve this, knowledge must be gained on a large scale - towards a completely different way of thinking when building than today.

A building research center also opens up new economic perspectives for the region and offers a realistic connection for people who are currently working in the field of lignite mining and would like to reorient themselves in the near future. In the future, around 8,000 to 10,000 jobs would be created (approx. 1,500 of them in the LAB), most of which could be filled by people from the region.

Together with renowned partners, a unique large-scale research center for the construction industry is to be created in Lusatia, dedicated to the complex tasks and challenges of the paradigm shift in construction.

Contact:
Sandra Kranich
Tel.: +49 351 48 45 67 14

www.lab-lausitz.org