AdvancedAEC Event and Open House at the IntCDC in Stuttgart

The second AdvancedAEC Postdoc Event took place at the University of Stuttgart at the Large-Scale Construction Robotics Laboratory (LCRL) in Waiblingen-Hohenacker. At the same time, the IntCDC Cluster invited visitors to an Open House, offering insights into its research platforms and interdisciplinary work on digital and robotic construction.

Flax fibre bodies are being robotically wound at the IntCDC. Photo by the Univserity of Stuttgart.

Earlier this year, the first workshop of the AdvancedAEC Postdoc network meeting was hosted by the NCCR DFAB at ETH Zurich, with several DFAB postdoctoral researchers taking part in the events. Participation in the AdvanceAEC network allows NCCR DFAB researchers to engage with international peers, exchange knowledge on digital and robotic construction methods, and explore potential collaborations across institutions. By attending both the Zurich and Stuttgart events, DFAB postdocs gained insights into different research approaches and experimental platforms, which directly inform their own projects and strengthen the cluster’s contribution to the development of computational design and robotic fabrication techniques.

Interdisciplinary Research at the IntCDC Cluster

At the same time as the postdoc event, the IntCDC Cluster held an Open House at the Large-Scale Construction Robotics Laboratory (LCRL) in Waiblingen-Hohenacker near Stuttgart. The LCRL serves as the central site for the cluster’s interdisciplinary research, where scientists are developing new methods for both prefabrication and on-site construction using advanced robotic systems and materials. For NCCR DFAB postdocs, visiting the laboratory provided the opportunity to observe these experimental platforms in action and gain practical insights into cutting-edge timber construction, fibre-reinforced composite structures, robotic assembly processes, and AI-supported techniques for adapting existing buildings.

The “Research Network for Advancing Architecture, Engineering and Construction” (AdvanceAEC) brings together national and international researchers who strive to advance architecture, engineering and construction through digital technologies and an interdisciplinary approach. It aims to address the multifaceted ecological, economic and socio-cultural challenges the built environment is facing. The research network provides a platform to exchange expertise, foster and build an international research community in the fields of architecture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, robotics and social sciences.