A Waterloo Engineering research team has developed an innovative design that allows modular timber structures to be easily relocated, reassembled and reconfigured in either urban or remote areas.
Dr. Daniel Lacroix, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Daniela Roscetti, a recent master's student, led the design development of a novel connector plate that, unlike traditional fasteners, connects cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels in a way that enables easier reassembly and reuse.
The team, called the Structural Timber and Applied Research Team (START), designed the novel connector in response to the demand for flexible housing options — compounded by concerns about climate change and its impact on vulnerable communities. Their inventive solution can help expedite the deployment of safe, sustainable and affordable homes by enabling the reuse of CLT panels and making them easier to transport.
“Our goal is to redefine how modular buildings are conceived and implemented,” said Lacroix. “We are leveraging mass timber in combination with other lightweight and sustainable materials to create a system that can be assembled, disassembled and reassembled without compromising structural integrity or affordability.”
“Reuse means less waste and fewer carbon emissions, so our design’s reusability is an important step forward in circular economy construction methods,” said Roscetti.
Go to Sustainable housing solutions by design for the full story.