Australian university uses cement-free concrete for structural purposes

In Australia, the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute has become the first building to utilise cement-free concrete for structural purposes. The building is piloting various sustainable solutions in its bid to be achieve 6 star Green Star Education Design and As-Built ratings and to operate as a carbon neutral and net zero energy environment.

The building uses a geopolymer precast concrete using flyash to replace cement in the mix, considerably reducing the building’s carbon footprint.

“We have taken environmentally sustainable design a step further and precast world-first geopolymer concrete floor panels which, with significantly lower embodied energy, helps to reduce the building’s carbon footprint. Prior to the GCI project, industry experts considered that practical application in such a significant way would be many years away from happening. We’re pleased our application expedited this for everyone’s benefit,” Project Leader and Director Rod Bligh of Bligh Tanner Consulting Engineers, told press.

As well as being more environmentally friendly, the panels also have faster curing times, which lowered production costs.

“It’s the ideal home for the Institute’s game-changing research, ideas and evidence-based advice for addressing the challenges of global change,” said Global Change Institute director, professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg. “It will be naturally ventilated for most of the year whilst a super low energy comfort conditioning mode ensures occupant comfort in even the hottest and most humid Brisbane days. The building generates and stores all its own power on-site through renewable solar energy sources that are pollution-free. All excess power will be delivered back to the national grid.” More information about the other innovations in use in the building can be found here.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui