Helping builders to save embodied energy

We reduce the material consumption and the CO₂ emissions in construction projects by making structural engineering circular

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What we do

Our Services

Services

Keywords

Services

Circular strategy consulting

Keywords

EU taxonomy / SDG / ESG / benchmarking / funding opportunities / certification

Description

Our consulting services are aimed at companies that want to achieve their ambitious sustainability goals. We support you to meet the requirements of the EU taxonomy, SDGs and ESG criteria and work with you to implement the Level(s) framework for sustainable construction.

With decarbonization in mind, we offer targeted strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of your properties. Our expertise in R-strategies guides you towards effective reuse and recycling of resources to promote a robust circular economy.

Our service includes the selection and application of an individual circular strategy in structural design as well as support in obtaining relevant funding and sustainability certificates.

Pursuit of political goals, e.g., EU Taxonomy, SDGs, Level(s), ESG
Decarbonization of the built environment
Consulting on setting project-related benchmarks for the environmental impact of the structural framework
Which R-strategy to choose
Consulting on the choice of a circular strategy (xxx-strategy)
Assistance with funding opportunities and certification
Integration of EPDs and GWP limits into project specifications

Previous Project

Circular Strategy consulting

Together with Circular Berlin and Concular CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN co-authored the dena study “Business Models for Circular Construction and Renovation: The Role of Innovative Business Models in the Transformation of the Construction Sector.” The study provides well-founded insights into the circular transformation of the construction industry. It identifies established and innovative business models along the entire lifecycle of buildings, determines opportunities and challenges for their implementation, and examines the regulatory framework at the German and European levels. The focus is on various circular aspects of buildings as well as concrete practical examples. You can find the study here dena study Circular Business Models

Services

Resource-efficient structural concepts

Keywords

Design planning / life cycle assessment / deconstructable concepts / WBLCA

Description

In our range of services, we focus on the design planning of load-bearing structures that are both innovative and strategically well thought out. We place importance on ensuring that our designs not only meet immediate requirements but are also adaptive and durable with a view to the future. In the repurposing and preservation of buildings, we offer comprehensive consulting to preserve the building fabric while enabling modern use.

Our approach consistently incorporates the principles of sustainability by developing demountable concepts that allow materials to be reused at the end of a building’s life cycle. This contributes to resource efficiency and minimizes the ecological footprint. At the same time, we are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using innovative techniques and materials that consider the entire life cycle of a building.

Design planning of a structural framework based on the chosen strategy
Life cycle assessment as a decision-making tool
Continuous evaluation of structural framework variants based on established benchmarks
Consulting on repurposing and preservation of buildings
Consideration of the longevity and adaptability of the structural framework
Development of demountable concepts
Minimization of resource expenditure and greenhouse gas emissions
Optimization of load assumptions (project-specific investigation of whether a reduction in assumed loads is permissible or a likely repurposing scenario justifies the inclusion of additional load reserves)
Consulting on structural design for the use of lighter materials with a lower carbon footprint
Use of LCA tools for a Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA)
Design of light, efficient structures

Previous Project

Circular Strategy consulting

In the context of the early stages optioneering phase of a new lab building design, CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN investigated a range of structural floor options evaluating various floor systems, layouts and material combinations including respective structure LCA assessments. The close collaboration with the wider team enabled a detailed assessment of overall building LCA assessments informing the building design process at early project stages. The detailed assessment at early project stages contributes to informed design decisions leading to efficient design solutions with increased flexibility and potential project time and cost savings through the identification of opportunities early on and/or preventing costly changes later in the project.

Services

Innovative material concepts

Keywords

Pre-demolition audits (PDA) / potential assessment / reuse strategy / building resource passport / renewable, recycled materials

Description

We offer comprehensive consulting for the sustainable and value-oriented planning of buildings. Starting with pre-demolition audits (PDA), we evaluate existing buildings for their potential for further use or reuse. Our reuse strategies include quality assurance, the creation of component catalogs and the principle of “form follows availability” to ensure maximum resource efficiency.

In addition to strategic planning, we develop building material passports that provide a detailed overview of the materials used in the building and their reuse potential. To further promote the circular economy, we also advise on the use of bio-based materials, such as flax fiber-reinforced composites, which represent an environmentally friendly alternative in the construction industry.

Pre-demolition audits (PDA) of existing buildings
Potential assessment for further use or reuse
Reuse strategy, including quality assurance, component catalogs, form follows availability
Creation of building material passports
Consulting on bio-based materials, e.g. flax fiber-reinforced composites
Use of low-carbon materials instead

Previous Project

Resource-efficient structural concepts

CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN, supported Polycare, Aedi Africa, and the wider team, applying principles of circularity in the building construction industry applied to a prototype project in Namibia and South Africa. The innovative Polycare modular system effectively incorporates waste streams in the fabrication of Polyblock modules. These components are locally sourced, thereby bolstering the regional economy, reducing environmental impacts, and developing local skills and knowledge. The versatility of the Polycare system allows for the reconfiguration of standard Polyblock modules into an array of building layouts. In this project, these modules were initially assembled to form a Tower in Namibia before being carefully deconstructed for repurposing in a Pavilion located in South Africa.

Services

Research and Education

Keywords

Cooperative studies / further education programmes / industrial research / research projects

Description

We are highly committed to education and research, offering a wide range of programs. Our training of dual students combines academic learning with practical experience to optimally prepare students for their professional future. Additionally, we provide customized continuing education programs for chambers and industry, aimed at enhancing the skills of professionals and familiarizing them with the latest trends and technologies.

Our focus also includes industrial research, where we work closely with companies to develop innovative solutions for industry challenges. Furthermore, we are actively involved in national and EU research projects to push the boundaries of knowledge and contribute to the development of new technologies.

Cooperative Studies
Further training courses for chambers, associations and industry
Industry research
National and EU research projects

Previous Project

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Why we do it

Your benefits

Buildings contain many valuable resources that are becoming increasingly scarce and are responsible for many CO2 emissions. Structural engineers in particular can massively reduce material consumption and achieve a great deal here.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Patrick Teuffel has long been concerned with the question of how the circular economy can be used sensibly in structural engineering.

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Do you not only want to talk about ESG and CSR, but also implement them in your projects? In addition to the transportation sector, the construction industry also fails to meet the climate protection goals set by the federal government. But you can show that you take responsibility and thus make a contribution to climate and resource protection and are therefore not only attractive to your customers, but also to future employees.

In the future, at least 15% of building components should be reused, 15% of the materials should be recycled and at least 20% of the materials should come from sustainable, renewable sources. The draft of the Circular Economy Action Plan published in March 2022 as part of the EU taxonomy Platform on Sustainable Finances defines these specific and demanding requirements for use in new buildings.

Due to ever increasing material prices, the possibility of reusing components, recycling materials or alternative materials is becoming more and more important. Even if the supply of energy is currently critical, it is practically infinitely available thanks to the sun, while raw materials for building materials such as sand or ore are limited and becoming increasingly scarce.

Featured Project

ReCreate

ReCreate – Science meets Practice

In the context of resource scarcity and climate crisis the topic of reuse is often mentioned. The aim of the EU-funded research project ReCreate: Reusing precast concrete for a circular economy is to academically investigate possibilities for the reuse of precast reinforced concrete elements and to implement them practically in 4 pilot projects in Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN is part of the project as a scientific consultant and leads the Working Package 5: Redesign and Reassembly.

Building with existing components differs in key aspects from the status quo of construction practice: the design process is different, new connection details that enable reuse are required and logistical challenges have to be overcome. ReCreate is addressing these issues as part of Working Package 5.

ReCreate It all depends on the connections

Prefabricated reinforced concrete structures allow for easier, non-destructive dismantling than in-situ concrete structures. Often, only discrete connection details need to be resolved in order to remove the existing components and reuse them at component level.

Deliverable D5.2 therefore describes the existing connections in the donor buildings and common prefabricated connections in existing buildings. Particular attention is paid here to how the same connection points can be reused (with minor adjustments) during reinstallation. Connections that are to be used in the construction of the pilot projects are described. New connection types were also developed in the project, which should greatly simplify reuse in the future.

ReCreate Design-guideline: Bearing-based design creation

The design process based on existing components differs fundamentally from the previous standard. It can no longer be designed freely. In the ReCreate project, the necessary work steps and as-built information are tested and documented as part of the design process of the pilot projects.

The aim is to summarize the experience gained from all pilot projects in a design guideline at the end of the project. This should inspire planners for new reuse projects in the future and show a process and the individual work steps for enabling stock-based design.

ReCreate „Best Practice Guideline“ Guidelines for a BIM-aided preconstruction audit

A structural reuse of existing components is only possible if all the necessary information (geometry, material data, load history) is available and if they have been dismantled non-destructively in the required quality. Therefore, planning for dismantling, recording, and documenting all relevant information is a crucial step in the ReCreate project. Digital workflows are suitable for collecting and documenting this information in a bundled manner.

Deliverable D5.1 was therefore a „best practice guideline“ for a BIM-aided preconstruction audit. This is publicly available at: Publications – Recreate. The focus here, due to the project’s nature, is on the dismantling of precast reinforced concrete buildings. Accordingly, commonly used precast reinforced concrete components are briefly introduced, and the possibilities of obtaining information about precast reinforced concrete buildings to assess reusability are outlined. Aspects of quality assurance are also touched upon. As a result, a “best practice recommendation” is formulated. The aim here was not to provide a precise, software-specific manual but rather a general presentation of the process.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Patrick Teuffel

¹ Expert for circular structural design at the interface between construction practice and research

² Founder of CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN and managing director of TEUFFEL ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS in Berlin

³ Professor of Innovation and Sustainability Strategies at Berlin School of Technology

Team

As an actor and director, Christof Düro is a career changer at CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN. Here he works with different, creative methods to link the fields of structural design and sustainable building more closely in order to bring them closer to a wider audience. He is convinced that circular building will thus become more and more self-evident.

José Gomes has many years of international experience. His current focus is on principles such as the deconstructability of building components, promoting the future adaptability of buildings, the reuse of used steel profiles or modular construction solutions that are suitable for deconstruction and reuse in subsequent projects. He graduated with an MSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Coimbra and the Technical University of Lisbon.

Combining structural design and sustainability are the key topics, which Marlene Schulz deals with at CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN and she also supports the team to move from a linear to a circular construction industry. She studied Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Berlin and gained a couple of years of practical experience in Berlin.

Frank Seebach effectively supports the team in implementing circular construction projects through his extensive experience as a structural engineer for large-scale projects. His comprehensive knowledge in the fields of existing building construction and Building Information Modeling (BIM) enables him to have an in-depth understanding of historical buildings as well as digital structuring methods that serve as the basis for lifecycle analyses. Additionally, Frank has experience in research and development. His academic background includes a diploma in cartography and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

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Smart Circular Bridge

The Smart Circular Bridge project is an innovative research and development project coordinated by the Technical University of Eindhoven. The aim of the project is to make the construction and use of bridges sustainable by employing modern technologies and materials. Here is an overview of the key aspects of the project:

Project Goals

1. Sustainability and Circular Economy: The main goal of the project is to develop bridges from sustainable materials that can be fully recycled and reused. This aligns with the principles of the circular economy, which aim to minimize waste and maximize the reuse of resources.

2. Innovative Materials: A key focus of the project is the research and application of bio-based materials, such as flax and hemp fibers. These materials not only offer ecological benefits but also have the potential to meet high technical requirements.

3. Digital Technologies: The project integrates digital technologies such as sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT) to continuously monitor the bridges. This allows for real-time monitoring of the condition and load of the bridges, improving maintenance and safety.

Project Partners

The Smart Circular Bridge project is a collaboration between various European partners from research, industry, and public institutions. In addition to TU Eindhoven, the University of Stuttgart, the University of Leuven, various construction companies, and cities are involved. This multidisciplinary collaboration fosters the exchange of knowledge and experiences and strengthens the project’s innovative power.

Pilot Projects

Several pilot bridges will be built and tested in various European cities as part of the project. These pilot bridges serve as prototypes and demonstration objects to test the practicality of the developed materials and technologies. The data and experiences gained will feed into the further development and optimization of the constructions.

Challenges and Opportunities

The project faces several challenges, including the development of new bio-based materials, ensuring long-term durability, and integrating advanced monitoring technologies. At the same time, it offers significant opportunities to transform the construction sector sustainably, conserve resources, and reduce environmental impact.

Future Perspectives

The results of the Smart Circular Bridge project could be pioneering for future bridge construction and other areas of the construction industry. By combining sustainable materials and intelligent monitoring systems, the project could make a significant contribution to sustainable development and climate protection.

The Smart Circular Bridge project is an outstanding example of how innovative research and interdisciplinary collaboration can contribute to solving global challenges. It shows that sustainable construction is not only possible but also technically and economically feasible.

DGNB Circularity Indices for Buildings

Exciting news: the DGNB presents its quality standard for circularity indices for buildings.

The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) has developed a quality standard for circularity indices for buildings as part of the Life Cycle and Circular Construction Committee. This was published for the first time in May 2024 and is intended to contribute to the political goal of making Europe the first climate-neutral and circular economy continent.

In order to approach this goal in the building sector, it is important as a first step to establish measurable parameters for the construction sector in order to be able to compare designs in a targeted manner. The aim is to be able to give preference to circular design variants in order to achieve greater circularity in construction activities and thus increase the availability of resources.

The DGNB’s new circularity index takes into account the current and future contribution to circularity and offers a structured assessment method for buildings. It supports the use of reused and closed-loop recyclable materials, waste and pollutant avoidance to ensure circularity for the future. By introducing an aggregated circularity index, the DGNB creates transparency and provides a common basis for resource-conscious construction.

The index serves as a guide for resource-conscious and environmentally aware construction planning, defines the sustainability properties of materials and products and provides a basis for new steering and funding instruments. It contributes to the completion of data for the development of “urban mines” and motivates the use of digital design and object documentation.

Demolition vs Transformation

A key component for sustainable construction is certainly the preservation of existing buildings. For property portfolio owners, it is very important to be able to estimate whether buildings are future-proof or likely to become stranded assets soon. Based on a research study by the Technical University of Eindhoven evaluating 60 multi-story buildings in the Netherlands, existing buildings can be assessed for their adaptability to avoid demolition. These buildings were examined for their constructional properties to determine which building parameters influence the likelihood of an extended lifespan of the building structure.

EU-Taxonomy and ESG

The EU Taxonomy is a classification system developed as a part of the European Green Deal to define and promote sustainable economic activities. Its main objective is to steer investments towards environmentally friendly and sustainable projects by providing clear criteria for sustainable investments. In the construction sector, the EU Taxonomy has a significant impact on various areas. One of the most important is the promotion of sustainable construction practices. The taxonomy sets detailed criteria for which construction projects are considered environmentally friendly, including energy efficiency, use of renewable energies, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This drives the development and implementation of environmentally friendly technologies and methods in construction industry.

Additionally, the EU Taxonomy influences financing and investments in the construction sector. Projects that meet the taxonomy criteria have better chances of obtaining financing and investments, as banks and investors increasingly use these criteria to evaluate the sustainability of their investments. This leads to increased financing of sustainable construction projects and, overall, to a greener sector. At the same time, the EU Taxonomy sets new regulatory requirements that are forcing construction companies to adapt to higher sustainability standards, necessitating additional investments in research and development as well as in the training of professionals. These regulatory frameworks, coupled with improved transparency and reporting, promote innovations in the construction sector and help make the industry more competitive and future-proof.

De-construction concept

How can demolition measures be carried out in a resource-efficient manner, pollutants disposed of properly during dismantling, and valuable building components recycled, while adhering to legal frameworks?

The Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection, and Environment dedicated itself to this topic in the fourth quarter of 2023 and invited stakeholders to a 3-part expert dialogue titled “Systematic Deconstruction.” Participants included building owners, planners, dismantling and disposal companies, as well as authorities and research institutions.

We at CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN are pleased to be part of this process, as Patrick Teuffel and Frank Seebach contributed their expertise from their many years of experience to the expert dialogue.

The overarching aim of these three expert dialogs is to develop strategies to significantly reduce the current volume of construction waste through waste avoidance, reuse and recycling. Existing structures are to be scrutinized, obstacles removed and materials for practical implementation developed.

All the results were condensed into a practicable guideline for the deconstruction of buildings. This will serve as the basis for making the demolition and disposal concept mandatory in the state building regulations (justified exceptions will be permitted)

The results will be presented at a further event in 2024. All relevant information and results up to this point can be found below:

Guideline for the Demolition of Buildings

Designing the future, Berlin

The Circular Design, Building and Construction Summit took place from October 25 to 26, 2023, at the Motorwerk in Berlin. CIRCULAR STRUCURAL DESIGN was there with representatives from the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg from the Construction Recycling and Ecosoil East working group. Together, we introduced the European research project ReCreate, in which we, along with research partners from Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden, to research and implement possibilities for the load-bearing reuse of precast reinforced concrete elements. At the summit, Drees & Sommer aimed to bring together various visionaries and implementers to collectively shed light on the diverse aspects of these issues – from investors, developers, property owners, urban planners, architects, engineers, craftsmen, politicians, research institutions, and other creative solution providers from the „DACH region“. Over two exciting days, discussions were held on the challenges of developing, planning, and constructing buildings, neighborhoods, cities, and sites, and solutions were sought. We were delighted by the diverse interest shown in the ReCreate project and, at the same time, were inspired by the ideas of other participants.

Heinze Climate Festival

The year 2023 concludes with a highlight for the building industry, the Heinze GmbH Climate Festival. CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN was part of it.

Marlene Schulz and Frank Seebach from CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN, along with Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Angelika Mettke and Jakob Fischer from the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, presented the European research project ReCreate.

Linked with a workshop on November 24, 2023, on the topic: How to create new buildings from salvaged/deconstructed concrete components.

Key points of this workshop included:

Introduction of the ReCreate project
Interactive engagement with three topics:

Opportunities and challenges in building with used concrete components
Norms and standards, new approaches in construction and environmental policy
Influence on the traditional planning process according to HOAI performance phases

The workshop garnered considerable interest, and we look forward to the next steps in 2024!

#circulareconomy #recreate #embodiedcarbon

Helping builders to save embodied energy

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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Patrick Teuffel

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