Constructing a more efficient future

Innovations from the construction industry to deliver a range of government targets including housing, infrastructure and energy efficiency will be discussed, debated and displayed at Ecobuild 2016.

The UK’s largest show dedicated to construction and energy will provide public sector visitors with access to the very latest, invaluable industry insights and projections relating to all aspects of the construction sector through a mix of a high-level conference, CPD‑accredited learning hubs and more than 800 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of new products, materials, solutions and services.

Attracting more than 40,000 industry professionals from across the whole supply chain each year, Ecobuild is the leading exhibition and conference for the UK construction and energy market. It attracts a broad range of visitors from architects to local authorities, and developers to energy assessors.

The 2016 event will see an evolved proposition for the event to focus on areas of industry growth and market priorities such as housing, infrastructure, next generation innovation, technology and people.

Dedicated days to Homes, Architecture and Next Generation
Ecobuild 2016’s high-level conference is split into three daily streams. The first day’s stream of Homes explores the most pressing, divisive and important decisions that the industry must take to deliver comfortable, sustainable, resilient places and homes. What do new‑build and retrofitted homes and communities need to deliver, and at what cost?

Chaired by broadcaster Cathy Newman, speakers include Tony Pidgley, chairman of Berkeley Group; David Sheridan, chief executive of Keepmoat, and Rowan Moore, architecture critic for the Observer. All three will provide a unique and inspiring look at what makes good housing.

The second day focuses on Architecture and looks at the changing role of the architect, the importance of architecture across the built environment, the need for change and some of the most interesting and inspiring architectural projects.

Speakers include Sadie Morgan, founder of dRMM and chair of the HS2 Design Panel, Simon Allford of Sterling Prize winners AHMM, Xavier de Kestelier of Foster & Partners, and writer, journalist, essayist and film-maker, Jonathan Meades.

The Next Generation day looks to the future: how smart technology, changing demographics and wellness will drive design and construction in the future as well as how to address the skills gap and attract young talent to the industry. Ecobuild’s most exploratory, provocative and inspiring day – it is a must for all those with an interest in ‘what’s next’.

Among the speakers, David Hancock, head of Construction, UK Cabinet Office will talk about how to inspire talent and nurture the next generation of skills while Richard Francis, prinicipal, The Monomoy Company will deliver a speech entitled ‘What’s good for the next generation of buildings?’

Each stream will include input from the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC), Ecobuild’s lead partner for 2016, which will be addressing the future of the built environment. Following the agreement of a new global deal at the recent climate conference in Paris, UK-GBC will be explaining the role the private sector can play in helping ensure the pledges made are delivered. 

UK-GBC Chief Executive Julie Hirigoyen will pose five future challenges for the construction industry on each of the three conference days to a panel of industry leaders and future leaders, inviting them to respond with practical ideas on delivery. UK-GBC will also provide more bite‑sized content at the UK-GBC Lounge.

Expanding horizons
Ecobuild is working with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to help businesses expand their reach by fostering connections with customers in international markets. UKTI are bringing 12 international trade advisers and five international buyers (from Brazil to the UAE) to Ecobuild 2016 who will available for one-to-one meetings with UK companies interested in growing internationally or expanding into new markets.

These experts will provide visitors with a solid understanding of how international agreements work and how UK businesses can benefit from expanding their horizons. Enterprise Europe Network will also be on hand at Ecobuild 2016 to help SMEs make the most of business opportunities in the EU and beyond. The Network is organising a structured B2B matchmaking event on the second day of the show to create new business development opportunities between exhibitors and visitors.

Essential educational offering
Ecobuild 2016 will also feature six CPD-accredited learning hubs; Building Performance, Design, Energy, #buildcircular, Infrastructure Revolution and Digital Building. A highly-provoking seminar programme, it will provide visitors and exhibitors with the know‑how to do their jobs better and the business case to help them make more informed decisions to address these challenges.

The programme will be delivered by industry leading figures and organisations including Architype, Glenn Howells Architects, Marks & Spencer, British Land, Jones Lang LaSalle, BRE, ICE, Zero Carbon Hub and Willmott Dixon Energy Services.

The Big Innovation Pitch
Discover is another stand of the show that will showcase a number of exciting features and will set to be the social hub of the show. This attraction will bring a number of events such as The Ecobuild Innovation Pitch, the AYA awards and the Discover bar which for the first time is being designed by students from the Bartlett School of Architecture.

Following last year’s great success, Ecobuild’s Big Innovation Pitch is back for its second edition. The pitch will continue to unearth innovation across the design, construction, energy and engineering sectors. It is a great opportunity to have your product or solution considered, and if chosen, to potentially be trialled by M&S and become established as one of the leading innovators within your industry.

Entrants to the Big Innovation Pitch will get their work seen by the M&S judging panel, who will then select a shortlist of 12 to proceed to the second stage, but 20 entrants will be invited to have their work displayed at Ecobuild. The shortlisted will be invited to meet the judging panel and pitch their products directly. The finalists will be given the exclusive opportunity to present their product to the industry, in a conference session hosted by Countdown’s Rachel Riley. The judges will select and announce the winner at the show.

Ecobuild has announced the creation of a major new destination as part of its 2016 show, a feature that will be designed by students from the Bartlett School of Architecture. The Discover Bar will be a key social area for the show, facilitating networking and meetings. It will also be home to a display of ingenious materials which are coming to the construction industry to meet future needs.

In line with Ecobuild’s focus on design and next generation, a competition is being staged, in conjunction with stand sponsor Medite-SmartPly, to create the Discover Bar. The competition will challenge students from renowned architecture school The Bartlett to create a highly engaging design for the area which will make it a distinctive oasis within the busy exhibition floor, honing their design skills in a real life application whilst providing exposure for their work.

The winning design for Discover will maximise the use of sustainable materials, including Medite MDF and SmartPly OSB, in line with Ecobuild’s goals to ensure that the show minimises environmental impact. The architectural students will also have to show how materials used will be disposed of after the show as part of their submissions.

In addition to being the show’s social hub, all shortlisted entries across 13 categories of the BD Architect of the Year will be displayed within Discover, before the winners are announced on the evening of Ecobuild’s Architecture day.

Increasing resource efficiency
Resource is a show that is collocated with Ecobuild. It is devoted to increasing resource efficiency across all aspects of the construction industry and beyond. Resource is unique in its focus and scale, being the largest learning and networking opportunity for businesses and public sector bodies looking to reduce waste and reuse materials, recovering value from what was traditionally ‘waste’.

Resource brings experts from across the sector together in one place, providing a wide range of thought-provoking content for all construction professionals; from designers and manufacturers to retailers, recyclers and local authorities.

The newly introduced #buildcircular theatre acts as the learning, innovation and networking hub for those interested to explore which circular economy principles could and should be adopted in the built environment, from building design, materials lifecycle thinking and construction through to intelligent demolition.

#thinkcircular, the main stage debate of Resource, will examine practical, achievable, economically viable ways to adopt circular economy models. The largest and most comprehensive event of its kind, it is the global epicentre of learning and debate – a unique opportunity to further strategy and approach to resource efficiency that will generate new revenue and reduce the costs of waste.

Reflecting the construction industry, Ecobuild is constantly evolving; ensuring that it continues to provide relevant, dynamic content and create opportunities to make new connections.

Public sector visitors will find a wealth of specialist support and solutions – and much more besides – at Ecobuild 2016.

Ecobuild 2016 is co-located with Resource, the leading resource efficiency event, from 8-10 March at London’s ExCeL.

Further Information
www.ecobuild.co.uk