Press release: FP Circular Construction
Pioneering project for circular construction launched in basic vocational training
Olten, 26 June 2024 – With the ‘Future Perfect Circular Construction’ project, the Future Perfect association has launched a pioneering initiative to integrate the circular economy into basic vocational training in spatial and construction planning. With Future Perfect overseeing the overall project management, the initiative is being implemented as part of a consortium comprising the professional association Plavenir, Constructa (the association of teachers in draughtsman-related professions) and the educational publishers LernMedien-Architektur GmbH. Future Perfect Circular Construction equips learners with skills relating to the reuse and recycling of materials and building components in the construction industry. To this end, Future Perfect provides digital courses, delivers teacher training and runs workshops as part of inter-company training programmes. The pilot phase is scheduled for the spring term of 2025. Following the pilot phase, the ‘Future Perfect Circular Construction’ programmes will be available to schools from the autumn term of 2025.
The circular economy as the key to sustainable construction
The construction industry is one of the most resource-intensive sectors in Switzerland: every year, around 62 million tonnes of materials are consumed and 74 million tonnes of waste are generated. Significant CO₂ savings can be achieved through the reuse and recycling of existing infrastructure or parts thereof. New buildings must be constructed using resources as sustainably as possible and in an efficient manner, ensuring they can be used in a modular way and dismantled. This minimises resource consumption both now and in the future, which not only brings environmental benefits but also makes economic sense in the medium and long term. The “Future Perfect Circular Construction” project aims to embed these principles at an early stage in the training of construction and spatial planning professions, thereby equipping future architects and engineers with key skills for sustainable construction.
Target groups
The project is primarily aimed at students and teachers in the fields of spatial and construction planning, particularly in the disciplines of architecture and civil engineering. However, it also addresses other professions within the construction sector that relate to planning aspects. The project is broadly supported through collaboration with key industry stakeholders, in particular the associations Plavenir and Constructa, as well as numerous application and knowledge partners.
Extensive training and professional development opportunities
Over the next three years, Future Perfect will develop and implement various professional development measures and digital learning programmes:
Continuing professional development for teachers: Teachers will be introduced to circular construction through full-day training sessions and will learn how to use Future Perfect.
Digital courses for basic education: Various digital courses will be developed and offered on the fundamentals of circular construction, the life cycle assessment of buildings, reuse, and building with natural raw materials such as timber and clay; learners will also be able to use these for self-study.
Workshops for inter-company courses: In a simulation exercise, learners weigh up the use of new and second-hand building components against one another, taking into account price, availability and environmental considerations.
Project work and project competitions: Learners apply their skills to real-world examples through project work and can take part in future project competitions where aspects of the circular economy are also assessed.
Funding
The project is made possible by financial support from the Minerva Foundation and the Federal Office for the Environment.