flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Lab-grown bricks offer potential low-carbon building material

Lab-grown bricks offer potential low-carbon building material

Prototype uses bacteria to grow a brick in a mold.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | September 30, 2022
Grow Bricks
Courtesy Pexels.

A team of students at the University of Waterloo in Canada have developed a process to grow bricks using bacteria.

The process, which works at room temperature, offers a new low-carbon way to fabricate bricks. The brick-growing process starts by introducing bacteria to a nutrient broth.

Recycled sand or demolition waste can be mixed in to create the Bio-Brick. The result is a product that is as strong and affordable as bricks traditionally used in construction sites today and can easily be grown onsite for any project, the product’s developers say.

The technology, still in the prototype phase, was named a runner-up for the James Dyson Award.
 

Related Stories

| Jun 1, 2012

AIA 2030 Commitment Program reports new results

The full report contains participating firm demographics, energy reduction initiatives undertaken by firms, anecdotal accounts, and lessons learned.

| Jun 1, 2012

Robert Wilson joins SmithGroupJJR

Wilson makes the move to SmithGroupJJR from VOA Associates, Inc., where he served as a senior vice president and technical director in its Chicago office.

| Jun 1, 2012

Gilbane Building's Sue Klawans promoted

Industry veteran tasked with boosting project efficiency and driving customer satisfaction, to direct operational excellence efforts.

| Jun 1, 2012

Ground broken for Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus

Children’s Hospital Colorado expects to host nearly 80,000 patient visits at the South Campus during its first year.

| Jun 1, 2012

K-State Olathe Innovation Campus receives LEED Silver

Aspects of the design included a curtain wall and punched openings allowing natural light deep into the building, regional materials were used, which minimized the need for heavy hauling, and much of the final material included pre and post-consumer recycled content.

| Jun 1, 2012

New York City Department of Buildings approves 3D BIM site safety plans

3D BIM site safety plans enable building inspectors to take virtual tours of construction projects and review them in real-time on site.

| May 31, 2012

Product Solutions June 2012

Curing agents; commercial faucets; wall-cladding systems.

| May 31, 2012

8 steps to a successful BIM marketing program

It's not enough to have BIM capability--you have to know how to sell your BIM expertise to clients and prospects.

| May 31, 2012

3 Metal Roofing Case Studies Illustrate Benefits

Metal roofing systems offer values such as longevity, favorable life cycle costs, and heightened aesthetic appeal.

| May 31, 2012

AIA Course: High-Efficiency Plumbing Systems for Commercial and Institutional Buildings

Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021