OCRC research excellence

Mission: Accelerating construction innovation through the improvement and adoption of off-site construction technologies and practices

Vision: To be the Canadian leader in off-site construction knowledge creation and mobilization

Areas of research

Building envelope testing (air and water infiltration, pressure testing, structural and impact tests)
Characterization of mechanical material properties for building materials
Finite element analysis
Monitoring of structure and material response with digital image correlation
Structural analysis
Structural component testing under flexure, shear, axial and other loading
UNB Building Enclosure Lab (BEL)
Use of additive manufacturing in off-site construction

Assessment: process mapping, flow charts, process charts, activity diagrams, material movement mapping and modelling
Measurement: time studies, video capture
Analysis: crew balance charts, productivity ratings, labour utilization factors, cycle charts, identification of non-value add work improvement initiatives, plant layout optimization

Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) principles to promote efficiency and sustainability in off-site construction methods.
Promotion and knowledge mobilization of off-site construction and prefabrication methods to reduce waste and minimize environmental impact.
Sustainable material and component reuse strategies in off-site construction.
Sustainable building design and structural performance considerations in off-site construction practices.
Circular economy principles and life cycle frameworks in off-site construction for sustainable building development.
Exploration of sustainable applications of off-site construction techniques, such as modularization and standardization.

Values:

Industry-relevant: we were created to be, and are committed to remain, relevant to industry
Collaboration: we seek every opportunity to increase our impact through collaboration
Excellence: everything we do is carried out to high academic standards to ensure validity, reliability and authenticity
Integrity: our actions and interactions are guided by strong moral and ethical principles, including equity, diversity, inclusion and truth and reconciliation

Our goal is to advance off-site construction knowledge through research and innovation

We aim to provide access to knowledge that inspires innovative off-site construction applications

We strive to achieve exceptional governance, leadership and operational management