Global Honor UP’s Circular Construction Triumph

Dr Johann van der Merwe in the Department Civil Engineering at the University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria has received international recognition through the 2023 Quanser Sustainability Award, which was granted to Dr. Calayde Davey from the Department of Architecture and Dr. Johann van der Merwe from the Department of Civil Engineering. Their winning project, titled “Transdisciplinary Education for Circularity in Construction – Leveraging Building Information Modelling for Material Reuse,” focuses on transforming traditional practices in construction education.
The project, situated in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment, and IT, is pioneering a transdisciplinary mindset among students and academics involved in various stages of construction projects. This innovative approach earned the Quanser Global Sustainability Award for its impact, scalability, and sustainability, making it the sole shortlisted project from Africa.
Addressing global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and waste and pollution, the Quanser Sustainability Award aims to promote a circular economy. The winning project specifically targets circular construction by leveraging Building Information Modelling for the reuse of building materials, with a focus on the Global South.
Dr. Johann van der Merwe emphasizes the significant impact of the global construction industry on greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion. The project proposes a circular value chain for building materials, aiming to reduce emissions, dependence on raw materials, and wasteful practices. The initiative challenges the conventional approach by redefining waste as a valuable source of physical material.
Collaboration is identified as a key factor in achieving success in construction projects. Van der Merwe stresses the importance of early collaboration among architects, engineers, landowners, consultants, and users. The collaboration between the Department of Architecture and the Department of Civil Engineering in this project showcases the potential of digital twinning in supporting research into circular construction and material reuse.

Dr Calayde Davey of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Architecture
Dr. Calayde Davey highlights the role of digital twinning in providing a collaborative, data-driven platform for research and experimentation. The success of their transdisciplinary training model lies in leveraging existing resources to incorporate circularity and transdisciplinary thinking into traditional built environment education. The initiative focuses on students’ professional development and fosters collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
The project’s impact extends beyond the classroom, preparing graduate architects and structural engineers for collaborative efforts in the industry. The scalability of the approach, aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, positions it as a catalyst for transformative change within the built environment. The ultimate vision is to create transdisciplinary classrooms that bring about enduring transformation by nurturing well-rounded professionals capable of navigating complexity and collaborating seamlessly across disciplines.