Off-site Construction Research Centre

UNB OCRC Innovator: Jose Daniel Cuellar Lobo unveils the extraordinary journey of a research adventurer in off-site construction

OCRC

Posted: May 26, 2023

Category: Student spotlight



Calling all adventurers and seekers of the extraordinary! Prepare to embark on an awe-inspiring expedition that will transport you to the very frontiers of innovation and discovery. We indulge in a conversation with Jose Daniel Cuellar Lobo, a past student researcher at the OCRC and a research and data analyst at the City of Edmonton, to talk about his journey in off-site construction. What...

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Revolutionizing construction: How Digital Twin technology is taking projects to the next level

OCRC

Posted: May 11, 2023

Category: Off-site Construction



Are you ready to take your construction projects to the next level? Then you need to know about Digital Twin technology – a game-changing innovation that's revolutionizing the industry. In this blog, we'll dive into Digital Twin technology and explore its impact on construction. So, what exactly is Digital Twin technology? Simply put, it's a virtual replica of a physical asset such as a...

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Offsite Insights with Craig Mitchell, Modular and Offsite Construction Consultant, BlackBox Offsite Solutions

OCRC

Posted: Apr 27, 2023

Category: Offsite insights



Craig Mitchell is an experienced modular building professional and a graduate of both the University of British Columbia (UBC) and of British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Craig has been a part of the construction industry for almost 30 years, with 24 years of them being devoted to the modular building sector. For the past ten years, he has been a key member of several senior...

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World of Modular Convention and Tradeshow through the lens of the OCRC

OCRC

Posted: Apr 12, 2023

Category: Events



About the conference The Modular Building Institute's (MBI) World of Modular Convention & Tradeshow is a premier annual event that brings together industry experts, architects, engineers and construction professionals from around the world. The 2023 convention provided its 1500 attendees with insights into the latest trends, innovations and best practices in the field. The convention features a...

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UNB OCRC Innovator: Shahrnaz Ardalani is innovating in building information modelling and digital tech in off-site construction

OCRC

Posted: Mar 28, 2023

Category: Student spotlight



Meet Shahrnaz Ardalani, who joined the OCRC in pursuit of her MScE in Construction Engineering and Management in 2020. Her research under the supervision of Dr. Zhen Lei and Dr. Jeff Rankin revolved around building information modelling and the application of digital technologies in off-site construction. We asked Shahrnaz to talk about her passion for off-site construction and her experience...

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Fund your research project idea

OCRC

Posted: Mar 13, 2023

Category: Research



Four years ago, the UNB Off-site Construction Research Centre (OCRC) was created with the purpose of using the triple helix model of academia-industry-government collaboration to complete the mission of accelerating construction innovation through the improvement and adoption of off-site construction technologies and practices. Since the OCRC’s inception, the centre has been fortunate to...

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Happy International Women’s Day!

OCRC

Posted: Mar 8, 2023

Category: Events



On March 8, we celebrate the valuable contributions of women. In particular, we want to bring attention to the female researchers on our team who make the OCRC possible. Samira Rizaee | Research Engineer, UNB-OCRC, PhD, MSc, P.Eng Samira came to Canada as an international student to pursue her graduate studies more than 10 years ago and faced challenges such as language barrier, cultural...

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Precast concrete construction benefits, challenges and innovative solutions

Samira Rizaee

Posted: Feb 27, 2023

Category: Events



In precast concrete construction, reinforced or prestressed concrete components such as beams, columns, slabs, stairs, etc. are built off-site in a factory and erected at a construction site in matter of days or weeks. This method reduces construction assembly time by maximizing the amount of work done in the factory. In addition, it facilitates curing of concrete in a controlled...

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Brandon Searle Recognized as Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction

OCRC

Posted: Dec 8, 2022

Category: Awards



Brandon Searle, Director of Innovation and Operations, UNB OCRC, was recently named as one of the top young Canadian construction professionals in the third edition of On-site Magazine and SitePartners' "Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction." The list recognizes innovators and professionals who have a vision, not just for their organization but to leave an impact on the industry. Brandon is...

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Zhen Lei takes home the Innovation in Research and Academia Award

OCRC

Posted: Nov 17, 2022

Category: Awards



Zhen Lei, OSCO research chair, OCRC scientific director and assistant professor at UNB’s department of civil engineering, took home the Innovation in Research and Academia award at the inaugural InnovateNB awards. Zhen’s contribution to research on issues that have dominated the construction sector for years, including stagnant productivity, carbon emissions, and material waste,...

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