As a part of the professional training of Croatian Chamber of Architects, several free online lectures were held on the topic “How to design according to NZEB guidelines?”.

Online lectures were made in collaboration with Wienerberger, Bojan Milovanović (Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb), Baldini studio and prof. Boris Trogrlić (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy in the city of Split). Read more here.

On the 28th October, BIMzeED participated in the Digitalization Tools for Energy-Efficient Renovation Workshop as part of Sustainable Places 2020. The workshop brought together a selection of EU-funded projects and their experts to talk about digitalisation in Europe and discuss the technical and non-technical challenges they are facing in their development.

The panel discussed the technical and non-technical challenges they are facing in the development of the projects. BIMzeED was delighted to hear from other projects and learn about several opportunities for collaboration with them.

Watch the full workshop video here.

Our Croatian partners are moving in full steam to the testing phase of the recently developed BIMzeED Learning Units. 36 students from the Construction Materials and Theory and Modelling of Structure programme at the University of Zagreb will participate in the piloting programme. They will be involved in the performance evaluation of the Learning Units and they will provide feedback for further improvements in the programme. Read more here.

ITEC - Institut de Tecnologia de la Construcció de Catalunya

ITeC is a non-profit private foundation working in the field of the construction sector since 1978. Our goals as an organization to support innovation are:
(1) The generation and transfer of information and knowledge;
(2) The provision of technological services to improve the competitiveness of the construction sector agents: organizations, companies and professionals;
(3) To be a benchmark institution in terms of information, innovation and sustainability applied to the construction sector.

We are focused on six main activities:
(1) Certification of innovative and non-standardized products;
(2) new methodologies and tools to manage and make decisions during the construction processes;
(3) databases and BIM libraries;
(4) sustainability in construction;
(5) market research;
(6) training activities

ITeC has a strong link with construction industries in Spain. It is a point of reference in the building sector for databases, process management methodologies and for BIM evolution.

UZ-FCE - University of Zagreb, Faculty of Civil Engineering

The Faculty of Civil Engineering of the University of Zagreb is the oldest civil engineering faculty (established in 1919) in Croatia conducting university education at an undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level in all branches of civil engineering. It is continually developing and advancing higher education, scientific research activities and overall education, and actively participates in the development of the profession and implementation of new technologies.

The Faculty of Civil Engineering University of Zagreb (UZ-FCE) provides a significant contribution in developing the learning content and training delivery methodology, as well as the piloting and evaluation of the trainings due to its experience in education of experts in civil engineering through its basic activities in training and lifelong learning. UZ-FCE is focusing on enhancing the importance of the multidisciplinary approach when teaching students (future middle and senior level professionals) in the field of energy efficiency and is also introducing BIM into its curricula. Additionally, UZ-FCE has knowledge of the qualification and/or certification requirements for developing different trainings and courses as it develops didactical material for engineers and architects, installers, and workers. Furthermore, UZ-FCE contributes to enhancing the general image of the construction sector: it is working intensively on improving market recognition of skills in the building sector through their participation in the work of numerous professional organisations and technical committees as well as professional conferences, together with publishing numerous professional and scientific papers. Through numerous projects, UZ-FCE has proven its capacity to involve different stakeholders and to organize national events discussing specific topics.

The NextGenerationEU: Green, digital and more resilient

In the 2020 State of the Union (#SOTEU), President Von der Leyen delivered the NextGenerationEU plans for the European Union. In her statement, she reaffirmed the Commission’s plan to pursue and strengthen the Green Deal objectives in order to make Europe   become green, digital and more resilient. 

In the announcement, the president declared that Europe will increase the reduction target for the greenhouse emission. The expected 40% reduction in 2030 was raised to 55% compared to 1990 levels. This was a clear message for the design and construction sector, buildings need to be “less wasteful, less expensive and more sustainable” in their life cycle, as they account for 40% of the emission. The NextGenerationEU is a “kickstart in the European renovation wave to make the Union a leader in the circular economy”, according to President Von der Leyen.

The “Europe’s Digital Decade”. This is how Mrs. Ursula Von der Leyen addresses the digital Europe plans for 2030, highlighting upskilling professionals and worker as one of the priorities.

The BIMzeED project fulfills the NextGenerationEU plans by developing 12 Learning Units on the topic of BIM and Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB). This unique programme will prepare professionals and students to design and build spaces that are less costly and more sustainable for the future generations by providing knowledge and skills required by the professional market.