Publications
See full list of publications by BRE CICM members.BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials (BRE CICM)
The BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials (BRE CICM) conducts leading research, development and consultancy in the field of innovative and sustainable construction materials and technologies.
The Centre is leading the way in researching solutions to the environmental impacts of construction and infrastructure. Developing the use of radical, low-carbon building materials and reinforcement technologies for the construction industry, the Centre is assisting in reducing the UK’s eco footprint - vital to mitigate the projected doubling of cement-based CO2 emissions by 2050.
Research activities
The research interests and activities of the Centre fall into the following broad definitions:
- Advanced composites
- Concrete structures and technology
- Low carbon and traditional materials
- Structural masonry
- Timber materials and engineering
BaleHaus: prefabricated straw bale construction
BaleHaus is a project exploring the construction of homes using straw bale, an ideal material for environmentally friendly construction due to its renewable nature. A two-storey BaleHaus was constructed on campus using ‘ModCell’ – a system that utilises straw bale to form prefabricated panels. The BaleHaus was officially opened by Kevin McCloud in 2009.
EuroCell is a EACI Eco-Innovation funded project conducting research to support certification of modcell panels.
FIBCEM
With consortium partners across the EU we are utilising nanotechnology to develop a new fibre cementitious composite for building applications. For more details see the FIBCEM project page.
Low impact materials network
BRE CICM hosted the low impact materials network LimesNet. Our aim was to develop a multi-disciplinary network for 12 monthsto develop innovative low impact materials and solutions in ground and structural engineering.
Further details
Academic staff
- Martin Ansell (Deputy Director)
- Richard Ball
- Kevin Briggs
- Wen-Shao Chang
- Antony Darby
- Mark Evernden
- Enrico Fodde
- Richard Harris
- Andrew Heath
- Tim Ibell
- Mike Lawrence
- Paul McCombie
- Kevin Paine
- Andy Shea
- Pete Walker (Director)
Associated staff
Visiting staff
- Peter Bonfield
- Julie Bregulla
- Steve Denton
- Paul Livesey
- Tim Mander
- Ian Pritchett
- Judith Sykes
- Tim Yates
Research staff
- Juliana Holley
- Abdelghani Meslem
- Andrew Thomson
Graduate students
- Kofi Abora
- Mohammod Abu Saleh
- Glavije Amirjamshidi
- Hector Archila-Santos
- Alistair Bradley
- Daniel Brandon
- Rachel Coonan
- Bengt Cousins-Jenvey
- Eleni Dimitriadou
- Eugene Duffy
- Sarah Ellis
- Peter Gates
- Ellen Grist
- Monika Grusova
- Mark Hang Hu
- Eddy Hirst
- Neal Holcroft
- Puxi Huang
- Philip Isaac
- Kunal Kansara
- Stella Kioy
- Kaloyana Kostova
- Daniel Maskell
- Fionn McGregor
- Ian Molesworth
- Manuel Nuño
- Styliani Papatzani
- Hannah Pearson
- Giovanni Pesce
- Poomchai Punpairoj
- Thomas Reynolds
- Adlin Muhammad Roseley
- Yanan Shi
- Jonathan Skinner
- Abbas Tajaddini
- Junzhe Wang
- Laura Warren
- Natasha Watson
- Adamantia Zografou
Scholarships
We welcome graduates with a First Class or 2:1 Honours degree who wish to study for a PhD.
For University Research Scholarships, apply by 31 December for studies beginning in October the following year.
Further information on applying for research study can be found on our Graduate School website.
- Purpose-built structures laboratory
- Geotechnical laboratory
- Rammed Earth and ‘eco' materials research laboratory
- Concrete preparation laboratory
- Fluids laboratory
- Timber preparation and timber research laboratory
- Environmental chambers
- Thermal conductivity testing
- Analytical facilities including caloritometry, SEM, TGA)
- DVS
Many of our projects involve collaboration with industrial partners. We are currently working with:
- Arup
- Atkins
- BRE
- Buro Happold
- Clayworks
- Engineers without borders
- Expedition Engineering
- Ibstock Brick
- Integral Engineering Design
- Institution of Civil Engineers
- Lafarge
- Lhoist Research and Development
- Lime Technology Ltd
- ModCell Ltd
- Network Rail
- Parsons Brinkerhoff
- Ramboll
- Rotafix Ltd
- Singleton Birch
- Ty-Mawr Lime
- White Design Associates.
We welcome new approaches from organisations seeking to develop work on innovative construction materials.
