RESEARCH _____________________________________________________________________________

Pacific Northwest Center for Construction Research and Education:

Support from the local construction industry in the Pacific Northwest is making possible the development of this exciting new space!   This 25,000 SF Research Center includes the following laboratories: Virtual Construction, Methods and Materials, and Education, as well as Flex space.

First Floor          Second Floor          Cross Section

The Virtual Construction Lab (rendering) focuses on research in modeling, simulation, and visualization.  It houses a 1,200 SF Holosuite and a giant 120 degrees projection screen (30’ x 15’) for virtual and augmented reality applications. This lab is being developed in collaboration with UW’s Human Interface Technology Laboratory.

The Methods and Materials Lab (rendering) focuses on productivity, safety, and health studies.  It incorporates two primary components: a large high bay space in which construction systems can be used to work on specified building components or materials using standard or innovative techniques, and an integrated high-speed data acquisition system to capture multiple-feed digital video and instrument signals using high speed wireless telemetry.  This space is being developed in collaboration with UW’s Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Department. 

The Education Lab (rendering 1 and rendering 2)investigates different pedagogical approaches related to construction education.  It houses a two-way teleconferencing classroom with experimental tele-observation and tele-operation capabilities.  It also incorporates a state-of-the-art digital video production facility to create a variety of educational materials.  This lab is being developed in partnership with UW’s College of Education. 

Finally, the Flex space provides flexibility to explore other topics on a project by project basis.