Teaching through research aims to promote R&D activities and innovation around products, materials and techniques for sustainable construction.

Conventional R&D approaches are no longer sufficient to meet the challenges and emergencies facing the construction industry. Accelerating innovation and proposing concrete solutions, based on academic knowledge and expertise, are at the heart of the BUILDERS Lab Research Unit's approach.

BUILDERS Ecole d'Ingénieurs has a 'BUILDERS Lab' Research Unit with high-level skills in key areas linked to the National Low Carbon Strategy (SNBC) and the RE2020: development of low-carbon constructions and materials, bio-sourced materials, circular economy, building thermics and energy, materials to combat heat islands....

For all inquiries, please contact: 

• Nassim SEBAIBI, Research Unit Manager: nassim.sebaibi@builders-ingenieurs.fr / 02 79 64 01 74
• Aurélie GERAULT, Deputy of Research Unit Manager: aurelie.gerault@builders-ingenieurs.fr / 02 31 46 22 97

Cluster 1: Innovative multiphase materials

This theme focuses on the rheological and mechanical behavior of materials and granular media, the microstructure and physico-chemical interactions of materials with their environments, and the large-scale real-life application of construction elements.

The associated technical platforms are as follows:

• Plat. D2 - Geotechnics and soil mechanics 
• Plat. D3 - Chemistry of materials 
• Plat. D5 - Forming and prototyping 

Cluster 2: Mechanisms of material transfer and degradation

This theme is based on the study of the chemical reactivity, physical properties and durability of materials under severe conditions, the thermo-hydric behavior of materials and structures, and mass and heat transfer in materials.

The associated technical platforms are as follows

• Plat. D1: Thermal, energy, analytical and microstructural testing 
• Plat. D4: Durability of materials 
• Plat. D7: Climatic chambers

Cluster 3: Short- and Long-Term Behavior and Aging of Materials and Structures

This cluster focuses on the static and dynamic behavior of materials*, deferred deformation of materials or structures (drying, shrinkage, creep) and imaging analysis.

The associated technical platform is as follows

• Plat. D6: Mechanics of materials and structures 

Cluster 4: Adapting buildings to climate change

This cluster focuses on the renovation and intelligent rehabilitation of buildings, the analysis and management of connected building data, the environmental management of buildings, BIM and digital twins, life cycle analysis and construction 4.0.

The associated technical facility is Facility D7 at the BUILDERS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes site.

Cluster 5: Resilience of Marine and Coastal Infrastructure

This cluster focuses on the interactions between waves, structures, and marine sediments to eco-design infrastructure and define strategies for reinforcement in the event of failure, as well as mitigation strategies to limit coastal risks. Tests may be numerical or physical.

The associated technical facility is as follows:

• Plat. D8: Maritime and Coastal Infrastructure 

The 3 cross-functional axes linking the clusters are as follows:

• Axis E1: Materials and Resources for Sustainable Construction 

• Axis E2: BEPOS Buildings and Occupant Comfort

• Axis E3: Multi-scale and Numerical Modeling 

Human resources

The Research Unit comprises a manager, a deputy manager, 2 cluster coordinators, lecturers at BUILDERS Caen and BUILDERS Lyon, a R&D technician, a R&D engineer, a collaborative project management unit, post-docs and PhD students.