School of Architecture

The construction sector is one of the largest consumers of materials and a significant producer of solid waste (construction debris and waste). According to statistics, it is estimated that 40% of materials are consumed in the construction sector. Additionally, current trends in increasing productivity, alongside urbanization growth, present a challenge in meeting the rising demand for housing. It is projected that over the next 40 years, 230 billion square meters of construction will be required globally. Consequently, the environmental impact of construction activities and the operation of built environments is substantial, both globally and in Iran.
Despite growing awareness regarding life cycle assessment (LCA) of buildings, the expertise and practical knowledge for its implementation remain limited. This limitation has prevented the substantial potential of LCA methodologies from being fully utilized for decarbonizing the construction sector. The goal of this research is to shift this perspective by evaluating the environmental impacts of a building—specifically carbon dioxide emissions—from the extraction of materials to the operational phase and beyond. It aims to propose an environmentally and economically optimized construction system.
This study focuses on a practical goal, conducting an integrated life cycle assessment of small-scale buildings by comparing conventional construction methods with 3D concrete printing technology. Through this comparative analysis, the study seeks to evaluate small-scale construction systems in terms of energy consumption, environmental impacts, and the economic feasibility of energy performance versus the advanced 3D printing technology.