As compact as reinforced concrete, but more sustainable [Int]Friday 25 Sep 2026
The demonstrator, which was tested in June as part of the Future Cleantech Festival in Remscheid, showcases “UniversalTimberSlab” – the first point-supported timber-concrete composite flat slab for two-way long spans. “With the UniversalTimberSlab, we aim to make multi-story timber-concrete composite construction significantly more flexible, performative, and adaptable. The demonstrator is the result of several years of research at the University of Stuttgart and is based on innovative digital design and manufacturing methods,” says Professor Achim Menges, director of the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD). A timber-concrete composite flat slab for multi-story mixed-use buildings “UniversalTimberSlab” is as slender and performative as a reinforced concrete slab, but significantly more sustainable. This system largely relies on wood, a renewable resource, material-efficient construction, and circular design. Compared to conventional post-and-beam timber floor slab systems, which require deep beams for larger two-way spans, the compact “UniversalTimberSlab” reduces the structural height by 30 to 70 centimeters – a significant cost advantage: With the same floor-to-ceiling height, a building can accommodate more stories, and the facade area is reduced by up to 20 percent. “UniversalTimberSlab” also sets entirely new standards for design possibilities in timber construction. The structural system is based on point supports, meaning that the building loads are transferred through columns that can be spaced relatively far apart. Load-bearing partition walls are not required; walls can be arranged freely as needed. In mixed-use buildings, this allows for flexible layouts tailored to retail, dining, offices, and residential spaces. In addition, floor plans can be easily reconfigured at a later date, if the building is to be repurposed. The novel floor slab could thus help promote the further spread of timber construction in inner-city areas. The game-changers: new slab segmentation, digital design methods In timber construction, larger slabs are divided into individual prefabricated elements. The principle is based on a new, patent-pending segmentation method. Glued-laminated timber segments with straight laminations that are easy to prefabricate ensure cost efficiency. The fibers in the floor slab are arranged to follow the force flow to optimize the system's load-bearing capacity. The project also developed new digital design methods for timber buildings: During the planning phase, AI-powered tools generate detailed models for numerous floor plan and building variations and assist with design optimization. For example, if a planner moves a column, the impact of that action on costs, slab height, and sustainability can be immediately shown. More >> Source & image credit: University of Stuttgart  | ||
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