In a fast-changing industry and uncertain world, the right mix of stability and innovation is key. Seizing the moment as two such like-minded companies, Rubner Holzbau GmbH in Brixen, Italy and CREE Buildings announce a partnership to lead the green construction revolution in Italy. The strong collaboration will pool resources and jointly overcome industry challenges, with landmark timber-hybrid projects already planned for 2024.
Mutual trust and pioneering spirit
With strong track records, both companies share a similar approach to constructing with sustainability and quality at the forefront. Rubner is a standard-setter in European timber engineering, and CREE is making waves across the world with its timber-hybrid innovation. Crucially, Rubner Italy is also part a family company with a proud tradition – a characteristic they share with CREE and Rhomberg Bau’s four generations of history.
“We are seen as a traditional producer with high-quality results,” says Rubner’s CEO at Brixen site, Peter Rosatti. “With CREE we are adding an innovative approach from one of the few who are evolving the industry – this pioneering spirit is necessary for success.
Hubert Rhomberg, Founder and CEO of CREE, confirms this and underlines the “inherent mutual understanding and common mission” of both parties. He continues: “Rubner bring massive knowledge in timber engineering and large-volume projects in Italy, and by pooling our innovation we can deliver CREE buildings at speed, capacity and quality to the Italian market and beyond.”
Addressing Italy’s construction challenges together
In a rapidly changing sector facing diverse challenges, new approaches are key – and collaboration and pooling of resources give a crucial competitive advantage. High construction costs and labour shortages are concerns in Italy as elsewhere, and CREE rises to these challenges with innovative pre-fabrication methods and emphasis on local production. These efficient and proven processes help minimize risk, offer flexibility, and – an important factor for Rubner – help buildings meet new sustainability criteria.
“Our engineers already follow very high standards, but CREE has the competence to structure processes at very increased levels,” says Peter Rosatti. “In Italy, big companies are looking with interest at this potential to sustainably increase efficiencies through changing approaches to materials and design.”
Rubner is no stranger to innovative collaborations, and their joint-venture approach to executing large buildings was a convincing factor, says CREE’s CTO Rainer Strauch. “Rubner’s license, expertise and engagement can make any building a CREE building,” he says. “They’re an industry leader acknowledged beyond Italy, thus a best practice expert in timber construction who joined the CREE network as an important partner. This increases the legitimacy of the entire network.” Such connected thinking offers the best chance in overcoming challenges.
Customization as standard
For Rubner, what sets CREE apart is its simultaneous standardization and individualization – techniques which are streamlined and rapidly scalable, yet customizing to the precise needs of each project and each market. This is of great interest in Italy, says Rosatti: “International investors, for student houses, hospitals, offices and tourism – they are all waiting for new solutions.” But this comes in the face of cost pressures; a Rubner/CREE collaboration can reduce these costs with standardizations while at the same time increasing quality. This “standard yet customized” approach is precisely what the market needs, confirms Rosatti. The two companies have already worked together, and now set the course for a large number of CREE projects in the coming years.
Ambitious plans ahead
The goal is to already have a significant first project under way in 2024, with several large (>10,000 m2) projects per year going forward. Discussions are already underway for landmark student housing and office projects in Milan, Rome, and other cities.
For Hubert Rhomberg, the addition of Rubner Italy as a partner is a recognition of CREE’s methods and its capacity to deliver worldwide at scale: “If you look at CREE’s mode of operation, you see how the construction industry will look in the next decades. A culture of collaboration is growing, and timber construction using embodied carbon is moving from trend to standard – we are showing the way forward.”
Rubner’s Peter Rosatti is equally optimistic for the years ahead: “Rubner/CREE will now be the first point of contact for an innovative building in Italy,” he says. “It’s a revolution and we have the perfect combination for the Italian market. Forget the constructions methods of yesterday – we have the innovative solution today, for a sustainable tomorrow.”
About Rubner Holzbau GmbH
Forward-looking, high-performance and goal oriented. We set standards in global timber engineering and want to inspire people with our services and get them excited about wood as a building material. More than 500 employees at six locations in Italy, Germany, Austria and France realize the individual visions of our customers together with architects and planners. In doing so, we strive to overcome the limits of the imaginable and to significantly influence developments. Our passion for wood as a material, our comprehensive know-how in the planning of individual solutions and our generous production capacities make us the leading timber construction company in Europe. Your partner for individual projects of any size from the very beginning.
About CREE Buildings
CREE Buildings is an international construction collective for regenerative building solutions. Founded in 2010 by Hubert Rhomberg, CREE Buildings is dedicated to sustainable and healthy buildings using prefabricated timber-based components and has developed the CREE System: proven, reproducible, and constantly evolving solutions for multi-story timber-hybrid buildings. By licensing this unique system, their global network of partners builds smartly and sustainably by sharing knowledge and collaborating through the CREE Platform. From Europe to Asia to North America, together, they are revolutionizing the construction industry.
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