Ms. Simi Aluko, PhD candidate, Stanford University and lead researcher, Industrialised Construction for Sustainable Development, making a presentation during the workshop held at the AUSTInspire Hub, recently.

The Center for Planning and Design Innovation (CPDI) Africa, in collaboration with the African University of Science & Technology (AUST), Abuja, hosted an Industrialised Construction for Sustainable Development Workshop aimed at exploring how modular and prefabricated construction can be adapted to Nigeria and wider African contexts.

The workshop was led by Simi Aluko, a Stanford University PhD candidate in Civil & Environmental Engineering, whose research examines industrialised construction in developing contexts. The programme brought together architecture, engineering, and construction professionals for a three-day design sprint, combining foundational learning with hands-on prototyping.

CPDI Africa provided the platform for Afrocentric design research and local construction innovation through its Center for Afrocentric Design Advancement (CADA), while AUST served as the host institution and venue. Simi Aluko led the research-driven programme, guiding participants through the development of construction prototypes, pricing, and assembly processes.

The workshop’s intended impact is to build local capacity and demonstrate how industrialised construction can be localized to deliver more affordable, high-quality and sustainable housing, while responding to Africa’s cultural, environmental and construction realities.