FH Salzburg: New research building Twin²Sim opened on the Kuchl campus
Test building for more sustainability and climate protection in buildings
Salzburg/Kuchl (OTS) – Multifunctional experimental building, laboratory, research project, workplace. In the presence of LH Wilfried Haslauer and numerous guests of honor from politics and business, the new research building “Twin2Sim” was opened today (June 20th, 2022) on the Kuchl campus of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. “Twin2Sim” combines test rooms, facade test benches, measuring devices, a manipulation hall and offers 20 high-quality workplaces for the scientists.
The aim of the research activities in Twin²Sim is to develop solutions for technical building systems, components, building shells and multifunctional facades, to test them in experiments and to further develop them. Thermal, hygric and flow behavior, daylight quality, deformation of components, noise protection and the interaction of the prototypes with the room and the use in the room are examined – all under the real conditions of the environment. This makes the investigations more complex, but also more realistic. The data obtained from hundreds of sensors in both short-term and long-term measurements are collected and mapped in a “digital twin”. This enables the development of models and the simulation on the “Digital Twin” – hence the name “Twin²Sim”.
Twin²Sim is one of the largest research projects that the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences has implemented in its 25-year existence. With the available scientific possibilities, the test building not only corresponds to the current state of the art, but is also built as an energy-efficient, constructive timber construction. Together with the team from LP Architecture an architecturally high-quality wooden building was realized that corresponds to the location in Kuchl.
Investment in application-oriented research
Great support came from the state of Salzburg, which co-financed the project by 50%. governor Wilfried Haslauer: “The Salzburg University of Applied Sciences is an important partner of WISS2025, the state’s science and innovation strategy. Due to the facilities operated here, the Kuchl site is a real hotspot for sustainable material development and thus forms the ideal environment for the new research building. I expect my practical work in close cooperation with the local economy on the cutting edge. Combined with the task of sharing the know-how gained, the business location Salzburg is also strengthened in the long term. The high level of interest shown by many companies from the region is impressive. The Salzburg University of Applied Sciences is thus making a contribution to the expansion of the Kuchl knowledge campus as a competence and transfer center in the field of bioeconomy, alpine building and wood, which is being pushed in the current government program of the state of Salzburg.
FH Managing Director Raimund Ribitsch emphasizes the importance of the investment in the FH research infrastructure: “The total investment volume is 2.2 million euros, probably half each from the state of Salzburg and the FH Salzburg. In addition, we have invested our own funds for equipment, operation and certification. Twin²Sim is thus the largest single investment in research at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. Our big thanks go to the state of Salzburg for the co-financing within the framework of the objectives of WISS2025.” He also refers to the importance of the research project: “We are proud that at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences on globally relevant topics such as sustainability, ecology and digitization pulse of the time is researched. The Salzburg University of Applied Sciences combines expertise and know-how in all of these areas.”
Location strengthening through research
Hans Sharetter, Chairman of the FH Supervisory Board, emphasized the importance of the FH Salzburg as a reliable and innovative partner at the opening: “Research at the FH Salzburg has gained enormous momentum in recent years. The annual research volume now amounts to around 5 million euros. The research volume at the Kuchl site has increased from 750,000 euros to 1.4 million euros in the last 5 years alone and jobs for 30 new research employees have been created. The Twin²Sim project is another milestone in this development and makes a significant contribution to strengthening the site.”
The two FH shareholders – the Chamber of Labor and the Chamber of Commerce – also confirm the importance of knowledge generation and know-how transfer. “Housing and climate protection are key issues for the future. It’s about well-being and a good life – the challenges are great. With “Twin2Sim” in Kuchl, the university of applied sciences is developing into a sustainability research campus in order to better master these challenges,” explains Cornelia Schmidjell, Director of the AK Salzburg. WK Director Manfred Pammer, adds: “The FH location in Kuchl, with a focus on wood, biogenic materials and alpine construction, is indispensable for the Salzburg economy and should be further developed and expanded. Twin²Sim makes a significant contribution to this.”
Research for more sustainability and climate protection
“With Twin²Sim we can gain new insights into how building technology, components, space and people interact,” explains the project manager Michael Grobbauer the goals of the research project. “We can develop and test new components. As a ‘small world’, the test building and test bench are representative of the ‘big world’ of built reality and the investigation of solutions under real conditions. Together with companies, we can now develop new solutions and products to reduce energy requirements, for climate-neutral and comfortable buildings and to improve building performance.”
Knowledge transfer and cooperation
The research building with the planned projects is an incubator for ideas from business and research and a place for collaboration. Business interest was evident even before construction. More than 20 companies have supported the project with contributions in kind. There is great interest in further cooperation with the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences in the non-university and university sectors. The cooperation with companies is an important factor in the research of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and a significant impetus for the initiation of Twin²Sim. A calibration phase is currently taking place on the Twin²Sim. The first trials will start in late autumn 2022; a prototype from the Zentrum Alpines Bauen is expected to be assembled on the test bench in November 2022. Full operation will begin in spring 2023.
More about Twin2Sim: www.fh-salzburg.ac.at/twin2sim
Questions & contact:
University of Applied Sciences Salzburg GmbH
Barbara Zoidl
University Communication & Marketing, Press Officer
0676/847795511
media@fh-salzburg.ac.at
www.fh-salzburg.ac.at