ETH Zürich - Departement Architektur, Jahrbuch 2000, Institute of Building Technology (HBT)

The Institute of Building Technology (HBT) deals with the scientific, technical and economical aspects of buildings. It is therefore concerned with the sustainability of the construction process and relates the design process and the history of architecture and art to the reality of construction.

The Chairs of Building Structures and of Building Physics teach the fundamentals of sustainability in the choice of materials and of energy optimization in the design of a comfortable building. The Chair of Building Services deals with the optimal satisfaction of the remaining needs for energy and media, while the Chair of Architecture and Building Management deals with the optimal management of the planning and construction process. A facility for information and documentation is the source for necessary data on all kinds of building products and their application. It also has an extensive library.

All partners of the hbt focus on the most fundamental principles in their field and, by means of exercises and co-advised semester projects, on the communication of these principles to students in such a way that this knowledge flows organically into the design process. Furthermore, the institute also offers an overview of more profound, specialized knowledge to provide the students with the skills to communicate competently with various specialists. Modern teaching technologies from computer based simulations to real life demonstrations, all adapted to the specific needs of the field, support the primary coursework.

Research work varies among the different disciplinary fields, from very application oriented research that is quickly implemented in practice to more fundamental research of longer duration but with more far-reaching consequences for practice. Most projects are competed by multidisciplinary groups: architects, civil engineers, physicists etc. Many specific projects have been completed in collaboration with industry, yielding valuable results. The research funds consist of:

Direct funding by industry and government institutions;

Funds from the Commission for Innovation and Technology, matched by private industry;

The Swiss National Foundation for the Advancement of Science;

The Research Fund of the ETHZ.

In post-graduate courses, public events and lectures, etc., the research results are transposed directly to practice.

Prof. Dr. Bruno Keller
Head of the Institute

The Institute of Building Technology in Numbers:

4 regular chairs
7 lecturers
8 senior researchers
30 assistants
6 PhD students
4 secretaries (part time)
tutor about 300 students of architecture in four fields;
work on 16 research projects.

Positions:
Total: 44,75 positions,
including regular positions: 32.4
ETH-research funds: 5.23
Third parties: 7.12

Research funds:
Total: 1,88 Mio sFr,
including ETH reserach funds: 0,476 Mio sFr (25,3%)
Third parties: 1,404 Mio sFr (74.7%)


	Institute of Building Technology Chairman of the Board: Prof. Dr. B. Keller Vice-Chairman: Prof. Dr. O. Künzle Institute Council: All Collaborators Secretary: Mrs. R. Le Marié

Chair of Architecture and Construction Management Prof. P. Meyer	Chair of Building Physics Prof. Dr. B. Keller	Chair of Building Services Prof. K. Daniels	Chair of Building Structures Prof. Dr. O. Künzle	Information and Documentation Doz. R. Seiler

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