4 Trends in the Construction Industry in Europe

The construction industry is seeing many changes, bringing new ways of working. This blog explores some of the key developments that are shaping the future of construction and what they mean for the industry.

Trend 1: Prefabrication

Prefabrication is becoming an important solution to deal with the lack of workers in construction. Many in the industry are now using prefabrication to work faster and get more done.

In the Netherlands, for example, about 70% of construction projects already include some prefabricated parts, according to Dutch contractors. Other European countries like Germany, Belgium, Poland, and Italy use prefab in around half of their projects. Across Europe as a whole, about 41% of projects involve some level of prefabrication.

Even though prefabrication is growing steadily, it still has a lot of room to expand. Right now, the focus is mostly on simple prefab parts, such as walls and floors.

Trend 2: Digitalization

The construction industry faces major challenges with labor shortages, and prefabrication is seen as a key solution. However, using more advanced prefabricated methods requires greater digitalization.

One important digital tool is Building Information Modelling (BIM), which is changing the way construction projects are planned and managed. While BIM is widely used by architects in Europe, many still only use its basic features. 

Despite this, digitalization in construction is expected to grow. Laws and the increasing use of prefabrication are driving this change. As construction projects become more complex, digital tools like BIM will be essential for improving efficiency and making prefabrication easier to integrate.

Trend 3: Sustainability

Sustainability has become a key focus for the future of the construction industry. This sector is a major contributor to CO2 emissions, not only from producing materials and the construction process itself but also from the energy used to operate buildings.

With growing concerns about climate change, sustainability is getting more attention. The construction industry is working to cut carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Architects report that more clients are willing to invest in sustainability, rising from 20% in 2020 to 31% in 2023. The European construction industry is gradually moving towards sustainability, and this shift is expected to strongly influence the sector. However, this change is happening as a steady evolution rather than a quick revolution.

Trend 4: Changes in the decision-making process  

There is a change happening in how decisions are made in the construction industry. In the past, architects had full control over all aspects of a project, acting as master builders. But as buildings become more complex and more people get involved in decision-making, the role of architects is shifting. Architects are now focusing more on managing projects and on design and material choices, rather than sticking to brand preferences.

This change is part of a wider trend in the industry towards teamwork and involving more people in decisions. New players, such as large prefab manufacturers and innovative construction companies using design-build methods, are taking away some of the architect's central role. Additionally, the people or organizations who fund the projects are now more actively involved in the design and building process.

With more people involved in decisions, the process has become more complex, requiring better cooperation. BIM is a key tool helping to improve communication and collaboration in this new approach.

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