With the construction sector undergoing a transition towards efficient, technology-driven, and sustainable construction practices, the IAStructE- IIIT Hyderabad Student Chapter organized an online guest lecture on “Sustainable Construction Systems for Built Environment” on 12th August 2026, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Shailesh Kumar Agrawal, Former Executive Director, Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, and currently Professor of Practice, Department of Earthquake Engineering, IIT Roorkee.

The lecture focused on the technological transition from conventional, labour-intensive and resource-intensive construction practices towards Alternate Construction Systems (ACS). Dr. Agrawal discussed the advantages of manufacturing building components under controlled conditions and assembling them efficiently at site. Such systems can enhance construction quality and dimensional accuracy while reducing construction duration, material wastage, and environmental impact. The session covered several contemporary construction technologies, including precast and prefabricated construction, sandwich panel systems, modular construction, and customized formwork systems. The potential of these technologies to improve construction efficiency, durability, and serviceability, while reducing maintenance requirements and life-cycle costs, was also discussed. The lecture further examined the implementation of ACS through the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC-India) and its Lighthouse Projects. Projects developed in Chennai, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, and Ranchi were presented as examples of the application of diverse construction systems, including precast concrete, pre-engineered steel, prefabricated panels, monolithic concrete, and 3D volumetric construction. These projects demonstrate the applicability of innovative construction technologies under varying regional and climatic conditions.

Dr. Agrawal also highlighted the increasing adoption of alternate construction technologies in India, including the approval of 54 alternate technologies by CPWD and their application in the construction of more than 10 lakh houses under PMAY(U) and various state-level housing programmes. The lecture concluded with the “3S” principle: Skill, Scale and Speed, emphasizing the need for technically skilled professionals, large-scale adoption of proven construction technologies, and accelerated implementation to achieve efficient, sustainable, resilient and future-ready built infrastructure.