OBJECTIVE:

The industrial talk “Innovative Lightweight Materials for Sustainable & Well-Managed Projects”, held on 5 March, successfully brought together academia and industry to explore the role of lightweight materials in advancing sustainable construction practices.

Organised by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Project Management Technical Division) in collaboration with UCSI University School of Architecture and Built Environment and CDL Academy by YTL Cement, the session highlighted how material innovation can reduce embodied carbon, optimise resource use, and improve overall project efficiency. The event, supported by the UCSI Group Sustainability Office, reflects a growing commitment towards sustainability in the built environment.

To further translate knowledge into practice, a follow-up competition challenged participants to develop proposals on sustainable lightweight concrete blocks. The final round on 9 April showcased innovative ideas evaluated by industry experts, reinforcing the importance of practical and implementable solutions while cultivating future-ready professionals with strong technical expertise and sustainability-driven mindsets.