Welcome to the Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials!
Welcome to the Magnel-Vandepitte Laboratory, Belgium's largest research center dedicated to construction and building materials. Our work covers various materials such as concrete, steel, glass, and composites, and explores their interactions and responses under different conditions, including fire.
Collectie Universiteitsarchief Gent - foto Fotoklas UGent
But who is Magnel Vandepitte?
The street between the Boekentoren and the Plateau Building is named after him: Gustave Magnel is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable figures at UGent.
He put this university on the international map with his pioneering work in reinforced concrete. It was Magnel who, in 1926, established Belgium's first specialized laboratory for reinforced concrete. This laboratory grew into a center of experimental research and innovation and moved to the university campus in Zwijnaarde in 1975.
Collectie Universiteitsarchief Gent
Collectie Universiteitsarchief Gent
Collectie Universiteitsarchief Gent
Collectie Universiteitsarchief Gent
Take a Virtual Tour!
Curious to explore the Magnel-Vandepitte Laboratory for yourself? Click on the door illustration below to step into our 3D virtual tour of our facility. Dive into the fascinating world of concrete, steel, glass, composites, and more. Enjoy the journey!
The 3D Concrete Printer
One of the highlights of our lab is the 3D concrete printer. This high-tech gadget allows us to create complex and optimized structures with pinpoint accuracy. Recently, our team designed and printed a topology-optimized bridge, showing off the potential of 3D printing in construction.
For a behind-the-scenes look, watch our video.