Breaking new ground for sustainable architecture in Central Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo – All over Central Africa, it is a common sight to see worn-down buildings that appear to have been through decades of use, but in reality are only a few years old. Lack of qualified manpower in modern construction, tropical weather with extreme humidity, prevalence of low-quality construction materials and tight budgets for maintenance are frequent and difficult challenges for infrastructure’s durability and sustainability in the region.

However, a new building under construction in the northern reaches of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is overcoming these difficulties and leading the way in socially and environmentally sustainable architecture. As part of the FORETS project, led by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and funded by the European Union, the company RS&D has partnered with the University of Kisangani (UNIKIS) to coordinate the construction of a 2,500-square-meter building on the site of the Faculty of Sciences, which will have many uses, including housing auditoriums and classrooms for hundreds of students from across the country. Read the full story on Forests News.