Community of Madrid's Plan Vive: affordable housing industrialization

Plan VIVE emerges as a key model for the future of construction, proposing a new real estate paradigm based on industrialization.

This innovative technique promises to revolutionize the sector, drastically reducing execution times, optimizing resources, and minimizing environmental impact.

SOCOTEC, as an engineering firm, plays a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with the new technical requirements of industrialized construction.

Structural Review of Industrialized Structural Systems
Design and Drafting of Industrialized Structural Projects

Director of Cities and Buildings for SOCOTEC in Madrid

Antonio Sánchez

"Industrialized construction goes beyond the mere assembly of prefabricated products. It is a comprehensive system that must be meticulously defined at every stage of the process"

Benefits of Industrialization

The embrace of industrialized construction methods translates into a 30% reduction in project completion times. This is attributed to the prefabrication of structural elements in specialized factories, enabling minimal waste and rapid, efficient assembly at the construction site.

Benefits of Industrialization: Speed, Efficiency, and Sustainability

A Glimpse into Construction Sites Unveils the Essence of Industrialized Construction:

Reduced materials and machinery on the ground, minimizing dirt, dust, and noise
Reduced vehicular traffic at the construction site
Reduced use of labor-intensive work on the site

"Project completion times have been significantly reduced by 30%," says a project manager. "The labor shortage has pushed us to innovate."

Factory-built buildings

Leveraging this innovation, the company has invested in Wallex, its construction factory in Aranda de Duero (Burgos), where robotics is utilized for

Real-time monitoring of building functionalities
Minimize operating and maintenance costs

In these facilities, the multilayer walls for the Plan Vive are manufactured, which include pre-installed windows (frames and glass). These components are transported to Madrid by truck for assembly using cranes.

A fast and precise assembly process

Upon arrival in Madrid, the components are joined together and assembled onto the corresponding house using a crane, a process that takes no more than 30 minutes.

Structural reviewer

Of the structural system

Culmia's Plan VIVE Lot 3 is an affordable housing project that will provide 1,763 homes distributed across 12 plots located in the following municipalities in the Community of Madrid, Spain

The homes, with 1 to 3 bedrooms, feature:

Parking spaces for added convenience.
Storage rooms for better storage.
Swimming pool to enjoy leisure time in the summer.
Community gym to stay in shape.
Changing rooms for added comfort after physical activity.
Multi-sports court to practice different sports.
Access control gatehouse with concierge service for added security.
Coworking room to work or study in a collaborative environment.
Green areas and children's play areas for the enjoyment of the whole family.

It should be noted that the entire structural system of the project has been reviewed by SOCOTEC, a leading company in engineering consulting, inspection and testing, which guarantees the solidity and safety of the homes.

The homes are in an advanced stage of construction and some developments have already been delivered.

Of the structural project

Redaction

Plan Vive II is an ambitious project promoted by the Community of Madrid that aims to build 1,137 affordable rental homes in three municipalities of the region: Boadilla del Monte, Pinto, and Colmenar Viejo.

The project has been entrusted to three prestigious architecture studios: Lamela, Junquera, and Cano y Escario, who will be responsible for designing and developing the three residential complexes that will make up Plan Vive II.

The homes, with 1 to 3 bedrooms, will be distributed in different typologies to adapt to the needs of families and single people.

The homes, with 1 to 3 bedrooms, will be distributed in different typologies to adapt to the needs of families and single people.

All homes will feature:

Energy rating A: This means lower energy consumption and greater energy efficiency.
Spacious spaces: For greater comfort and well-being of residents.
Top quality materials: That guarantee the durability and good condition of the homes.
Common areas: Such as gardens, playgrounds and sports facilities, for the enjoyment of the whole family.

Plan Vive II is part of the Community of Madrid's commitment to facilitating access to affordable rental housing on public land and contributing to the social and territorial cohesion of the region.

The three residential complexes that make up Plan Vive II are in an initial development phase. Work is expected to start in the coming months and the first apartments are expected to be delivered in late 2025 or early 2026.

This plan to build affordable rental housing using industrialized systems is already a reality in which SOCOTEC Spain is once again demonstrating its technical excellence and ability to resolve complex projects.

Innovations in structure

One of the major innovations of the Plan VIVE is the absence of pillars in the homes, which is common in traditional construction. In this case, the pillars are only found in the basement (garage area) due to the use of self-supporting walls. This innovation allows for:

Optimizing interior space
Offering more open and functional homes

Structural Engineering Team Lead

Pablo Anaya

"The Plan VIVE is pushing us to raise our technical capabilities, carrying out high-level engineering that encompasses the design, calculation, and verification of the industrialized system for different architectural designs, while also being able to effectively coordinate the interests of all stakeholders involved."

A Mindset Shift in the Sector

The commitment to industrialized construction is driving a necessary change of mentality in the sector. This initiative promotes the adoption of new technologies and methodologies that allow for more efficient, sustainable, and socially responsible construction.

Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Homes

The housing lots of the Plan VIVE are not only built faster and more economically, but they are also sustainable and energy-efficient. They have a Breeam Excellent rating, which guarantees:

Lower energy and water consumption.
Greater comfort for users.

Impact of the Plan VIVE on the Sector

The Plan VIVE represents a step forward towards the future of construction. With its commitment to industrialization, sustainability, and accessibility, it is contributing to creating a more efficient, responsible, and committed sector to the well-being of people.

Engineering firms like SOCOTEC are essential to meet the new technical challenges posed by industrialized construction.

Contributing our experience and knowledge to guarantee the safety, quality, and efficiency of the works.