Pro-GET-OnE · Project

Prefab Envelope Kits That Retrofit Buildings for Energy and Earthquake Safety at Once

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Imagine wrapping an old building in a new high-performance skin — like putting a modern jacket on an aging house. This project built prefabricated, plug-and-play envelope systems that bolt onto existing buildings to cut energy waste, add earthquake resistance, and even create extra living space like sunrooms. Instead of doing separate renovations for insulation, structural safety, and solar panels, everything snaps together in one integrated steel-and-timber shell. The team tested these solutions across multiple building types and climates in 8 European countries.

By the numbers

consortium partners involved in development

European countries represented in testing and validation

6x6

matrix of material and add-on combinations for commercial product line

industry partners in the consortium

SMEs participating in commercialization pathway

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Europe has millions of aging buildings that are energy-inefficient, structurally unsafe in earthquake zones, and expensive to renovate because energy upgrades, seismic reinforcement, and facade work happen as separate, costly projects. Building owners and renovation companies need a way to tackle all three problems in a single intervention without relocating occupants or managing multiple contractors and timelines.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered prefabricated plug-and-play building envelope systems combining steel exoskeletons, timber panels, glass, PV and solar panels into pre-assembled modules. Key outputs include a 6x6 commercial product matrix matching add-on combinations to construction types with a new production line catalogue, parametric modelling tools for large-scale building assessment, and a mobile app (GET-onE.app) for visualizing facade transformation options for residents and investors.

Audience

Who needs this

Construction firms specializing in building renovation and deep energy retrofitPrefab component manufacturers seeking new product lines in the renovation marketHousing associations and property managers with large aging residential portfoliosMunicipal governments planning seismic and energy upgrades for public housingArchitecture and engineering firms designing integrated building refurbishment projects

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Building Renovation & Construction

mid-size

Target: Mid-size construction firms specializing in residential and commercial retrofit

If you are a renovation contractor dealing with aging building stock that needs both energy upgrades and seismic strengthening — this project developed prefabricated envelope systems with pre-assembled steel structures and timber panels that combine insulation, solar panels, and earthquake protection into a single installation. The 6x6 matrix of material and add-on combinations lets you configure solutions for different building types. With 18 consortium partners across 8 countries having validated the approach, you get a tested product line rather than a custom engineering job.

Real Estate & Property Management

enterprise

Target: Property developers and housing associations managing large residential portfolios

If you are a housing association struggling with deep renovation of post-war apartment blocks that are both energy-inefficient and structurally vulnerable — this project created a catalogue of prefab facade solutions that add buffer zones like sunspaces between the building and outdoor environment. These reduce thermal losses in winter and provide shading in summer, while the steel exoskeleton adds seismic safety. The GET-onE mobile app lets you visualize possible facade transformations before committing to investment.

Prefabricated Building Components Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Manufacturers of prefab construction elements looking to expand product lines

If you are a prefab component manufacturer looking for a market-ready product line in the growing deep renovation sector — this project produced a complete catalogue for a new production line based on a 6x6 matrix of add-on combinations matched to different construction types. The system uses pre-assembled steel, timber, glass, PV and solar panel components designed for plug-and-play installation. With 11 industry partners and 6 SMEs already in the consortium, the supply chain blueprint exists.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement these prefab envelope solutions on a typical building?

The project data does not include specific per-building or per-square-meter cost figures. However, as an Innovation Action with 11 industry partners and a deliverable specifically focused on commercial exploitation with a new production line catalogue, the solutions were designed with cost-competitiveness in mind. Contact the coordinator for pricing models developed during the project.

Can this scale to large housing portfolios or is it a one-off solution?

The system was explicitly designed for scale. The 6x6 matrix of material and add-on combinations covers different construction types across different reference buildings, and parametric modelling tools enable large-scale surveys across different case studies. The prefab and plug-and-play approach means factory production rather than bespoke on-site engineering.

What is the IP situation — can my company license this technology?

The project involved 18 partners across 8 countries with 11 industry participants. IP is likely shared among consortium members under the Horizon 2020 grant agreement. The deliverable describing the commercial exploitation matrix and new production line catalogue suggests licensing or partnership routes exist. Contact the University of Bologna as coordinator for IP access terms.

Does this meet current EU regulations for building energy performance and seismic codes?

The project addressed both EU energy requirements and structural safety standards. The parametric modelling deliverable includes pushover analyses and nonlinear time history analyses — standard methods for seismic code compliance. As the project ran from 2017 to 2022, solutions were designed against then-current European building regulations.

How long does installation take compared to traditional deep renovation?

Based on available project data, specific installation timelines are not provided. However, the prefabricated, pre-assembled, plug-and-play design philosophy is inherently faster than traditional renovation since components arrive factory-ready. The steel structure supports new envelopes while the building remains occupied, reducing disruption.

Can these solutions integrate with existing building systems like HVAC?

The project combined energy envelopes with PV panels, solar panels, and buffer zones such as sunspaces that serve as passive climate control. The system was designed to work with existing buildings, adding or substituting envelope components. The mobile app allows visualization of possible facade transformations to plan integration.

Consortium

Who built it

The Pro-GET-OnE consortium is unusually strong for commercialization: 11 out of 18 partners are industry players (61%), with 6 SMEs — the kind of companies that actually build and sell things. Led by the University of Bologna, the academic backbone is solid but lean (3 universities), keeping the focus on practical outcomes rather than pure research. The 8-country spread across Southern, Central, and Western Europe (including seismically active Italy, Greece, and Romania alongside energy-focused Germany and Netherlands) means the solutions were tested across diverse climates and building codes. This consortium structure suggests the technology has already been stress-tested by companies that understand market requirements, not just lab conditions.

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNACoordinator · IT
AZIENDA CASA EMILIA ROMAGNA DELLA PROVINCIA DI REGGIO EMILIAparticipant · IT
ANERDGY AGparticipant · CH
CLIVET SPAparticipant · IT
ETHNIKO KAI KAPODISTRIAKO PANEPISTIMIO ATHINONparticipant · EL
BJW BVparticipant · NL
Huygen Installatie Adviseursparticipant · NL
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHENparticipant · DE
ASSOCIACIO LIMA-LOW IMPACT MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTUREparticipant · ES
COLFAMILY SRLparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna (Italy) coordinated this project. Use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service to connect with the project lead.

Order a report on this consortium See ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing the prefab envelope system or partnering with consortium members? SciTransfer can organize a direct introduction to the project team and help evaluate fit for your renovation pipeline.

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