Madrid, Spain – June 10, 2025 – The ENSNARE Consortium presented the project’s results at a final event held in Madrid on June 10, 2025, and organized by Tecnalia. The Demo Day showcased ENSNARE’s comprehensive framework and developments to a diverse group of building sector stakeholders. The event highlighted advancements in both physical and digital solutions designed to revolutionize building facades.

The ENSNARE Demo Day program offered a comprehensive look into the project’s innovations, starting with a welcome and introduction by Antonio Garrido Marijuan from TECNALIA, followed by Peru Elguezabal Esnarrizaga from the University of the Basque Country (EHU/UPV) who provided a general presentation of the ENSNARE project.

The “Physical Developments” session delved into tangible solutions. Nuria Jorge from RIVENTI presented on the “Aluminum System for Industrialized and Multifunctional Envelopes,” while Araceli Sanchez from ONYX discussed “Innovative Photovoltaic Technology and Integration in Facades.”

The “Digital Ecosystem, EDST, and Digital Twin” segment explored the project’s advanced digital tools. Tatiana Armijos-Moya from Delft University of Technology and Beñat Arregi from TECNALIA presented on the “Digital Platform and Early Decision Support Tool.” This was followed by Kepa Iturralde from the Technical University of Munich, who introduced the “Automated Tool for Generating the Model of the Building to be Renovated,” and Amisha Panchal from IES, who showcased the “Digital Twin and Virtual Representation of the Renovated Building.”

The “Demo Cases & Lessons Learned” session highlighted real-world applications of the project’s solutions across three use cases, with contributions from Francisca Tapia from ABUD, Ricardo Arauz from ENAR, and Antonio Garrido Marijuan from TECNALIA.

The day concluded with an interactive Q&A and a feedback session on project results led by Izaskun Álvarez Álava from TECNALIA and Miguel Ángel Núñez from ENAR, followed by a closing address by Antonio Garrido Marijuan from TECNALIA and a networking lunch.

Despite the varied sectors represented, a general consensus emerged regarding the positive utility of both sets of solutions. Key feedback included:

• Acknowledgement of the successful development.
• The opportune moment to introduce “Facade as a Service,” encompassing renting, management, circularity, and location changes, with a focus on value over traditional product pricing.
• The importance of integrating industrialization from the initial stages of renovation projects, rather than as an add-on.
• The necessity for all teams involved in design, construction, and renovation (architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians, property owners) to collaborate from the outset for the widespread adoption of these products.
• The potential for facades to “evolve” through the exchange of obsolete modules with upgraded, more efficient versions.
• The crucial need to simplify IFC digital files for true cross-software compatibility while maintaining data integrity.
• The significant requirement for education across various levels – industry, public administrations, society, installers, and trades – to ensure the successful implementation and multidisciplinary collaboration required by these new products and construction processes.

The event also underscored the need for clear data on the return on investment and energy savings associated with the ENSNARE facade solutions. Feedback from various industry segments highlighted specific insights:

• From construction material manufacturers: This type of construction demands more planning time and steps, yet these are surmountable challenges with technology. The versatility, circularity, and interchangeability of these facades are particularly appealing for companies seeking to periodically refresh their image. Compatibility with PV technologies is being actively pursued.
• From construction companies: There’s an acknowledged need to transform construction methods through industrialized systems and advanced products, and through collaborative team structures from initial project phases. While current collaborative projects are still developing, there is a clear demand for these innovative products in tenders. Shorter deadlines in some regions pose a challenge, and longer timelines would facilitate the development of more complex projects.
• From architecture academics: This area of development is considered fundamental. The integration of energy efficiency and renewables from the project’s inception is currently hindered by a lack of specialized education at the university level. A shift towards multidisciplinary and collaborative design and construction processes is deemed essential for future professionals.
• From private-public sector cooperation leaders: This approach is not merely a preference but the singular path forward, emphasizing that challenges related to price, time, or knowledge should not impede progress. Industrialized architecture is seen as a driver of creativity, not a limitation.
• From facade specialists associations: Quantifiable savings achieved through these technologies represent a valuable asset to be communicated to property owners.

The ENSNARE project marks a significant step forward in sustainable and industrialized building practices, laying the groundwork for more efficient, adaptable, and environmentally conscious construction.