Sim[PLY]: Sustainable and Eco-friendly Construction Framing

Sim[PLY] is a sustainable construction framing system that utilizes pre-manufactured, CNC-cut plywood components and specialized connection details to enable fast, easy, and safe on-site building construction. The market for green, sustainable building materials and construction is trending and on the rise: the global market is projected to reach $529 billion by 2020. Increased awareness about the benefits of green technologies and stricter government regulations are factors that have contributed to the growing market. However, green building practices are still expensive when compared to traditional construction, which is often a deterrent for builders. Clemson University researchers have developed an innovative structural system that allows individuals to construct a house using only hand powered tools. The Sim[PLY] framing system consists of pre-cut and individually numbered components, designed to be flat-packed and shipped directly to a building site. At the building site, the components can be easily and rapidly assembled using tab-and-slot connections secured by steel zip ties. Assembly is safe and quiet and requires no power equipment. The result is a durable, eco-friendly building with a strong and resilient structure, capable of high insulating values.