Harald Kloft

Harald Kloft is a Full Professor of Structural Design and Director of the Institute of Structural Design (ITE) at TU Braunschweig, within the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences. He holds a Dipl.-Ing. in Civil Engineering from TU Darmstadt (1982–1990) and a Doctorate in Civil Engineering from TU Darmstadt (1998). His academic career includes roles as a visiting professor at TU Graz and TU Kaiserslautern, and he founded the engineering practice office for structural design (osd) in 2002.

**Research Interests**: Kloft focuses on additive manufacturing in construction, digital fabrication, and sustainable structural design. His work emphasizes innovations like robotic 3D concrete printing, material optimization, and resource-efficient construction techniques. He leads the Collaborative Research Center TRR 277 (Additive Manufacturing in Construction) and has contributed significantly to projects like Shotcrete 3D Printing (SC3DP) and hybrid modular construction systems.

**Notable Contributions**: Over 150+ publications, including influential works on robotic concrete fabrication, machine learning in structural assessment, and sustainable building practices. He actively collaborates with industry partners, advancing technologies like wire-and-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) and non-waste wax formwork.

**Awards & Grants**: While no explicit awards are listed, his leadership roles (e.g., spokesperson of TRR 277) and extensive grants (e.g., BMBF-funded projects) reflect his academic and industrial impact. His research infrastructure supports early-career researchers and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration.

**Labs & Teams**: Directs the ITE lab, specializing in structural design and digital fabrication. Collaborates with teams on projects like the Capricorn Bridge and adaptive coastline protection structures using additive manufacturing.