The Institute of Structural Concrete (IMB) works in a future-oriented manner on intelligent concrete structures and focuses on current developments for innovative and resource-efficient construction methods. For Professor Hegger (director of the IMB) and his team, integrated building concepts and visionary construction principles are in the main focus. Their implementation is significantly connected with the new and further development of composite materials for high-performance and carbon concretes. With its funding of SFB/TRR 280 – Construction strategies for material-minimised carbon concrete structures –, the DFG provides a valuable contribution to investigate the basis for a new way of building. Professor Hegger, as spokesman of the interdisciplinary research team of RWTH Aachen University, accompanies the basic research of the joint project with the TU Dresden.