On 27 November, PORTILAME welcomed a group of fifth-year Architecture students from the University of Coimbra to its facilities, in a visit designed to promote direct contact between the academic environment and the professional practice of timber construction.

The visit began with an institutional presentation of PORTILAME, delivered by Alexandre Camões, who introduced the company’s history, its field of activity and a selection of reference projects developed over recent years, highlighting its expertise in timber construction and industrialised solutions.

This was followed by a session dedicated to safety standards, presented by Marlene Duarte, addressing best practices and essential procedures to ensure safety in both industrial and on-site environments.

The students then had the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Neiva facilities, where they were able to observe production processes, timber construction solutions and the practical application of engineering in this field.

One of the key moments of the visit was the presentation of the new Vila Fria industrial unit, led by Tiago Mendes, who explained the construction industrialisation process, the company’s investment in technology and innovation, and how these factors contribute to greater efficiency, quality and sustainability in its projects.

The visit concluded with the presentation of the Luís de Camões University Residence, in Coimbra, by Paulo Torres — a project developed in consortium with Carmo — allowing students to gain insight into the integration of engineering, architecture and execution in a real project context.

PORTILAME values initiatives of this kind, which contribute to the education of future generations of architects by fostering knowledge sharing, strengthening ties between academia and industry, and encouraging reflection on the future of timber construction.