Engineered wood in right environment for TDA awards

By 30/10/2016Blog

Engineered wood products were on show at the 2016 Timber Design Awards at Luna Park in Sydney in September. The 17th awards organised by the Timber Development Association showcased the use of timber and engineered wood products in designs ranging from community centres, commercial buildings and restaurants to houses and furniture. EWPAA CEO Dave Gover commended the use of engineered wood products in many of the winning designs.

“We saw a whole range of products being used in the nominated and winning designs – from plywood and LVL, to glulam and CLT,” Mr Gover said. “The designs really highlighted the versatility of engineered wood products, which is one of the many benefits in choosing these products as a primary construction material,” he said.

Mr Gover said it was evident that an increasing number of architects and specifiers are driving the specification and design of buildings using engineered wood products.

Dave Gover, CEO, Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (left), presents the EWPAA Timer Panels Award to Colin Odbert and Ross Styles of Architectus for the The Gipson Commons, St Michael’s Grammar School, St Kilda, Melbourne, at the 2016 Timber Design Awards in Sydney.

“It’s fantastic to see that there is continuing growth in the use of timber and engineered wood products in the design and construction industries,” he said. “These products have significant benefits to the environment and are fast becoming the preferred choice for sustainable design and construction.”

He said that due to a heightened awareness of climate change and carbon emissions, wood stood apart as a renewable construction material with a better-than-zero carbon footprint. As the seventh most forested nation on earth, it makes good sense, both economically and environmentally, for Australian buildings to be constructed from wood.

“The vast majority of Australian forests carry independent sustainability certification; a testament to our forestry industry’s commitment to sustainability,” Mr Gover said. “Occupants of timber buildings also report positively on their environment, finding them to be conducive to quieter, calmer and more productive living.”

The EWPAA was the proud sponsor of the Timber Panels Award, which was won this year by Architectus Group for its design of The Gipson Commons at St Michael’s Grammar School in St Kilda, Melbourne. The award was accepted by Ross Styles and Colin Odbert, director and principal at the Sydney studio of Architectus, on behalf of their Melbourne office. The Timber Design Awards judges noted that the Gipson Commons project used plywood wall paneling to promote a calm building environment for the school, through its warmth and sound attenuation. In attendance at the Timber Design Awards were architects, builders, designers and engineers, as well as delegates from various forestry and wood products organisations and industry bodies.