Timber design awards to be announced at EWPAA conference on the Gold Coast

JUDGING of the Australian Timber Design awards is almost complete and regional and national winners will be announced at the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia’s annual conference on the Gold Coast on November 16.

This year marks a major restructure of the awards, including an overhaul of categories and the introduction of regional awards.

The ‘re-design’ of the design awards follows major sponsorship by the Wood Naturally Better campaign, an initiative of Forest and Wood Products Australia, which is promoting the environmental benefits of building with timber and delivering information on designing with wood.

Judging of regional winners has been completed in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

The competition is open to most sectors of the industry including architects, building designers, builders, engineers, in fact anyone who has a principal interest in design and construction that heavily features timber, either structurally or aesthetically.

There are four primary entry categories, all building related, three other traditional categories – interior fitout (for commercial and resort type projects), outdoor timber (for treated structures such as sheds, landscapes, boardwalks, decks and bridges) and the coveted sustainable design category.

There are eight best-use categories including best use of Australian certified timber.

The winner of the coveted Sanderson Trophy for best use of plywood and LVL will be a feature presentation at the EWPAA conference dinner.

The trophy recognises the service given to the industry by the late Geoffrey Sanderson, who was president of the Plywood Association of Australasia (PAA) 1988-89 and 1998-2003. The award is raising the awareness of innovations in the design, use and application of certified engineered wood products among architects, specifiers and builders.

“Category winners in this year’s design awards have reached a very high standard,” said awards coordinator Laurel Clarke of the Timber Development Association.

“Judges have been impressed by the innovative and structural applications of wood products in most entries.”

The EWPAA annual conference will be held from November 15 to 17 at the Gold Coast International Hotel, Surfers Paradise. The dinner evening on November 16, which features the national timber awards, will also include presentations of the EWPAA President’s Prize-John Hancock Award; Con Otto Award; and Distributors’ Prize.

“The conference promises something for everyone across the plywood, LVL and engineered wood products industry,” EWPAA general manager Simon Dorries said.

Conference/dinner inquiries should be directed to Vicki Roberts, executive assistant, Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia, PO Box 2108, Fortitude Valley BC Qld 4006. Tel: +61 7 3250 3700. Email: vicki.roberts@paa.asn.au. Web: www.ewp.asn.au

Award for plywood and LVL excellence .. the coveted EWPAA Sanderson Trophy.