WoodSolutions Timber Talks

Greg Nolan is an Associate Professor at the University of Tasmania's Discipline of Architecture and Design and Director of the University's Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood. Aubxw `884, Greg Nolan has been involved with research and development aimed at improving the use of wood and timber products in sustainable building, and recovery of wood products from the available resource. In today's episode we have a master class on the material characteristics of timber products, designing for durability and the conceptual design process for timber buildings.

If you want to check out the WoodSolutions Technical Guide #46, head to:

https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/articles/technical-design-guides

Christophe Sigrist is a professor of Timber Design and Steel Design at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, a member of numerous code technical committees in Europe and a Director of ongoing research work, undergraduate and post graduate projects on cutting edge Timber Design. New technologies in design software and robotics are unlocking opportunities for complex structures, previously unavailable to building professionals of the past. In this episode we discuss:

• The new capabilities of generating complex geometries and automated structural design in modern design software's
• How skilled craftsmanship combined with advanced robotics can build new complex structures
• The opportunities in Industry 4.0 for construction

Building professionals globally are turning to timber in mid-rise construction as it provides a healthier, environmentally friendly (carbon), sustainable, efficiently off-site prefabricated solution that dramatically reduces construction times and accordingly the overall cost of the project.

Bern University website can be found here:

www.ahb.bfh.ch/en/home

The Swatch building discussed can be found here:

http://www.blumer-lehmann.ch/fileadmin/documents/10_Unternehmen/111_Erlenhof-News/Blumer-Lehmann_AG_News_2017__E.pdf

Check out the WoodSolutions website, the world's biggest website on wood:

www.woodsolutions.com.au

Michael founded Michael Green Architecture in 2012 with a focus on advanced wood buildings that support community, health and the environment.  Michael is known for his research, leadership and advocacy for timber buildings, and is the author of 'Tall Wood Buildings' and has multiple TED Talks that have had hundreds of thousands of views. In this interview we discuss the biggest problems  facing construction, automation and robotics, and why his firm has recently paired up with Katerra. 

If you want to use timber on your next project, there are over 45 free technical guides found at the WoodSolutions website. Technical guide 37 which focuses on the steps to deliver a mid-rise timber building is a good start.

www.woodsolutions.com.au/articles/technical-design-guides

Watch Michael Green's TED Talk here:

Michael Green: Why we should build wooden skyscrapers

The project, 55 Southbank Boulevard is a defining new landmark  in Melbourne, being crowned as the the worlds tallest timber building extension, with a 10 storey cross laminated  structure sitting on top of an  existing 7 storey concrete building.  The technical challenges, of building one of Australia's tallest timber buildings on top of an existing building has significant technical challenges, and we were lucky to speak with the builder, Rob De Brincat, the Manager of Innovation at Atelier, the architect Julian Anderson, a  director at Bates Smart and Nathan Benbow, a senior Structural Engineer at Vistek.

 In part two of this two part discussion:

• The role of building information modelling, and the utilisation of these models for fabrication and construction
• The importance of collaborating with shop drawers and and installers for successful prefabrication
• All of the key lessons learned on the project

If you want to use timber on your next project, there are over 45 free technical guides found at the WoodSolutions website. Technical guide 37 which focuses on the steps to deliver a mid-rise timber building is a good start.

www.woodsolutions.com.au/articles/technical-design-guides

The project, 55 Southbank Boulevard is a defining new landmark  in Melbourne, being crowned as the the worlds tallest timber building extension, with a 10 storey cross laminated  structure sitting on top of an  existing 7 storey concrete building.  The technical challenges, of building one of Australia's tallest timber buildings on top of an existing building has significant technical challenges, and we were lucky to speak with the builder, Rob Debrincat, the Manager of Innovation at Atelier, the architect Julian Anderson, a  director at Bates Smart and Nathan Benbow, a senior Structural Engineer at Vistek. In part one of this two part discussion:

• The unique project challenges, such as cranage requirements with limited site access, building with minimal occupant disruption and the strengthening of the existing building
• How early contractor involvement was key for solving design issues, and ensuring efficient design and construction
•  Designing and detailing with other materials such as the steel core, and concrete transfer deck

Hope you enjoyed this episode. Stay tuned for next weeks episode where we talk about digital design, fabrication and lessons learned on the project.

If you want to use timber on your next project, there are over 45 free technical guides found at the WoodSolutions website. Technical guide 37 which focuses on the steps to deliver a mid-rise timber building is a good start.

www.woodsolutions.com.au/articles/technical-design-guides

Lisa Thom is a Structural Engineer, and Design Manager for Lendlease and a Timber Engineering Course Lecturer at the University of New South Wales. In this episode, we discuss:

• The range of the additional skills that are required for professional structural engineers looking to design with timber,
• How university curriculums need to change to include the relevant skills such as prefabrication and logistics
• How we can inspire more woman to join construction

Building professionals globally are turning to timber in mid-rise construction as it provides a healthier, environmentally friendly (carbon), sustainable, efficiently off-site prefabricated solution that dramatically reduces construction times and accordingly the overall cost of the project.

If you want to use timber on your next project, there are over 45 free technical guides found at the WoodSolutions website. Technical guide 37 which focuses on the steps to deliver a mid-rise timber building is a good start.

www.woodsolutions.com.au/articles/technical-design-guides

Today, we are taking an opportunity to meet the WoodSolutions Mid-rise Team, and discuss the momentum of timber in Australia since the programs inception in 2016, and key advice for professionals looking to use timber on their next project.

The mid-rise advisory service, is a program that offers FREE professional advice on any aspect of mid-rise timber buildings. The program was launched in 2016, in response to the changes in the National Construction Code which allowed for the construction of mid-rise timber buildings up to 25m in height. With extensive experience in property development, construction, timber engineering and architecture from around the world, the WoodSolutions Mid-rise Team are ideally placed to help with design and construction professionals, and provide the advice to make the most of cost, time, environmental and other advantages of timber building systems.

In today's episode, we meet Gerry Neylan, the Lead program development manager, Paolo Lavisci, an engineer and program development manager, Laurence Ritchie the cost and program estimator, and Stefan Gerber an engineer and program development manager from Brisbane

If you want to use timber on your next mid-rise project, the team you've just met will be able to help out with some free advice.

Robert Malczyk is a timber structural engineering specialist, and the founder of Equilibrium consulting from Canada, which has recently been acquired by construction technology company Katerra, who are looking to make some big changes to construction. Robert is a forward thinking and provocative engineer, and when I got to speak to him at the WCTE in Korea, he caused a bit of controversy with his forward thinking views about what disruption is set for construction on the horizon. In this episode we discuss:

• Why big technology companies like Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Google are pouring money into construction
• How timber is the material to unlock massive innovations
• How parametric design, and building optimisation will create unprecedented efficiencies in design, prefabrication and construction

If you want to use timber on your next project, the latest WoodSolutions Design Guide #46, Wood Construction Systems can help. It has been developed to assist building professionals to confidently explore conceptual structural designs for timber rich buildings and structures. 

https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/articles/technical-design-guides

Dr Andy Buchanan is one of the pioneers of modern timber construction, developing new engineering concepts, such as the Pres-Lam technology with University of Canterburry, and is author of Structural Design for Fire Safety and the New Zealand Timber Design Guide. Being one of the worlds foremost timber engineering experts, I took the opportunity to discuss with him engineering theory on various aspects for timber design, including:

• First principle theory behind tall timber buildings, including the advice for the framing for stability and the engineering properties
• How the development of new connections are improving the panel stiffness, to design to new levels
• The timber technologies available, including cross laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber, and in what situations are each most applicable

If you want to use timber on your next project, the latest WoodSolutions Design Guide #46, Wood Construction Systems can help. It has been developed to assist building professionals to confidently explore conceptual structural designs for timber rich buildings and structures. The link to this guide, along with the other 45 guides can be found at:

https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/articles/technical-design-guides

Andrew Waugh is the founding director of Waugh Thistleton Architects, a world leading architectural practice in the use of cross-laminated timber. He was the pioneer for CLT, with Stadhaus in 2008 and the architect for the worlds largest CLT project, Dalston Lane completed in 2017.

In this interview with Andrew we:

• The life cycle of CLT, including the carbon sequestration of CO2 within CLT and it's role in tackling climate change in the coming decade and how to deal with panels at the end of life
• How architects can draw inspiration from the pioneers of architects in 1920, who grew up with low density timber framing and had the vision of how reinforced concrete could change how buildings look like - in a similar way, architects today need to have the vision to change what massive timber buildings look like
• How the construction industry is lacking behind others and why timber is the disruption the industry needs

I was speaking with Andrew in the midst of the World Conference of Timber Engineering, of which he was keynote. It was recorded in the lobby of his hotel, so you can expect a bit of background noise.