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2 years 1 month ago
News Item

New ARC Research Hub to “Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment”

On July 13, 2022, the Hon Jason Clare MP and Australian Research Council (ARC) announced a grant of $3 million in research and development (R&D) funding to establish the ARC industrial Transformation Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia's Future Built Environment (ARC Advance Timber Hub). The hub is based in the School of Civil Engineering, Centre for Future Timber Structures, at the University of Queensland (UQ). 

3 years 3 weeks ago
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Is wood the new concrete?

Professor Keith Crews, from The University of Queensland, who is Director of the Centre for Future Timber Structures has been featured in this recent article about how companies that are looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions are turning to mass timber as a climate and building solution.

3 years 4 weeks ago
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Impact of the Hub's Research into continuous drying on timber

In the news, recently, Hyne Timber has been celebrating the commencement in operations of their much anticipated new Continuous Drying Kiln (CDK) which was marked in an official ribbon cutting event held on the 8 October.  

Did you know that the research from the ARC Future Timber Hub project "Impact of continuous drying on key production and performance criteria of engineered wood structural elements" has contributed greatly to this success story? Hyne Timber's CEO, Jon Kleinschmidt, explains this invaluable support.

3 years 2 months ago
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ARC Future Timber Hub featured in the 2020-2021 'Making a Difference - Outcomes of ARC supported research'

The ARC Future Timber Hub is pleased to advise that we are featured, on page 12, in the 2020-2021 edition of 'Making a Difference - Outcomes of ARC supported research'. This is an annual publication produced by the ARC that demonstrates how ARC supported research is making a real difference to Australia and the world.

Each edition is a snapshot of the outstanding research outcomes derived from research projects funded by the Australian Government through the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP).

3 years 2 months ago
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Australian Institute of Architects - Q & A with Harry Mills

The ARC Future Timber Hub is proud of Hub/UQ PhD candidate, Harry Mills, who has been featured in a publication by Australian Institute of Architects (AIA). Michael Croft from AIA interviewed Harry about his passion for regenerative, and environmentally responsible design and how Harry's project looks at resource recovery of marginalised and under-utilised timber for use in the built environment. Harry's important research is finding ways to maximise the amount of wood we can extract from each tree for timber building products. Harry's PhD is centred around two Hub projects: Alternative uses for under-valued sawmill products in innovative timber structures and Prefabrication and digital fabrication strategies for large-scale timber construction.

3 years 3 months ago
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Australian CLT research presented at world timber engineering conference

The ARC Future Timber Hub is pleased to advise that Hub researchers have been highlighed in this article in Timber & Forestry Enews, issue 670. Professor Keith Crews - Chair of the Centre for Future Timber Structures, Marcus Strang - UQ/Hub PhD candidate, and Dr Paola Leardini - Hub CI and senior lecturer in architecture at UQ are featured on page 11.  Paola and Marcus' Hub project is "Pathways to Net Zero Energy for Engineered Wood Multi-storey Buildings in Australian Tropical and Sub-Tropical Climates [eWoodZEB]".

3 years 3 months ago
News Item

The Jolly Jumper - showcasing a Hybrid Timber - Advanced Composites Beam

Over the Summer of 2020/21 four lucky UQ Undergraduate Engineering students were selected to complete a Summer Research Program which entailed 6 weeks of learning supervised by Dr Cristian Maluk, Abdulrahman "Abed" Zaben (ARC Future Timber Hub PhD Student) and Dr Henri Bailleres (industry partner at Hyne Timber). The project which is now finished was crowned "The Jolly Jumper".  A rig that helps to demonstrate the strength granted by reinforcing timber beams in a kinaesthetic manner for users.

3 years 5 months ago
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New Zealand Government adopts 'timber-first policy' for building industry in bid to combat climate change

Associate Professor Minghao Li, chief investigator of Hub project "The behaviour of critical connections and core wall systems in tall timber buildings" has featured in a video by 1 NEWS which showcases how the New Zealand building industry is in for a shake-up as the New Zealand Government adopts a timber-first policy to help combat climate change. New research shows the building industry needs to halve its emissions in a decade if New Zealand wants to hit its 2050 carbon target. 

3 years 5 months ago
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Responsible Wood Award highlighted for UQ Civil Engineering & Architecture Students

Timber building materials produced from sustainably-grown local plantations and the benefits this brings to reducing carbon output are the thrusts of prize-winning projects by four University of Queensland students, two from the School of Civil Engineering and two from the School of Architecture.
Duncan Hossy and William Webster were awarded Responsible Wood Civil Engineering prizes for Excellence in Timber Design for two bridges at the Brisbane Valley Adventure Rail Trail.  Dylan Francis and Simin Louei were awarded the Responsible Wood Architectural Prize for Excellence in Timber Design for their research paper and model on the construction of a fire observation tower in the Brisbane Valley region. 

3 years 5 months ago
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Passive solar design versus Passive House: why we need both for healthy homes in Queensland

Very thoughtful article by Chief Investigator of the ARC Future Timber Hub, Dr Paola Leardini, who is CI for Hub Project "Pathways to Net Zero Energy for Engineered Wood Multi-storey Buildings in Australian Tropical and Sub-Tropical Climates [eWoodZEB]". Dr Leardini describes the essential elements of a comfortable house for the subtropics. “Passive House” works in all climates: hot, cold, humid and dry.

 

3 years 7 months ago
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Future Timber Hub leading response to industry research needs in the (mass) timber industry

The Centre for Future Timber Structures (CFTS) / Future Timber Hub (FTH) held a Strategic Collaborative Workshop on the 15 April 2021 which was attended by the ARC Future Timber Hub's current Project Leaders, Industry Partners and Institutional Partners, along with representatives from other major national universities and industry.  The purpose of the Workshop was to bring Academics and Industry together to define the research needs in Australia and the Pacific Region.  50% of the 90 plus attendees were from Industry which highlights the want (and need) for further research in the use of Timber in the Construction Sector. 

 

3 years 7 months ago
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First mass-timber fire station in Australia

A contract to deliver Maryborough’s new $12.1 million fire and emergency services station has been awarded to timber manufacturer, and Hub Partner, Hyne Timber and building firm Hutchinson Builders. This will be the first mass-timber fire station in Australia. The UQ Centre for Future Timber Structures (CFTS) and the ARC Future Timber Hub are very proud to be involved in getting this project off the ground. See Timberbiz Article

3 years 7 months ago
News Item

Mass Timber Fire Station Revealed

The Queensland Government have announced they will be building the replacement, state-of-the-art Maryborough Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Complex from Hyne Timber engineered timber solutions. The UQ Centre for Future Timber Structures (CFTS) and the ARC Future Timber Hub are proud to be involved in getting this project off the ground.

3 years 8 months ago
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The Wood from the Trees: what we all need to know about nature’s gift

The ARC Future Timber Hub is featured in this special feature article by The Fifth Estate "The wood from the trees: what we all need to know about nature’s gift". It showcases the issues we need to tackle if we are to grasp the full potential of this most beautiful and natural of our building materials. Thanks to Hub Chief Investigators Joe Gattas and Rob McGavin who contributed to the article. Special mention to Hub Partners Hyne Timber, Arup, Lendlease and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland). 

3 years 10 months ago
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Continuous drying kiln (CDK) technology trial is underway

The ARC Future Timber Hub project "Impact of continuous drying on key production and performance criteria of engineered wood structural elements", led by Dr Chandan Kumar is currently completing a large scale trial with the Forest Product Innovation team at Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to investigate the impact of continuous drying kiln (CDK) technology on various quality parameters of Australian Southern Pine timber. 

3 years 10 months ago
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Report emphasises the importance of research of engineered timber in the built environment

In 2020 the ARC Future Timber Hub (FTH) commissioned the Australian Institute for Business and Economics (AIBE), to undertake an analysis of the potential economic, environmental and social impacts of four of our current marquee ARC FTH research projects. AIBE engaged Tulipwood Economics to assist with the preparation of the report. The conclusion of this report emphasises the need for, and opportunities in, continuing engineered timber focused, industry relevant research projects that specifically target resolution of performance gaps and development of commercially viable, safe and sustainable timber-based solutions.