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 an ARC Research Hub to “Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment” based in the School of Civil Engineering, Centre for Future Timber Structures, at the University of Queensland (UQ).
As a part of collaboration between UQ’s Future Timber Hub (Dr Paola Leardini) and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Dr Maryam Shirmohammadi), a research project has been commenced to monitor moisture behaviour of the newMaryborough Fire Station
As a part of collaboration between UQ’s Future Timber Hub (Dr Paola Leardini and Mr Marcus Strang- PhD student) and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Dr Maryam Shirmohammadi), a cross laminated timber (CLT) micro-unit has been designed and built at the Salisbury research facility.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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]".
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.
Congratulations to Marcus Strang on being one of only three Australian Passive House Certifiers. Marcus, a Hub PhD candidate, is a researcher on Hub project "Pathways to Net Zero Energy for Engineered Wood Multi-storey Buildings in Australian Tropical and Sub-Tropical Climates [eWoodZEB]".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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).
In February 2021 the ARC Future Timber Hub completed a highly successful Research Showcase. This was a series of lunchtime webinars on each Hub project which showcased its research and partners facilities. To view the recordings please visit futuretimberhub.org.
The University of Queensland Fire Showcase
To view recordings of the webinars please click on title below:
University of Canterbury Showcase
To view recordings of the webinars please click on title below:
Griffith University Showcase
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