JNL manufactures a wide range of engineered wood (LVL, Plywood, Panels) and solid wood products – for structural and non-structural purposes, for external or internal uses, and for appearance or non-appearance finishes.

The Put a Little Heart in it campaign was originally launched on TV3 news in Dunedin last October, 2012 with the unveiling of a City Forests truck and trailer unit. The campaign has worked to lift the profile of wood and wood products  across residential and commercial construction in New Zealand.

The McAuleys transport truck which carries JNL products will further reinforce the benefits of timber as it travels across significant tracts of New Zealand on state Highway 1 and 2 from  Kaitaia down to Cromwell in  Central Otago.

JNL sustainably manage and certify plantation forests in the Northland, East Coast and Wairarapa regions of NZ’s North Island The company operates  four modern, efficient and environmentally clean wood processing mills and employs nearly 900 people. All of which means that in an age where wood is becoming increasingly recognised and re-established as a product of choice for many structural and non-structural applications we can offer you high quality, fit-for-purpose products to meet your needs.

For more information www.jnl.co.nz

Summer Gold Poster – Christopher Welch (click thumbnail to view PDF)

Summer Gold Poster – Jae Warrander (click thumbnail to view PDF)

Summer Gold Poster – Matthew McFetridge (click thumbnail to view PDF)

Overall Aims and Objectives

This projects aim to determine design parameters that reflect the capacity of the NZ wood industry, and place these in the context of a world-wide review of innovative timber construction. The goal is to explore innovative parametric designs calibrated to timber fabrication constraints that can be used to promote the uptake of timber in new ways in New Zealand. In particular the focus has been on research into non-standard geometry timber construction that is low cost, easy to assemble and exploits the material properties of wood. The key objectives are two-fold: to develop parametric models of non-standard timber assemblies calibrated to typical manufacturing capacity and material properties; and secondly to explore design contexts where such non-standard geometry can be usefully applied.

For contract purposes the research has been was divided into three projects: Prefabricated timber jointing; Non-standard prefabrication with timber using parametric design techniques; environmental screening systems using prefabricated timber. Prior to embarking on the applied research, the students collaborated on this document – a literature and project review. This provides an excellent overview of cutting edge design and manufacturing experiments and a review of the NZ industry. From the parametric prefabrication experimentation and pilot studies were undertaken. These are documented in three separate reports that have been circulated with this document.

Perspective – Theatre from Kilmore Street

The Mix it Up contest, run by the Peterborough Village group of residents, businesses and property owners, sought designs for a two to four storey development in a central Christchurch neighbourhood that had suffered extensive damage in the Canterbury earthquakes.

Perspective – Kilmore Street

The Architectus team won first equal place for their design, “A Public Greenway”, which focussed on a green corridor through the site that provides a gateway for the Peterborough community.

Perspective – Park

Co-winner Andrew Sexton Architecture won for its “New ‘Urbanism’ for Christchurch”, which focussed on new methods of construction for Christchurch.

Structure detail

Peterborough Village chairman Mark McEntyre said the winning entries were fresh, had a combination of elements and could be used in other parts of the city.

Overall – Axonometric

Designers had been asked to include residential, retail and business spaces, as well as a repertory theatre and café. Judges had looked for designs that had a sense of place and sat well in the landscape, McEntyre said.

Perspective – Courtyard

Perspective – Cafe

“We asked the competitors to take into consideration the history of the land and what the designs look like in a New Zealand context.”

The Prince of Wales is pleased the competition explicitly seeks a mixed-use rebuild to encourage “liveability, accessibility and permeability, with a sustainable energy efficient focus and a strong sense of place.” Prince Charles emphasised that success will not be “merely about building design, but also about the spaces they create and the communities they generate”.

Peterborough Village committee member and Landscape Architect Di Lucas said the idea for the competition came after the inner-city commercial area was re-zoned for mixed-use redevelopment. “We were very concerned about the lack of understanding of the exciting potential for mixed use.

She said the competition was promoted as a way to spark inspiration for redevelopment of the area.”

“We are hoping that owners will be inspired by the designs, we hope to see them influence what happens in the area,” said Lucas.

Prizes were awarded for structural innovation in response to our land and water; use of timber; prefabrication; sense of place; and, for being a provocative concept (the last replaced the “microclimate management” prize which was not awarded).

Overall winners first equal:

124: Architectus

130: Andrew Sexton Architecture

Special prizes:

1. Structural innovation:

Winner: 132 – Continuum Architecture & Ken Robinson Architects

Highly commended: 126 – Dalman Architecture & Kirk Roberts

2. Prefabrication:

Winner 124 – Architectus

Highly Commended 132 – Continuum Architecture & Ken Robinson  Architects

Sponsor: Prefab NZ

3. Timber use:

Winner: 130 – Andrew Sexton Architecture

Sponsor: NZ WOOD

5. Sense of place:

130 – Andrew Sexton Architecture

4. Provocative Concept:

Winner 132 – Continuum Architecture & Ken Robinson Architects

Highly commended 125 – Stuart Taylor

Contact:
Di Lucas
027 232 5690
03 3650 789

www.peterboroughvillage.org.nz

“We know the demand for engineered wood products can only grow and our Hawkes bay location provides us with the ideal base to transport product to growth markets throughout New Zealand without detracting from our pricing.

What we ultimately recognize though is that our clients want to have their construction projects simplified and taken care of. We see this with the growth of group home building companies who provide a one-stop shop and in the commercial or light industrial sector the same market drivers are taking hold,” said managing director Peter Roil.

With that in mind Mr Roil founded and launched TimberFirst a design, marketing and project management company that delivers a solution instead of component parts.

TimberFirst recently completed a new state of the art 1100sq m hangar for Hawkes Bay Airport to house the Napier Aero Club comprising three smaller hangars in one, as well as a 26m x 16m hangar for a local aviation company.

Completed in just four weeks with most of the prefabrication done at TimberFirst before being moved onto the site Mr Roil highlights how prefabrication speeds up the build process.”Prefabrication improves productivity and enables cost effectiveness as work continues despite weather conditions with related benefits in health and safety and certainty of delivery,” said Mr Roil.

In relation to the Hawkes Bay airport the ability of TimberFirst to undertake the work offsite meant that the airport company could continue with their multimillion dollar business park redevelopment without the complexity of another construction project in their midst.

TimberFirst is one of two companies operated by Mr. Roil. Kanuka Engineered Wood Products was established in 1998 and produces engineered laminated timber beams. The Kanuka factory and head office on the outskirts of Hastings won an architectural award in 2011 and is regarded as a flagship building for an industry seeking to broaden the use of engineered timber into the commercial sector. “ By not needing internal supports and consequently designing 60m to 100m clear space using timber beams we  demonstrated the application and relevance of timber technology to every warehouse, depot, equestrian centre, farm building or aviation hanger to name but a few applications,” says Mr Roil.

Other projects with which the company has been successfully involved are the Red Stag Timber remanufacturing building in Rotorua, the EPIC Centre in Christchurch and several aircraft hangers across central North Island.

For more information:
www.timberfirst.net.nz
Phone: 06 6503712

Click on image to enlarge

The Wood Council of New Zealand, through its promotional arm NZ Wood, has co-ordinated a Who’s Who of NZ timber technology experts to bring the first Wood Smart Construction Series: Commercial Sector (Wood Smart) to Christchurch on 10 April 2013.

VIEW SPEAKERS for the event

Owen Griffiths is the Marketing Director of Timberlab Solutions and has been involved for over 40 years in the development and manufacture of structural timber solutions. The company, formally known as McIntosh Timber Laminates, has pioneered the manufacture of glulam in New Zealand for over 54 years and Owen has been instrumental in introducing NZ glulam structures to a number of overseas markets previously dominated by steel and concrete. These include a large number of timber structures in Australia, Asia and the Middle East.

Early in 2013 McIntosh formalised a joint venture with TimberBond Industries who specialised in residential glulam applications and engineered timber midfloor solutions to form TimberLab Solutions Ltd. Timberlab provides Glulam and contemporary engineered timber structural solutions for building projects throughout New Zealand and, significantly, to offshore markets.

“Attendees will come away with a clearer understanding of the benefits of establishing strong linkages in the supply chain from concept designer to a quality finished construction project.” Owen Griffiths, Marketing Director, Timberlab

Neil Dodunski – Technical Director, Hunter Laminates

Neil Dodunski has been General Manager for Hunter Laminates for the past three years.
Hunter Laminates is based in Nelson and has a 50 year history in fabrication. Over that time Neil has worked to build the company’s impressive track record through co ordinating and managing the fabrication of glulam for
award winning projects including Knoll Ridge café on Mt Ruapehu, the Massey University College of Creative Arts building, Wellington, the 468 suite University of Auckland Elam Student Residence and Te Wananga- O-Raukawa a Maori tertiary institution in Otaki.

Robin Jack - Chief Executive, XLam NZ
Sam Leslie - Project Engineer, XLam NZ

Robin Jack is Chief Excutive Officer of XLam NZ Ltd. He is also Managing Director of W & R Jack Ltd, (generally known as “Jacks”), suppliers of timber processing equipment since 1946. An early advocate for cross laminated timber, Robin has spent much of the last three years preparing for local manufacture and building awareness in the market. It is his unparalleled technical knowledge and experience which underpin XLam’s state of the art production capability.

Sam Leslie holds Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) and Master of Engineering Management degrees from Canterbury University. He was Senior Scholar at the University of Canterbury in 2008, and gained a Beca Engineering Scholarship. Sam has authored the XLam CLT Design Guide, peer reviewed and commended by NZ’s foremost timber expert Dr Andy Buchanan at Canterbury University School of Engineering. Prior to joining XLam, Sam had 3 years with structural and fire design engineers Hanlon and Partners.

“Following international trends Cross Laminated Timber is set to become widely used for prefabricated construction in New Zealand. Knowledge of benefits and construction possibilities are key factors for the success of any new product. XLam’s presentation will not only  increase awareness of current capabilities but will also give the audience an insight into the future.” Robin Jack CEO

Dr Pierre Quenneville BE, ME, PhD – Professor Timber Design, Head Dept. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland

Dr Quenneville is originally from Canada. He is a structural engineer by education and has been in the timber research since 1988. He obtained his PhD in 1992 and his research interests are on timber structures, specifically connections. He attained international recognition for his research on bolted connections. Pierre has been serving on the Canadian Wood Design standard (O86) since 1993 and is still actively involved in its on-going development. From 1996 to 2009, he chaired its Fastenings sub-committee. In 1999, he established his structural timber consulting company and consulted on numerous timber projects in Canada and overseas. Pierre moved to Auckland in July 2007 as a result of his appointment to professor of timber design in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Auckland. He is one of the STIC objective leader and one of the co-inventor of the portal timber frame Quick-Connect connection. His other main research direction is to develop up-to-date design rules for connections in timber structures. He has taken the Headship of the Civil Engr Department in Auckland as of February 2011.

Dr Stefano Pampanin BE,ME, PhD, – Associate Professor, University of Canterbury, Christchurch

Dr. Stefano Pampanin is Associate Professor in Structural Design & Earthquake Engineering and Chair of the Structural/Geotechnical Cluster of the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand where he joined in 2002. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) both in Italy and New Zealand.

His main research, consulting and expert advisory role activities include the seismic design of reinforced  concrete and prestressed timber buildings as well as the assessment and retrofit of existing structures During his research and professional activities in Europe, US and New Zealand, he has been actively involved in several national and international code committees and applied research projects. He is author of more than 200 scientific publications and has received several national and international awards.

Since the late 1990s he has been dedicating particular effort in the development, implementation and promotion of innovative damage-resistant solutions for either reinforced concrete buildings (PRESSS Technology) as well as prestressed laminated timber buildings (Pres-Lam).

Simon Dorries – General Manager, Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA)

Simon is the General Manager of the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA). The EWPAA is a manufacturer’s association representing plywood, laminated veneer lumber and other glued structural wood product manufacturers with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Simon holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and has worked at the EWPAA for over 20 years. His extensive experience has included product testing and assessment, research and development, development of certification systems for Engineered Wood Products and extensive experience in the development of training programs and product standards.

Stephen Hogg – Technical Director, Aurecon

Stephens experience spans 25 years, 22 of which have been as a Consulting Engineer in Wellington and following the Feb 22 2011 earthquake Stephen relocated to Christchurch to become involved in the cities rebuild. This was an opportunity he felt he could not afford to miss.

In 1999 Stephen founded the Wellington consultancy Romulus Consulting Group before entering into a merger with Connell Wagner in Wellington in 2008. The company soon after re-branded as Aurecon where he is now a Technical Director and the structural discipline leader for the Christchurch office.

Stephens interest and passion for the implementation of new earthquake resilient technologies and working in challenging engineering environments have been the key motivators for bringing him to Christchurch. Stephen enjoys working with people and transferring engineering knowledge to help people better understand what is possible in earthquake resilient design.

“We have the proven earthquake resilient design technology that applies equally to timber as it does to concrete or structural steel. Timber has its very sensible uses in multi storey construction.” Stephen Hogg

Kevin Stanley – Managing Director, Stanley Group

A respected voice in the New Zealand construction industry, Kevin became Stanley Group’s managing director in 2002. With more than 25 years building experience, including 20 years in leadership roles, he has helped to cement the company’s reputation for conquering the toughest assignments.

Jade Kirk B.E. (Hons) – MIPENZ CPEng NDQS – Director, Kirk Roberts

Jade is a director at Kirk Roberts and brings flare, innovation and enthusiasm to every client project. He has a wide range of knowledge in the building industry, not only as a consultant engineer but as a builder,
quantity surveyor and project manager. It was following an early career in quantity surveying that Jade pursued his passion and studied civil engineering. He has gained experience in a diverse range of projects, including earthquake strengthening, residential design, large industrial/ commercial buildings and large multistorey and historical projects. Jade delivers economic projects of varying scale and complexity on time whilst maintaining the architectural intent.

Bruce Curtain BBSc, BArch, ANZIA, RIBA – Manager of Architecture Wellington Studio, Opus Sustainability Manager, Partner

Bruce leads a very talented Wellington team. He has 19 years of experience in leading award-winning commercial projects, modern education environments, airport and transport facilities, local government / community buildings, large scale strategic master planning and urban design. As Sustainability Manager, Bruce is in charge of implementation of our sustainability policy across our global business, and supporting Sustainability in all the design and engineering fields in which we work.

Russell Nettlingham NZCE BE (Civil) CPEng MIPENZ – Director, Strata Group

Russell is a chartered professional civil and structural engineer with over 15 years experience and has worked in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and New Zealand for a number of medium to large consulting practices.

Jasper van der Lingen FNZIA – Director Sheppard & Rout

Jasper van der Lingen BArch (Hons) ANZIA is currently a Director of Sheppard & Rout Architects Ltd. Since graduating from the Auckland Architecture School in 1988 Jasper has worked in a number of Architecture firms over the years including a three year period in London working on Architectural projects associated with significant infrastructure works such as the Channel Tunnel and the Jubilee Line Extension. Since joining Sheppard & Rout in 1993 Jasper has worked as Design and Project Architect on large complex jobs, including the Christchurch International Airport Expansion, Burwood Hospital redevelopment and a number of university and educational facilities. Jasper is particularly interested in how buildings are integrated into a context and help form the unique identity, memory and cultural setting of a place.

“This seminar gives the opportunity to hear how a world leading New Zealand developed innovative commercial timber building technology is being implemented in a real world situation.” Jasper Van der Lingen Sheppard and Rout

Alistair Cattanach BE (Hons) MIPENZ CPEng IntPE – Director, Dunning Thornton

Alistair has 12 years experience working on major engineering projects in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Alistair has excellent problem solving skills, which he has used with distinction on a wide variety of significant projects. He blends his passion for architecture and structural design to create practical and sensitive engineering solutions.

Andrew Brown BE (Hons)Civil, CPEng, MIPENZ – Principal Structural Engineer, Opus

Andrew is a Principal Structural Engineer based in Christchurch with 17 years’ experience in planning, design, and construction of structural and civil engineering projects. Recently, Andrew has been involved in the seismic assessment, repair and strengthening of a range of buildings affected by the Canterbury earthquakes. He is currently leading the design of various rebuild projects, which include projects utilising structural systems that incorporating the latest timber technologies such as Trimble Navigation offices and 791 Colombo Street.

Lindsay Mackie - Principal, Archimedia

Lindsay Mackie is a founding principal of Archimedia, a design led architecture practice with a strong interest in “identity” and it’s expression at the level of architecture.

He offers specialised skills in masterplanning, concept design, feasibility studies and design management across healthcare, hospitality, commercial, mixed use and residential.

The practice is the recipient of twenty NZIA Awards and has won multiple DINZ Best and Property Council Awards including the Supreme Award for Auckland Art Gallery.

Archimedia has received recognition at national level for the WearableArts Museum, Nelson; Queenstown Holiday Park; Villa Maria Mangere and Auckland Art Gallery, which received the New Zealand Architecture Medal in 2012.

Other notable work includes the Hyatt Residences tower, Scott Residence in Hamilton and an earlier collaboration with FJMT, the University of Auckland Business School Complex.

John Reelick BE (Hons) – Director, TTT Products Limited

John is a Director at TTT Products and has 30 years experience in wooden pole manufacture and construction. He leads a team who create innovative solutions for foundations and construction, utilising both standard pole products and uniquely designed and engineered pole products. One recent example of this creative problem-solving is the MultiPole system. This was developed specifically to enable the installation of wooden piles/poles into the variable ground conditions caused by the earthquakes in Christchurch.

SPONSORS

NZ Wood thanks and acknowledge all the speakers who have given their time and drawn on their experience to make Wood Smart possible.
We would also like to acknowledge the planning support of Jason Guiver Nelson Pine , Gordon Whyte and Warwick Banks, CHH Wood Products and
Daniel Scheibmair, President Timber Design Society and Managing Director of Mitek.

The Wood Council of New Zealand, through its promotional arm NZ Wood, has co-ordinated a Who’s Who of NZ timber technology experts to bring the first Wood Smart Construction Series: Commercial Sector (Wood Smart) to Christchurch on 10 April 2013.

Wood Smart will provide property owners, asset manager engineers, architects and quantity surveyors with the knowledge they need to confidently seek a wood first outcome for their commercial buildings.

According to NZ Wood CEO Jane Arnott the focus on ‘here and now’ seeks to highlight that there are reference buildings across New Zealand and the timber technology is here to stay.

The seminar will address concerns that timber technology, in respect of post tensioned multi-storey timber buildings and large clear span portals, is either ‘too new’ or simply ‘not possible’. She goes on to say that “Commercialising innovation always takes time but with an accelerated rebuild in Christchurch, world beating technology and a value added product at our finger tips, our sector is needing to broaden its reach and focus on education. The seminar will be of value to anyone contemplating wood first construction – with particular relevance for building owners and developers.”

The realisation that education is necessary is supported by the sponsors: Building Research Authority of New Zealand (BRANZ), Ministry for Primary Industries and the Earthquake Commission (EQC). As Dr Hugh Cowan, EQC’s General Manager of Reinsurance, Research and Education stated, “There is a lack of consistent quality information in the marketplace about engineered timber and the wide range of potential benefits it offers to construction in New Zealand”.

Wood Smart will ensure that attendees have practical information about product innovation, building system innovation and detailed reviews of buildings that utilise post and beam, post tensioned timber and engineered timber shear walls.

The Wood Smart Seminar Series is being held at Addington Raceway on 10 April, 2013. More information can be found on the NZ Wood website. Registration is $50.00.

Click here for the wood smart speaker profiles.

For more information please contact Jane Arnott, Chief Executive, NZ Wood. Mobile: 021 807 002

Using Canterbury University innovations, Christchurch design and New Zealand timber, a unique building is going up in Victoria St – the first of its kind and a signal of a sustainable, quake-resilient future, writes Rosa Shiels .

——————–

It stands proud and strong amid a row of empty sections and damaged, snaggle-toothed edifices on the changing sidelines of Victoria St.

No 134, this three-storey building under construction, with its standout wooden superstructure, is a signpost to a fresh future, a flag for sustainable progress, and a forward marker for the shape of things to come for our fracture zone on the Canterbury Plains.

Due to be finished mid-year, the Tony Merritt-owned commercial building will feature open-plan office space and sculptural internal detailing. Its timber skeleton will be evident through its glass frontage and north-facing side wall. The engineers, developers and architects – everyone involved in its planning and construction – want it to be seen for what it is: an elegant, earthquake-resistant, multi-storey building. Built using high- strength, laminated veneer lumber (LVL) technology developed at Canterbury University, the building fits the parameters many have called for in the rebuild of Christchurch: it’s human scale, it will look good, it’s safe and made to last.

The concept was designed by architect Jasper van der Lingen, a director at Sheppard & Rout Architects, with engineering by Kirk Roberts Consulting Engineers.

“The architectural intention is to try to show off the timber and also the post- tensioned earthquake-resisting technology,” van der Lingen says. “There are cables that run horizontally through the building and they’ve got end caps, which will be left. There are also what they call energy dissipators at the junctions, which are there to take up the energy if an earthquake shakes up the building. All that will be exposed as part of the look.

“It was designed not long after the quakes in the midst of big aftershocks,” he says.

“There was a sense then, which I think is slightly mellowing now as time goes on, that a building had to be very obviously strong, robust and resilient.”

While these were major factors in the design, there was no need to compromise on aesthetic appeal.

“The stair lobby, halfway down the building, is triple-height space – we’ve tried to get a bit of drama there – and we’ve got open stairs. So instead of walking through a door into a fire- rated stairwell, through design we’ve managed to keep the stairwell open and we’ll clad it in timber.”

The building required a concrete wall on its southern boundary side, and this wall has been cast on timber boards to imprint it with knots and grains and continue the timber “look”.

“Inside we’re trying to keep it as open as possible – the last thing we want is a lot of little cubicle offices with GIB board – so you’ll be able to see in and get that big space with the timber beams and columns.

“It’s what the client agreed to. There’s a degree of conservatism when people are spending millions on a building, trying things that have never been done – except for Tony Merritt. When he came to me, he said, ‘I’d like to do a timber building’, so it was a match made in heaven. There was synergy there.”

The nub of the matter is the innovative timber componentry and earthquake- resistant construction technology that form the bones of the structure. This can be applied to single or medium-rise multi-storey buildings and large-span structures using timber framework. It was developed at the University of Canterbury by the Structural Innovation Timber Company (STIC), a government- backed research and development company, comprising academic and industry shareholders: Carter Holt Harvey, Nelson Pine Industries, Wesbeam, Building Research Association New Zealand, NZ Pine Manufacturers Association, Auckland Uniservices and the University of Canterbury. Other investors are the Foundation for Research Science and Technology as well as Forest and Wood Products Australia. (See also Solid as a Wooden Rock, YW, September 2011.) With five years of government funding (due to expire in June), STIC was tasked with developing innovative and commercially viable ways of using timber in the building industry.

The key personnel include Dr Stefano Pampanin, Canterbury University’s associate professor of civil and natural resources engineering, and Dr Andy Buchanan, research director at STIC and professor of timber design at the university. Both men have specific interests in seismic design philosophy and earthquake engineering.

What their research teams came up with were earthquake-resistant building solutions using New Zealand-grown radiata pine: pre-fabricated and glue- laminated wall sections, box beams and solid columns. In construction, these timber parts are threaded through with high-tensile steel cables or tendons and shock-absorbing steel componentry that enable a building to essentially pull itself back into alignment after a major shake.

“It was a whole philosophical change from the way buildings were done pre- quake,” van der Lingen says. “The codes were designed for people-safety first and they didn’t care so much about the buildings. Now, because of our experiences here, we realise it’s incredibly disruptive, so unsustainable and so wrong in many ways, and it’s better if we design buildings, both to get people out safely and so that they are repairable afterwards.

“The cables can pull it back into shape or, if you have to, you can tension it back up. Those little energy dissipators are sacrificial in a really major quake (hopefully we won’t have a really major quake again), and they could be unbolted and replaced.”

The hi-tech timber components are manufactured by Carter Holt Harvey at Marsden Point in Whangarei and Nelson Pine Industries in Nelson. The use of timber technology as opposed to concrete means that a building can be lighter and thus more economically viable, in that it requires less foundation work. Timber is also flexible, grown locally, and has a higher strength-to- weight ratio than concrete.

It’s a building system that is smart, modern, ecologically sound and local. We grow it, we make it, we design it, we build it. It’s sustainable, it’s exportable. It has to be good for New Zealand Inc in the longterm.

Robert Finch is STIC’s chief executive. “STIC was set up to carry out a research and development programme and promulgate the outputs of that R&D programme to the key industry design professionals on both sides of the Tasman, particularly architects and engineers, and to some extent quantity surveyors and contractors,” he says.

“We’ve had a huge amount of interest and it’s been steadily growing. The interest has been broadly based, from the design professionals through to politicians, local government and other academics interested in timber research techniques, as well as contractors and whatnot.”

So far there are eight completed New Zealand buildings using STIC- developed technology, including the award-winning Arts & Media building at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and another three-storey building on the Massey University campus. “Not very many,” Finch says, “but it’s a good start, considering that we’ve been in the middle of a research programme.”

Three are under construction in Christchurch (although one of these is on hold while decisions are made about its main contractor, Mainzeal) and another three are in advanced stages of design. A further half-dozen are under consideration.

The tallest of those under way is the five-storey building on the corner of Montreal and Hereford streets. This replaces the historic 1930 apartment building, St Elmo Courts, which was demolished after the earthquakes.

“The beams and the frames are post- tensioned LVL, but for various reasons the designers chose to use concrete columns, so it’s a real composite of concrete and timber, with some steel. It’s also been put on base isolation, so it’s a combination of damage-avoidance rocking systems and the more traditional base-isolation technique used by Christchurch Women’s Hospital.”

Until now, STIC’s two-storey demonstration building, purpose built at the Engineering Department’s grounds at Ilam as a show-and-tell facility, has been STIC headquarters, where Finch is based. “Over the past couple of years we’ve literally had hundreds of visitors coming here . . . a number of the key property owners and developers from the Christchurch CBD, including Ngai Tahu. Pretty much all of them go away excited about the opportunity offered by engineered timber, and a sense that they’d never recognised timber could be used in this way in their multi-storey buildings.”

The test building also houses sensitive seismic recording instrumentation, which has collected invaluable data since the major quake of February 22. The test building’s future is undecided, but increasing interest in the results of STIC’s R&D programme indicate the need for a continuation of this cross- Tasman venture after the completion of its government remit in June.

Finch says: “It’s pretty obvious that we’ve evolved and developed a second role, which is one of assisting and demonstration, and beyond that, with the help of the university, providing early technical assistance at preliminary design stage for the engineers and the architects. The system is new and it’s not immediately apparent how to apply it.”

In the meantime, the building at 134 Victoria St is attracting interest from industry professionals as well as the public. On the day we talked to the architect, 50 people from the New Zealand Institute of Building had been shown through. Others to view it have been engineers, people involved in forestry and timber technology, and Nathan Guy, the Minister for Primary Industries. “It’s such a good-news story in many ways because it uses radiata pine, which is grown in New Zealand,” says van der Lingen.

“This is normally not always the highest grade timber, but by engineering it into this laminated system, it is turned into a high-grade timber. It’s grown here, fabricated here, erected here by local people. And wood is carbon-capture and renewable. It’s about as sustainable as you can get.

“There’s a lot of talk about how New Zealand exports raw logs, which go to other countries, who turn it into a valuable product – furniture, houses and so on. It seems such a waste. This is something, that, if we get it right, it’s got so many good sides to it. Instead of just exporting raw logs we could export beams and columns, which have been manufactured with expertise here. It’s a very good news story.”

- © Fairfax NZ News

courotosy of stuff.co.nz – view original story here – http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/8465000/Wood-cuts-it

Wednesday 10th April 2013 | Venue: Legends Lounge, Addington Events Centre, Christchurch

A one day seminar covering the commercial application of engineered timber with a specific emphasis on world leading earthquake engineering and timber technology

• Maximise the value of your property investment/portfolio or asset management.
• Develop capability with relevant knowledge transfer for professional development.
• Achieve awareness of how innovation and commercialisation in wood and wood products are occurring in New Zealand.

Introduction

As an industry sector with a major investment in supplying wood and wood products for domestic construction, the Wood Smart Construction Series demonstrates our commitment to the knowledge transfer that leads to stronger buildings and better outcomes.

Conventional construction methods and building materials lay exposed following the Christchurch earthquakes. The Royal Commission identified and highlighted numerous areas where greater attention to material selection and building methods/standards needed to be tightened.

Our focus is on ensuring that property owners and developers, and the professions that they rely on, are equipped with the most relevant and up to date information about the benefits of engineered timber and modern construction/building systems.

From the perspective of minimising business interruption, optimising return and leveraging innovation, speakers will talk on seismic resistance and damage avoidance design, product properties and performance including fire retardance and acoustics. The manufacturing process that drives the structural strength/load bearing capability of engineered timber will also be highlighted. Case history information will be presented and will detail single and multi-level commercial structures including university facilities, student halls of residence and office  buildings. The broader use of engineered timber and indigenous timber, to enhance a natural aesthetic finish and appeal, will also be showcased.

Increasing the utilisation of engineered timber in commercial, civic and public buildings will optimise your investment in your asset kind and build regional and national economies.

Jane Arnott
Chief Executive, NZ Wood

Who Should Attend?

Building Owners, property investors and developers

Regardless of where you are on the property spectrum, timber and engineered timber is relevant to your business decisions when investing in commercial construction and property.

In the post-earthquake Canterbury Rebuild, the relevance of timber technology and construction methods is indisputable. If you are interested in broadening your understanding of commercial construction, and if you want to minimise business interruption should a disaster strike,
this seminar is for you.

Architects

The demand for healthy, energy efficient, renewable and green buildings, together with designs that uplift and inspire, is never-ending. This seminar brings to the fore nontraditional means to design and apply engineered timber. It includes a section on decorative and indigenous timber.

Structural engineers

New building systems, using post tensioning, long span and quick connect beams utilising LVL, CLT and Glulam, are providing the breakthrough needed for modern low damage design seismic buildings across all sectors. This seminar will enable you to be up to date with the  success of engineered timber solutions as they meet the challenges of 21st century construction.

Construction Industry

Engineered timber buildings are part of the future. They have been built, they are being built and more are in concept design. Be aware of what is happening in your sector and where to find out more.

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