{"id":4352,"date":"2023-04-02T22:01:23","date_gmt":"2023-04-02T22:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=4352"},"modified":"2024-10-21T20:31:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T10:31:27","slug":"wow-mass-timber-has-arrived","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wow-mass-timber-has-arrived\/","title":{"rendered":"Wow, Mass Timber has Arrived!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wow! Who would have thought so many people would be interested in mass timber?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 3000 delegates from 35 countries flocked to the Mass Timber Conference in Portland, Oregon.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is unbelievable \u2026 mass timber has arrived.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

The conference in its 7th year has grown from its humble beginnings of around 250 attending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The topics this year were diverse, covering the entry of minority groups into mass timber design to developers\u2019 perspective on mass timber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The developer of the 25-storey Ascent building in Milwaukee summed it up:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are using wood in their tallest timber project,<\/a> not because they are wood fans, but it gave a record rental rate of return.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ascent,
Ascent, an 86.6-metre-tall mass-timber tower in Wisconsin designed by Korb + Associates Architects, has been certified as the world’s tallest timber building. The 25-storey tower, which opened in July 2022, has a concrete base, elevator and stair shafts, with the rest of the structure made from cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam. (Photo credit: Korb + Associates Architects)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Designed by Korb + Associates Architects<\/a>, the skyscraper was built in just under two years after breaking ground in August 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The architecture studio’s design for the tower was informed by biophilic design<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another developer said he was converting all his projects to wood.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even this old timber engineer learnt something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition was also fantastic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So many mass timber suppliers and associated businesses offered services and products to make mass timber use easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"With
With mass timber displays, axe throwing, interactive research stations \u2013 showcasing the latest in research\u2013 and a multi-storied mass plywood lounge the main floor was a hive of activity. To find out more, read Wood Central’s full report of the conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was even a demonstration of mass timber being installed and because it was mass timber it went up quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A highlight of the conference was an axe-throwing demonstration that started open when the beer was being served. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing could go wrong with that mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The two-storey mass plywood lounge was popular with presenters, exhibitors and delegate alike. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Freres Mass Plywood Panels<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

One of the finds of the trip was Mass Plywood Panels<\/a> (MPP). This is a veneer based cross-laminated timber<\/a> (CLT). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mass
Mass Plywood Panels (MPP) can outperform cross-laminated timber (CLT).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maybe if CLT <\/a>was developed in north America, CLT would have looked like MPP<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyhow, MPP is a 25mm lamella used to construct the panels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each lamella is constructed of 9 layers of 3.7mm veneer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These thin layers are engineered and oriented to enhance the natural strength and dimensional stability of the wood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to this unique construction Mass Ply can outperform CLT panels of similar dimensions. <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Floor, roof and wall panels can be manufactured as large as 3.6m wide and 14.6m long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panels thicknesses are available in 25 mm increments from 50mm to 300mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Global Mass Timber Community <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

As a guest of the American Plywood Association and the American Agricultural Service, the highlight of the event for me was the networking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting colleagues from around the world and some from home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colleagues talked about sharing experiences and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amanda Sturgeon CEO from the Build by Nature summed it up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amanda said that different regions of the world where at different stages of their mass timber journey and facing different challenges at different time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooperation between the regions can help mass timber grow even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Timber Off-Site Construction conference<\/a>, which will be hosted in Melbourne, Australia 11 and 12 September 2023, provides an ideal opportunity for the community to build on the momentum from Portland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The theme for 2023 is “Timber & Technology \u2013 The Zero Carbon Future” <\/strong>and will build on the themes discussed in a number of the conferences keynote presentations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference is now accepting partnership<\/a>, sponsorship <\/a>and exhibition proposals<\/a> and before registrations open up for delegates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can’t wait to see you in Melbourne!<\/p>\n\n\n\n