Mass Timber Market Updates - Feb 2025 - Week Six

Discover the future of sustainable architecture as we uncover the innovative designs pushing the boundaries of mass timber construction. From a visionary 60,000-seat wooden stadium proposal for the Brisbane Olympics by Kirk Studio that aligns with the International Olympic Committee's Sustainability Strategy, to Daimler's $43 million USD venture into timber-powered electric vehicle facilities in Greater Portland, these projects embody the cutting-edge of eco-friendly building design. The episode promises insights into these transformative developments, offering listeners a glimpse of the pioneering spirit shaping the future of architectural excellence.

Our journey doesn't stop there. We'll explore global projects like Fletcher Priest Architects’ remarkable refurbishment of the former BHS headquarters in the UK, highlighting their use of GLT and CLT materials for sustainable design. We'll also venture to Oregon Polytechnic for a sneak peek at their new mass timber residence hall aimed at enhancing student life, before heading to South Australia to see how Timberlink is revolutionizing construction with CLT panels at Flinders University's Factory of the Future. Each story showcases the limitless potential of mass timber, promising listeners a captivating look at these groundbreaking endeavors.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:59

Ladies and gentlemen, we are live. This is the moment you all have been waiting for. It's time for the global sensation, the one, the only, the undisputed heavyweight podcast in the world the Mass Timber Construction Podcast. And now here's Paul Kramer, your host. Good morning, good afternoon or good evening, wherever you are in the world today, welcome to the Mass Timber Construction Podcast. My name's Paul Kramer, your host. Don't forget to get your tickets, book your hotel and get to the International Mass Timber Conference Only a couple of months away now, at the end of March. Most of the early bird specials have now sort of finished and run their course, but you can probably still pick up a bargain and make sure that you get in there to have a look at all the education tracks, look at all the exhibition halls and participate in some workshops. It's a great event if you're trying to get into mass timber or you want to catch up with, network with friends. Don't forget to like, share, subscribe to all of our social media feed and the podcast, of course, and thank you for joining us again for another week.

Speaker 1: 2:30

Let's have a look at what's making news around the world this week in mass timber construction land, and the big news is another wooden stadium has been proposed, this time for the olympics to be held in. Held in Brisbane, australia, at a place called, affectionately known, the Gabba it's actually the Brisbane Cricket Ground called or in the location of Wollongabba, but we call it the Gabba for short and Kirk Studio proposal for the International Olympic Committee Sustainability Strategy to provide this 60,000 seat gabba west stadium to be situated near the existing stadium has been put online and you can actually go to our linkedin feed and have a look at this incredible grid shell glue laminated system with a clear, translucent facade that exposes the grid shell system so you can see the timber through the exterior of the building. It is an incredible proposal. If it gets up, it will be along with the Tasmanian proposal two of the largest world-leading timber stadiums in the world and to Portland, oregon. Now, and Daimler chooses Greater Portland for its $43 million USD expansion Daimler's future of electric vehicles in the area. The project is live on our LinkedIn feed if you'd like to go and have a look at some of the concept drawings. It's quite impressive and, of course, it will be using timber as a primary building material for the expansion in the location. So check out the building if you want to have a look.

Speaker 1: 4:25

And to the uk and fletcher priest completes the refurbishment of the former bhs headquarters in maribor. The work by arcadia group is a replacement of the existing 1960s extension with stepped facing facade terrace buildings for a building. The new design is three stories to the building with upper levels and additional areas out the back with landscaping. The new MUSE building is constructed from GLT and CLT and replaces the old service block car park and is said to have saved 19 tonnes of CO2, compared to conventional concrete and steel programs. So if you want to have a look at this impressive project, you can head to our LinkedIn feed. And the Northampton headquarters of Un company supplies rigging and creative industries and they have prioritized materials that can be repurposed, dismantled and otherwise facilitate a new life of the building at the end of its existing life. It is all part of the circular economy and it is starting to take a hold, so designing up front for circularity is becoming quite an important facet in design. If you'd like to check out just a very short article on this project, please head to our LinkedIn feed.

Speaker 1: 6:00

And Oregon Polytechnic is focusing on the student experience in incorporating hands-on learning in the construction of its new 35 million mass timber residence hall. The 86,170 square foot full-story building will house 517 students, addressing the university's growing need for additional on-campus housing. Construction is expected to be completed in December in 2025, and the vision for the new residence is directed by the steering committee at Oregon Tech. If you want to have a look at some impressive photos of this mass timber building, please head to our LinkedIn feed. They really are quite stunning. And finally, this week, next, timber by Timberlink is pleased to announce that it supplied the CLT roof and floor panels for the Flinders University Factory of the Future at the Tonsley Technical College project located in South Australia. Flinders University Factory of the Future is an innovation in research and manufacturing, and there were 22 truckloads delivered, nearly 200 individual CLT panels used in the construction of the flooring and the roof system. If you'd like to have a look at the images of the photo under construction, you can head to our LinkedIn feed.

Speaker 1: 7:13

And that's it, folks. That's all that's making news around the world this week in Mass Timber Construction Land. Don't forget to hit like, subscribe, comment or share or repost any of the content we have on our socials. Thank you for listening to this podcast Not too soon now before the Mass Timber International Conference in Portland, oregon, and a few projects in Portland coming up in this news feed as well. So get along into Portland and have a look and see if you can see some works happening in progress in that particular location, and we look forward to bringing you news this time next week. Good morning, good afternoon or good evening, wherever you are in the world today, this is Paul Kramer signing off on the Mass Timber Construction Podcast. Have a great week, week. Speak to you soon. Bye.