Entries have closed for the 2017 Timber Design Awards, and judges are delighted with the innovation displayed and quality exhibited in the entries, NZ Wood promotion manager Debbie Fergie says.
The prestigious awards have been held for 40 years. New Zealand architects, engineers, builders, students and others using locally-sourced timber and wood-based products manufactured in New Zealand submitted a pleasing number of projects for consideration.
Wood has long been prized as a building material, but continuing advances in wood processing and engineered wood products to improve their properties means it is proving to be a more sustainable and economic alternative to other construction systems.
A strong case can be made for high-rise buildings of 30 storeys-plus to be built of engineered wood.
“Projects completed between January 1, 2015, and February 29, 2016 were eligible for entry, all of which contained significant timber content,” Ms Fergie says.
“As expected, the new ‘Innovation in Student Design’ category expanded the range of entries even more, and we’re all inspired by the designs submitted by such a high calibre of up and coming professionals.”
The event will culminate in a gala awards dinner at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland on March 9, 2017, when all winners will be announced.
