Timber and multi-storey buildings: Industry perceptions of adoption in Australia

Abstract

The use of Engineered Wood Systems (EWS) as structural alternatives or complements of traditional materials, such as steel and concrete, is of growing interest and acceptance in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. Gathering evidence from the Australian context, this paper proposes a roadmap for the adoption of EWS as the primary structural materials of medium-rise buildings, with the scope of increasing levels of public awareness about the potential and current shortcomings of these building technologies. A nation-wide survey with stakeholders at the forefront of adoption in structural design, construction, and property development, indicates that the demand for timber in multi-storey projects has promising prospects of growth, but faces circumstantial industry-wide hurdles in the short to medium term. Awareness of benefits and inclination towards more use of timber among designers are positive factors that provide a promising base for further adoption. The translation of positive front-end design attitudes into adoption, however, requires holistic long-term investment efforts with industry-wide education. The pathway to innovation for timber in multi-storey projects needs to grow beyond mere promotional strategies of its benefits, seeking to expand technical knowledge through education and reaching out beyond a group of already committed and knowledgeable stakeholders at the forefront of adoption.