{"id":8675,"date":"2023-07-19T11:43:02","date_gmt":"2023-07-19T01:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=8675"},"modified":"2024-10-21T20:30:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T10:30:51","slug":"mass-timber-and-concrete-are-key-to-nz-construction-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/mass-timber-and-concrete-are-key-to-nz-construction-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass Timber and Concrete Are Key to NZ Construction Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Timber and concrete can be used harmoniously in construction projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bill McKay, a senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland, argues that New Zealand should use more composite materials in construction projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;A timber and concrete structure,&#8221; he said, &#8220;which is the best of both worlds.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnz.co.nz\/national\/programmes\/ninetonoon\/audio\/2018898682\/concrete-v-timber-the-pros-and-cons-from-an-environmental\">Speaking to Radio New Zealand&#8217;s Nine to Noon host Susie Ferguson<\/a>, Professor McKay discussed the positives and negatives of concrete and timber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">What is the future of construction? According to NZ academic and architecture researcher  Bill McKay, the answer lies in hybrid mass timber and concrete systems. Listen to the full interview here <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cAQgQtrRNu\">https:\/\/t.co\/cAQgQtrRNu<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/architecture?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#architecture<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/construction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#construction<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/hyrid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#hyrid<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/nz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#nz<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/timber?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#timber<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/concrete?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#concrete<\/a><\/p>&mdash; WoodCentralAu (@WoodCentralAU1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WoodCentralAU1\/status\/1681471383929516033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 19, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bill McKay is an active writer and contributor to New Zealand architectural history.\u00a0In addition, he works as a Sustainability contributor for RNZ and a columnist for Architecture NZ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr McKay strongly supports engineered wood products, &#8220;New Zealand construction&#8217;s future.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Think of plywood on steroids,&#8221; Mr McKay said, &#8220;it is precision made, which means that they are dimensionally accurate and can reduce waste.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to McKay, heavy timber can be earthquake and fire-resistant and &#8220;outperforms steel as it charrs on the outside and does not burn through.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/The-Scion-Innovation-Hub-which-uses-Mass-Timber-in-the-highly-innovative-Timber-Diagrid-Structure-Wood-Central-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/The-Scion-Innovation-Hub-which-uses-Mass-Timber-in-the-highly-innovative-Timber-Diagrid-Structure-Wood-Central-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/The-Scion-Innovation-Hub-which-uses-Mass-Timber-in-the-highly-innovative-Timber-Diagrid-Structure-Wood-Central-600x375.jpg 600w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/The-Scion-Innovation-Hub-which-uses-Mass-Timber-in-the-highly-innovative-Timber-Diagrid-Structure-Wood-Central-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/The-Scion-Innovation-Hub-which-uses-Mass-Timber-in-the-highly-innovative-Timber-Diagrid-Structure-Wood-Central-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/The-Scion-Innovation-Hub-which-uses-Mass-Timber-in-the-highly-innovative-Timber-Diagrid-Structure-Wood-Central-696x435.jpg 696w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/The-Scion-Innovation-Hub-which-uses-Mass-Timber-in-the-highly-innovative-Timber-Diagrid-Structure-Wood-Central-672x420.jpg 672w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/The-Scion-Innovation-Hub-which-uses-Mass-Timber-in-the-highly-innovative-Timber-Diagrid-Structure-Wood-Central.jpg 1050w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The award-winning Scion House in Rotoroa used mass timber in its Timber Diagrid system. <a href=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/scion-innovation-hub-a-timber-diagrid-structure-that-redefines-sustainability-in-building-design\/\">The project has previously been featured in a Wood Central case study<\/a>. <em>(Photo credit &#8211; Patrick Reynolds)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, McKay said, concrete is also an important material often misused in New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McKay says most New Zealand concrete buildings must be better oriented to the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Concrete, like timber, has a thermal capacity, &#8220;which means it can store heat.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The great advantage of concrete slabs is that when we use them for passive heating, if oriented to the sun,&#8221; according to McKay, is that &#8220;they can store that day&#8217;s warmth from the sunlight (&#8230;), and they can re-radiate the warmth into the house.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McKay said concrete buildings are also popular in the tropics, &#8220;if you keep windows smaller, the reverse happens, and it can keep structures cooler.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"xeHcbpP2-kc\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Stay Cool and Save Energy: Passive House Design in Hot Climates\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xeHcbpP2-kc?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>For all its faults, concrete can be effectively used in passive housing design. Footage courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@hometube788\">@hometube788<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The big problem, however, is that concrete has a much larger carbon footprint than timber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This is one reason why architects choose not to demolish concrete buildings.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through a process known as retrofitting, &#8220;architects are stripping buildings back to the bones, the concrete structure and then redeveloping them back to modern standards,&#8221; McKay said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"VLI6lOZgvS4\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Climate Show: What is &#039;retrofitting&#039; and why is it so important?\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VLI6lOZgvS4?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Retrofitting and &#8216;brownfield&#8217; construction are growing in popularity. Footage courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@SkyNews\">@SkyNews<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">70% lower climate impact by combining mass timber and concrete<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/positive-impact-hybrid-timber-concrete-could-drive-decarbonisation\/\">In April<\/a>, Wood Central reported on a new hybrid material developed by Mets\u00e4 Wood, combining both materials to offer enhanced strength, durability, reduced weight and carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The so-called sandwich component is ideal for exterior walls, providing heightened resistance to weather and wind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It uses\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.metsagroup.com\/metsawood\/products-and-services\/products\/kerto-lvl\/q-panel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mets\u00e4 Wood&#8217;s Kerto LVL Q-panel<\/a>\u00a0as a load-bearing core panel and an external\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/worldgbc.org\/article\/heidelbergcement-leading-the-way-to-carbon-neutrality\/#:~:text=HeidelbergCement%60s%20groupwide%20R%26D%20and%20product%20innovation%20departments%20developed,to%20100%25%20recycled%20aggregates%20and%20low%20CO2%20cement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Heidelberg Materials&#8217; climate-enhanced concrete panel.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"qNMCu4MMx_0\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mets\u00e4 Wood KERTO\u00ae laminated veneer lumber (LVL) \u2013 production video\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qNMCu4MMx_0?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Footage courtesy of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@metsagroup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@metsagroup<\/a><br><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Jussi Bj\u00f6rman, business director of construction at Mets\u00e4 Wood, explains,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;By developing a hybrid element, we want to see how the different technical properties of wood and concrete can work together to support each other in building structures.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bj\u00f6rman added, &#8220;Our joint development work is a step forward to find new ways for the construction industry to continue building sustainably and with an even lower climate footprint.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research: Hybrid timber systems could be the new reinforced concrete<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>The collaboration agreement between Mets\u00e4 Wood and Heidelberg Materials Precast Contiga means that the companies are now starting joint development work of a competitive hybrid element.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fraunhofer.de\/en\/press\/research-news\/2022\/february-2022\/hybrid-timber-systems.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">In March 2022<\/a>, researchers at The Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research at Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut set up a research project looking at the long-term value of combining timber and concrete into hybrid building systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"330\" data-id=\"8681\" src=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1-1024x330.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1-1024x330.png 1024w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1-600x193.png 600w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1-300x97.png 300w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1-768x248.png 768w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1-696x224.png 696w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1-1068x344.png 1068w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1-1303x420.png 1303w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1-1320x425.png 1320w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-2-1-1536x495.jpg-1.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"330\" data-id=\"8680\" src=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg-1024x330.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg-1024x330.png 1024w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg-600x193.png 600w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg-300x97.png 300w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg-768x248.png 768w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg-696x224.png 696w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg-1068x344.png 1068w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg-1303x420.png 1303w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg-1320x425.png 1320w, https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/wki-hybrid-timber-systems-pic-1-1-1-1536x495.jpg.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Images courtesy of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fraunhofer.de\/en\/press\/research-news\/2022\/february-2022\/hybrid-timber-systems.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The team has devised a new approach for combining timber and concrete mechanically using steel nails, plates, and nets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Prof. Libo Yan, Senior Scientist and Junior Research Group Leader:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;By bonding the materials with polyurethane or epoxy resin, we can reduce the weight of the timber hybrids and hasten the manufacturing process by up to 15%.&#8221; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Timber and concrete can be used harmoniously in construction projects. Bill McKay, a senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland, argues that New Zealand should use more composite materials in construction projects. &#8220;A timber and concrete structure,&#8221; he said, &#8220;which is the best of both worlds.&#8221;\u00a0 Speaking to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8682,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[3,38,37,39,114],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[69],"class_list":{"0":"post-8675","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-architecture","8":"category-architecture-and-design","9":"category-building-and-construction","10":"category-mass-timber","11":"category-new-zealand"},"authors":[{"term_id":69,"user_id":1,"is_guest":0,"slug":"woodcentral","display_name":"Wood Central","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/MASTER-BRAND-MARK_POS_RGB-e1676449549955.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/MASTER-BRAND-MARK_POS_RGB-e1676449549955.jpg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8675"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8683,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8675\/revisions\/8683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8675"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=8675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}