UNDER a glowing, high-vaulted panelled canopy of Tasmanian blackwood installed 120 years ago in the ceiling of the neo-Gothic St Pauls Chapter House in Flinders Lane, Melbourne, presentations of the 12th annual Australian Timber Design Awards in October lifted wood to an exalted level as a building material preferred by architects – for its sustainability, environmental advantages and economies of scale.
“The standard of entries this year – easily the best since the awards started – has raised the bar for wood design,” said Andrew Dunn, chief executive of the Timber Development Association which organised the awards in conjunction with Wood Solutions.

“It was so high, that many entries unplaced this year – including one international award winner – would have won awards in previous competitions.”

The winners from 100 entrants were announced to an audience of 150 architects and timber industry ‘ambassadors’ by cricketing legend and registered architect Max Walker.

A Tasmanian entry from James Morrison and Yvette Breytenbach contributed a high point to the evening winning both the Australian Forestry Standard Award for certification and the coveted Sanderson Trophy for the most distinctive use of plywood, LVL and wood panels, presented by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia.

The large timber-based school hall and music room in Huntingfield, Tas, used structural radiata, plywood and hoop pine panelling from AFS certified forests.

The roof and floor trusses were a striking economical feature using identical timber cross-sections to the wall framing. A 16.5 sq m roof span of 140 x 145 MGP 10 pine was strengthened by structural plywood box beams around the outside of the span. Inside, Austral Ply B grade hoop pine plywood was used for all linings and panelling.

The award for Best Timber Panels, sponsored by EWPAA, was won by architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorps for Bayside Police Station. Timber and engineered panel components were selected as a natural warm and welcoming material which aligns with the aspirations of a contemporary community-based police station.

Julie Payne of Morris-Nunn and Associates, Hobart, with the iconic Geoffrey Sanderson Trophy she accepted on behalf of fellow Tasmanians James Morrison and Yvette Breytenbach who won for best and most distinctive use of engineered wood products at the Australian Timber Design Awards in Melbourne. The perpetual trophy, presented each year by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia, to mark outstanding design in plywood, LVL and wood panels, is admired by Richard Stanton, national secretary, Australian Forestry Standard, Max Walker, master of ceremonies, and Andrew Dunn, chief executive of the Timber Development Association (NSW). The trophy winners also won the AFS Certified Timber Award, presented by Richard Stanton.

Mark Grouios, sales development manager (commercial builders), Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts, representing the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia, presents the EWPAA Geoffrey Sanderson Troph to Julie Payne of Morris-Nunn and Associates, Hobart, who accepted on behalf of winners James Morrison and Yvette Breytenbach of Hobart.

Mark Grouios, sales development manager (commercial builders), Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts, presents the EWPAA Timber Panel Award to Phillip Ng of Francis-Jones MorehenThorp.