Company builds interest in prefab timber product
Philip Hopkins
November 8, 2010

TRADITIONAL timber construction methods could be in for a shake-up, with signs that the innovative massive building system called cross-laminated timber, could soon be made in Australia.

According to Tony Neilson, editor of the magazine timberDESIGN, Australasian softwood giant Carter Holt Harvey may be considering a CLT manufacturing plant - possibly within two years.

‘‘But we understand architects have been approached about the design and construction of a CLT building to promote the system and gauge potential demand,’’ Mr Neilson told BusinessDay. ‘‘They seem to be most interested in residential or low-rise commercial applications - certainly not something of the scale of that nine-storey apartment block in the UK built entirely with CLT.’‘

The nine-storey apartment block made entirely of wood was the subject of an Australian tour last year by British architect Andrew Waugh. The structure, 30-metres high, is believed to be the world’s tallest timber building. It does not have a timber frame, but is made of timber panels.

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