Greetings and welcome to our Spring newsletter!
Winter is officially behind us. While the Levin plant kept humming with local and export work, the real story of the past quarter has been our time on the road.
From travelling the country for the CARTERS Trade League to sitting down with architecture practices in Auckland, those early starts are always worth it. Having conversations early on, before structures are locked in, is where engineered timber gets used properly.
On site, it is brilliant to see our glulam taking shape. A major milestone recently was watching the first roof members lifted into place at the new Palmerston North Airport terminal. It is a proud moment for the crew to see our timber on such significant regional infrastructure.
Elsewhere, several builds are nearing completion, including the main structures at Fiji’s Plantation Island Stage 2 and a stunning Northland coastal residence topped with our Woodspan PLT panels. With a number of new commercial projects about to break ground, momentum across the industry is strong.
The travel continues this month with the Design Experience roadshow. We appreciate your support and look forward to keeping you updated as these jobs progress.
Please feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss how we can assist with your upcoming plans.
Brett Hamilton – Managing Director
// Returning to Plantation Island Resort
Back in 2019, we supplied the structural glulam for the initial multi-stage development at Plantation Island Resort in Fiji. Today, we are back supporting their ongoing expansion, and the new structures are already shaping up to be a true showstopper. It is a fantastic full-circle moment to see our engineered timber returning to this stunning island location.
Every timber frame pictured was manufactured at our Levin plant. The team pre-cut and packed the entire structure before shipping it across the Pacific. Seeing these members now standing tall on site is a massive credit to the hard work happening back home on the factory floor.
// Rafter Beams – strong and simple to build
Far superior to solid timber products, laminated timber is stable and has consistent structural properties.
Techlam’s glulam rafter beams are easily assembled and can achieve significant spans without internal support, allowing large, open-plan areas to be achieved.
Typical uses range from modest pergola rafters through to large scale clear-span warehouses and sheds.
Standard dimensions are typically 100mm to 900mm in depth and 42mm to 270mm in thickness. However, larger dimensions are readily achievable due to the flexibility of the manufacturing process. Beam length is generally only limited by transport – beams up to 27m are possible. Beam strength grades available – GL8, GL10 and GL12.
// 9 examples of how glulam is reshaping New Zealand schools
Standard mid-century New Zealand school blocks and larger buildings such as gymnasiums or atriums are historically made of light timber framing to structural steel portals for larger volumes, completed by concrete blockwork and suspended ceiling tiles for hidden services.
Over the last decade or so, and while standard light framing still does its job for smaller classrooms, engineered timber and especially glulam (glued laminated timber) is progressively stepping up to replace structural steel. From early childhood centres to university hubs, architects and engineers are using glulam to solve long spans, complex curves or ambitious geometrical shapes while addressing strict building standards (such as seismic criteria, high wind, char rates in fire, etc). Leaving the skeleton of the building exposed is also more common practice and is becoming part of the specified intention rather than covering the structure with timber tongue-and-groove or softboard linings.
And it’s about far more than simply ticking the environmental or low-carbon box. An exposed glulam frame solves structural, acoustic and some day-to-day practical demands in ways steel simply cannot match.
// A cost-effective solution for intertenancy floor
Increasing urban density has sharpened the focus on noise within and between adjoining tenancies as well as the risk of fire spreading between buildings and tenancies. In respect of noise transmission this does not necessarily require compliance with building code clause G6 (Airborne and Impact Sound), but noise reduction still will improve the occupied experience.
Designers understand that the primary structure of the floor does not contribute significantly to the noise reduction and fire resistance. These attributes are primarily provided through the installation of a suspended ceiling and acoustic flooring assemblies.
It is the ease with which suspended ceiling assemblies and acoustic flooring assemblies can be fixed to a Woodspan Parallel Laminated Timber (PLT) flooring system that makes Woodspan PLT the cost effective, construction efficient, high-performance choice.
Techlam has their own in-house regulatory expert who can be contacted at louise.swann@techlam.co.nz.
// Case Study: 32 Southern Cross Road
Arumoni Developments aimed to create a premium industrial facility at the entrance to the Rangiora Business Hub, creating an architectural showpiece with excellent environmental performance.
Techlam manufactured the laminated timber portal structure, sourced from sustainably managed New Zealand forests. Delivering a reliable, high-performing alternative to traditional steel, the glulam portals provided the durability required for an industrial facility while lowering the building’s upfront carbon footprint.
// Glulam across the globe
Image Credit: Shigeru Ban Architects and Swatch
Each quarter, we are featuring an inspiring glulam project from elsewhere.
Project
Swatch Headquarters
Location
Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
Architects
Shigeru Ban Architects
Client
Swatch Group
Completion Date
2019
Located in Biel, Switzerland, the Swatch Headquarters represents a phenomenal achievement in timber engineering. Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban designed this playful, sweeping structure to challenge the limits of modern wood construction.
The building relies on a massive timber gridshell canopy to achieve its striking, curved form. Stretching 240 metres in length and rising 27 metres high, this vast framework encloses 25,000m² of floor space.
To create the complex shell, the project utilised 7,700 unique glulam pieces. A factory-led approach achieved a 0.1-millimetre manufacturing tolerance, ensuring the distinct components locked together flawlessly on the construction site.
Timber was the natural choice to meet strict environmental goals and limit the carbon footprint of the build. Sustainably sourced Swiss spruce acts as a carbon store, while advanced technologies like groundwater heating, solar power, and active ceiling panels keep the building’s daily impact low.
// Upcoming events
The Techlam team is hitting the road for a packed schedule of spring events. Have a look at the locations below and drop by to say hello when we are in your area!
For Architects and Designers
Design Experience Auckland – Tue 15 Sep, 4:00 pm. Register now for free
Design Experience Hamilton – Wed 16 Sep, 4:00 pm. Register now for free
Design Experience Tauranga – Thu 17 Sep, 4:00 pm. Register now for free
TechED Wellington – Fri 25 Sep (Summerset Group at 10:30 am, Designgroup Stapleton Elliott at 4:00 pm).
For the Tradies
ITM LBP Event Hamilton (Claudelands) – Thu 10 Sep. Register now for free
Get your LBP points sorted in one day!
ITM LBP Event Christchurch (Addington Raceway) – Wed 7 Oct. Register now for free
Get your LBP points sorted in one day!
CARTERS National Trade League – Running throughout September at branches nationwide. No need to register, come around from 7:00 am for a breakfast and coffee before heading off to site!
Catch up with the Techlam team at these branches:
Thu 10 Sep – Christchurch Hornby, Levin
Fri 11 Sep – New Plymouth, Pukekohe
Fri 18 Sep – Henderson, Kapiti, Palmerston North, Panmure, Rotorua
Fri 25 Sep – Porirua, Tauranga
See you there!
