University of Auckland

The University of Auckland’s Faculty of Engineering is thrilled to form part of a trans-Tasman, multi-million dollar research consortium announced today to advance the use of timber in construction.

The Structural Timber Innovation Company, or STIC, will receive $10million including matching funds over the next five years from New Zealand government and industry. The funds will be used to run research programmes in Auckland’s Faculty of Engineering, the University of Canterbury, the University of Technology in Sydney and the Building Research Association of New Zealand.

The research programmes will develop innovative ways of using timber in large commercial and multi-unit residential structures, such as open-plan industrial buildings, and multi-rise buildings up to six stories high. The research will focus on improving the earthquake, fire and wind resistance, durability and flexibility of timber to compete with traditional materials like steel and concrete.

New Zealand University