The first of a new series of seminars devised to improve architects’ and specifiers’ understanding of timber construction took place at the Building Centre on April 23.
The Wood First series kicked off with “Schools: meeting the brief with wood” and was sponsored by Finnforest UK Ltd and KLH UK Ltd, in association with the Building Centre and The Timber Trade Federation.
Attracting around 150 architects, engineers and other construction industry professionals, the free seminar, which was CPD accredited, demonstrated why timber should be the material of choice to fulfil the government’s Building Schools for the Future programme.
The Wood Talks programme has been devised by Eve Dennehy, formerly of the timber promotion campaign, wood for good, following discussions with The Building Centre on raising the profile of timber in line with the other building materials it showcases.
“We’ve developed themes that haven’t necessarily been covered before and that are inclusive to people’s businesses,” said Ms Dennehy. She added that The Building Centre was supported by a “strong community” of building professionals and that its 40,000-strong mailing list afforded it huge marketing capacity.
Andrew Scoones, director of the Building Centre Trust hailed the first seminar as a huge success. “It’s fantastic to see interest in timber technology and the enormous steps that have been taken in the last few years,” he said.
He added that the intention is for the series to continue with a mixture of evening lectures, morning seminars and technical surgeries. The next event is a “breakfast surgery” on “Modern green timber construction” on May 28 at 9am (to 10.20am), conducted by wood detailing and timber construction consultant Terry Hyland.
For more information on the ongoing programme, contact eve.dennehy@clara.co.uk
