The first national Centre for Timber Engineering was opened at Napier University, Edinburgh last week.
The Scottish minister for enterprise, transport and lifelong learning, Iain Gray, crossed a timber bridge designed by Napier PhD student Geoff Freedman and constructed by university technicians to mark the official opening.
The Centre for Timber Engineering is the only establishment in Britain offering academic courses specifically aimed at training undergraduate engineers in the uses of wood in the design of buildings and structures.
With more than 60% of houses built in Scotland being timber framed and with the output of Scottish forests set to soar over the next 20 years, the Scottish Forest Industries Cluster (SFIC) saw an opportunity to secure significant investment and jobs while building a sustainable forest industry.
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“The Centre will contribute significantly towards the UK’s need for technology, innovation and applied research to further develop the use of timber as a sustainable construction material. ” |
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Professor Ban Seng Choo, director Centre for Timber Engineering. |
It chose Napier University to establish a national centre for excellence and courses will be available from September. Funding has come partly from Scottish Enterprise and partly from the timber industry.
Professor Ban Seng Choo, the director of the centre, said it will contribute significantly towards the UK’s need for technology, innovation and applied research to further develop the use of timber as a sustainable construction material.
He added: “The centre will also provide degree level and professional development courses in timber engineering – using leading-edge web-based technology which is designed to meet the needs of the industry and the lifelong learning needs of those employed in the sector.”
