Students in architecture, engineering and landscaping came together to push timber design boundaries at TRADA’s undergraduate Urban Buzz competition.

Some 60 students from 28 universities were given the timber multi-storey car park design challenge at the University of Sheffield on February 23-24, supported by timber industry sponsors the Timber Trade Federation (TTF), Arnold Laver, Stora Enso, Hanson Plywood and OSC Sales Ltd, while TTJ was a media sponsor.

Team 6 won the event with their glulam column/CLT floor deck design. It also fits with a Green City concept, incorporating a green space with cascading gardens.

The team comprised Edward Shaw and Wing Lam Lo from the University of Sheffield, Katy Horner from Edinburgh Napier University, Will Evans from Coventry University and Jure Zibret from Leicester School of Architecture, who beat off 11 impressive rival teams to win the £2,000 top prize with their ground breaking entry.

Entrants wowed a distinguished panel of judges with their unique designs, including: architects Carol Costello and Alex Abbey of Cullinan Studio, and Waugh Thistleton’s Kieran Walker; engineers Matt Caldwell of Buro Happold, Keerthi Ranasinghe from the TRADA Advisory Committee, and Arup’s Susie Gregory; and landscape architects Stephanie Crewe of HLM Architects and Kate Shearer of Ares.

“It was great to see the architectural, engineering and landscape students turn from individuals into design teams, embrace the challenge and deliver well thought through timber concepts,” said Tabitha Binding, manager of TRADA’s University Engagement Programme.

“I am thrilled at the enthusiasm with which our multidisciplinary competition has been met.”

Competition judge Carol Costello, practice leader at Cullinan Studio, described the designs as “outstanding”.

“Technology is blurring the lines between architecture and engineering,” she said.

“Young people entering this industry today need to be nimble, think on their feet and work together to understand the bigger picture.”

“The students have shown a real passion for timber, from the enthusiastic way they got stuck into the competition and their presentation skills, to the outstanding quality of their designs,” added Arup’s Susie Gregory.

Teams 11 & 12 were awarded ‘highly commended’ and received £1,000 to be divided among the team members.