Structural materials

Wood has a number of excellent attributes, and can be used in a range of different building applications. From domestic buildings to low-rise commercial, industrial, public, civic and farm structures, the potential of wood is enormous.

Structural materials

Structural materials include sawn timber, round timber, glue-laminated timber, Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), panel products and plywood.

Structural materials

Case study

Norwich Cathedral Refectory

Norwich Cathedral Refectory

Hopkins Architects

Key Features

This refectory insertion next to a medieval cloister uses English oak in a highly refined manner to complement the existing building.
The new structure avoids loading the existing building, instead relying on timber columns and finger props to support the new roof.
Oak, chosen because of its strength and beauty, is contrasted with stainless steel connections.
Having been sourced locally, the timber will not be affected by the UK climate.
Oak panelled ceilings, along with wooden flooring and furniture complete the elegant interior space.

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Case study

Nelson Pine Industries Ltd warehouse

Nelson Pine Industries Ltd warehouse

West + Tritt Architects

Key Features

Nelson Pine Industries Ltd manufacture laminated veneer lumber (LVL) from locally grown Pinus radiata, so it was natural this material was used to construct their new warehouse.
The brief required a storage facility of 16,500 m2 to be designed as a showpiece for the use and functionality of LVL.
The overall dimensions of the building are 128 x 64 m, with an eave of 10 m and an apex of 14 m.
Double 64 m portal frames at 8 m centres span the long direction.
The apex of each frame is supported on a longitudinal beam spanning 16 m between posts.
All portals, beams, posts, purlins, girts and diagonal wall bracing are made up from the raw LVL billets manufactured on site.
The 400 x 45 mm purlins and girts were cut from the basic billet size while the rafters and legs were built up from the basic billet using glued and nailed splices.
The portal knee and apex gussets have been nail fixed only to give increased ductility.

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Case study

Carter Holt Harvey Wiri distribution centre

Carter Holt Harvey Wiri distribution centre

Timberbuilt Pty Ltd

Key Features

The new Wiri distribution centre for Carter Holt Harvey is a showcase for the laminated veneer lumber (LVL) products it houses.
With a footprint of 28 x 110 m, the building is spanned in the short direction by 14 portal frames spaced at 8.2 m centres.
Two-pin portal frames with two layers of 45 mm Hyspan LVL members laminated together form the legs and rafters.
Knee and apex gussets are 45 mm thick LVL that have been nail fixed.
The use of Hyspan LVL members extends to the purlins, girts and bracing.
The portals have a section of 900 x 90 mm and span the full 28 m width of the building with a 6.7 m knee height and an apex at 8 m.
This type of building would commonly be constructed from steel but the LVL proved easy to work with, structurally stable and comes from a renewable source.

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Case study

Carter Holt Harvey Marsden Point Factory

Carter Holt Harvey Marsden Point Factory

Timberbuilt Pty Ltd

Key Features

Carter Holt Harvey utilised its laminated veneer lumber (LVL) product in the construction of its new Marsden Point manufacturing plant.
Covering more than 2 ha, the building houses the assembly, pressing, finishing and despatch functions for LVL manufacture.
The structural system involves rafters extending across the full 96 m width supported at four points, creating three 32 m spans.
The outer columns are rigidly connected to the rafters to form portal frames while the inner columns act as simple props.
The rafters are either 1,200 or 1,265 mm deep LVL I-sections spliced at six points.
Outer columns are the same dimension but taper down to 800 mm at their base.
Internal columns are box sections fabricated from 300 mm x 45 mm LVL.
Composite plywood and LVL I-beam purlins span 11 m between rafters.
In total, 620 m3 of LVL, 50 m3 of structural plywood and 15 m3 of sawn and dressed timber were used in the construction.
This project demonstrates that large-scale industrial buildings can be built successfully with timber.

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Structural materials