The Hereford Southside University Design Challenge, run by Timber Development UK, is a student competition based on a live project to design a net zero community centre – showcasing timber construction and meeting Passivhaus Standards.
Accoya wood, made by Accsys was honoured to sponsor and contribute to this valuable and relevant initiative.
It was a great opportunity to be part of the conversation with built environment professionals of the future – exploring the possibilities of timber in the UK.
Across more than 150 students from 57 universities, the winning team was selected at a live two-day event at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE). Students presented their designs to a panel of expert judges representing both local clients and leading figures in UK sustainable construction.
The winning team brought together an interdisciplinary group of students from universities the length and breadth of the UK – from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen to the University of Portsmouth – to produce a design the judging panel declared “A strong response and a great integration of uses, with simple elements including a good use of structural timber used effectively and meeting the Passivhaus standard”.
David Hopkins, Chief Executive, Timber Development UK commented: “We need a highly trained construction workforce with a better understanding of wood and timber to achieve net zero and hit the ever more demanding carbon targets for construction. Fortunately, it’s evident from every student who has taken part in the Hereford Southside: University Design Challenge that there is incredible built environment talent emerging from UK universities. I know the skills and knowledge you (they) have gained and demonstrated in low-carbon construction will be greatly in demand.”