6 May 2025

Greetings from your WoodWorks news team. We have a case study of the Court Theatre rebuild in Christchurch and how addressing the design-construction gap led to increased efficiency. From ANZ we have statistics showing a decline in the New Zealand construction sector. The SH26 Onetai Stream Bridge, New Zealand’s first modern timber bridge has been completed. From the French Pyrenees a self sufficient back country ‘hut’ has been reimagined with CLT pieces flown in by helicopter, hopefully the photos will inspire readers from DOC’s design team. Lastly, David Moses, a Canadian timber bridge expert, will be a keynote speaker at the International Conference on Timber Bridges in Rotorua this June.

Builders and installers of mass timber structures can enhance productivity and reduce risks by addressing the design-construction gap. Many builders overlook this gap as an opportunity, often pushing trade coordination and shop drawings downstream to suppliers, leading to costly on-site issues. Builders who engage in technical coordination alongside timber shop drawings can achieve greater efficiencies, avoiding redundancy and enhancing project outcomes.

In Q4, construction activity contracts saw a decline, with overall building work decreasing by 4.4% quarter-on-quarter. Residential work fell by 4.9%, while non-residential activity decreased by 3.1%.

The SH26 Onetai Stream Bridge, New Zealand’s first modern timber bridge has been completed. To replace the deteriorating old bridge this project involved a full highway closure to facilitate construction. All bridge elements – full precast abutment beams, settlement slabs, retaining wall blocks, glulam timber beams, and plywood decking — were fabricated entirely offsite.

At an elevation of 1866 meters in the French Pyrenees, the Wallon Marcadau Refuge has been reimagined—a fusion of tradition and modern timber construction. With no access roads, an earthquake-prone location, and extreme weather conditions, the project was a logistical masterpiece.

Lastly, David Moses, a Canadian timber bridge expert and founder of Moses Structural Engineers, will be a keynote speaker at the International Conference on Timber Bridges in Rotorua, this June. He will discuss “Breathing New Life into Timber Bridge Engineering in Canada,” showcasing recent timber highway and pedestrian bridges across Canada.