9 September 2025
Humans have used wood as a construction material throughout history. Currently, mass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), are becoming more popular as a structural material, since they are renewable and have a lower carbon footprint than concrete or steel. Nonetheless, some building types, such as healthcare, veterinary, and food manufacturing, avoid using structural mass timber due to concerns about microbial growth in the event of wetting. One solution is to use protective coatings on mass timber products to increase moisture resistance, although the coatings themselves may generate concerns about volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Natural uncoated wood also produces VOCs, some of which may have intrinsic antimicrobial effects.
WoodWorks Issue – 09 Sep 2025
Welcome
Greetings from your WoodWorks team. A successful appeal against a decision labelled as “mad” by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has cleared the way for a developer to build an 11-storey timber building on K Road.
CLT Toolbox has rebranded to SPEC Toolbox – reflecting its significant platform expansion. What began as a tool focused on Cross-Laminated Timber has evolved into a comprehensive platform supporting eight product categories!
When it comes to cleanliness for healthcare facilities and hospitals, wood should be the material of choice. Trust the science! Check out the full article published in ‘Frontiers in Microbiomes’.
Check out the timber growing on the new Greymouth Library by Red Stag Timber. Built by Tony Wilkins Builder Limited for Development West Coast and Greymouth District Council – it really takes a hold of the landscape.
Did you know – Sydney’s Atlassian Tower has reached 21 levels and is visible on the Sydney skyline now.
Registrations are open for our national WoodWorks Conference, 4-5 November in Rotorua. Sign up now to receive the Super Early Bird rate.
This Issue
1
11-storey timber building on K Road gets green light after appeal
2
CLT Toolbox Rebrands to SPEC Toolbox
3
Impact of wetting on timber microbes and VOC emissions: effects on buildings and occupants
4
Greymouth Library
5
The Atlassian Headquarters in Sydney combines environmental responsibility with urbanistic vision
6
And one to end on… Short and sweet
9 September 2025
11-storey timber building on K Road gets green light after appeal
A successful appeal against a decision labelled as “mad” by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has cleared the way for a developer to build an 11-storey timber building on K Road....
9 September 2025
CLT Toolbox Rebrands to SPEC Toolbox
CLT Toolbox has rebranded to SPEC Toolbox – reflecting its significant platform expansion. What began as a tool focused on Cross-Laminated Timber has evolved into a comprehensive platform supporting eight...
9 September 2025
Impact of wetting on timber microbes and VOC emissions: effects on buildings and occupants
Humans have used wood as a construction material throughout history. Currently, mass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), are becoming more popular as a structural material, since they are...
9 September 2025
Greymouth Library
Timber growing on the new Greymouth Library by Red Stag Timber. Views out over the mighty Grey River / Māwheranui are also growing with delight, built by Tony Wilkins Builder...
9 September 2025
The Atlassian Headquarters in Sydney combines environmental responsibility with urbanistic vision
Atlassian tower in Sydney – Building construction has reached 21 levels and is visible on the Sydney skyline now. The tower is organised as six discrete but interconnected “habitats.” Each...
9 September 2025
And one to end on… Short and sweet
What’s the thing that spins around at the front of a plane do? It’s a fan to keep the pilot cool. If you don’t believe that, just watch how much...