UK's Structural Timber Assn. expands scope of marketing campaign to homebuilders after series of factory visits targeting architects generates enquiries about switching to timber as primary construction material

Wendy Lisney

ALLOA, U.K. , November 22, 2013 (press release) – The Structural Timber Association’s (STA) recent programme of RIBA-approved architect factory tours has been hailed a success by both the host factories and attending architects.

The tours, which took place at three STA member factories during October, were designed to demonstrate the benefits of building in timber to the country’s architects. Those attending also had the opportunity to talk to technical experts about how to develop a structural timber based project.

Simon Orrells, manager director of Frame Wise and former chairman of the STA’s predecessor organisation the UK Timber Frame Association, commented on the success of the tour at his factory: “We were extremely pleased at the response from the architectural community to the tour at our head office and manufacturing base in Presteigne, with more than 50 people attending.

“The feedback from those in attendance has been extremely positive, with one architect telling me he learnt more in half a day than any website or promotional literature could ever achieve. A number of those in attendance have already been in touch to ask how they can switch some of their future projects to have structural timber as their primary material, with an increasing number of architects are starting to recognise the benefits which the material brings.”

Based on the success of these tours, the STA is currently holding a series of factory tours aimed at the UK house building community, to educate them in the benefits of building in structural timber, and how the material can help them to meet both short term supply needs and longer-term environmental considerations.

Plans are currently being put in place to extend the factory tours programme into 2014, with details to follow early in the New Year.

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