President
Guest Speaker : Patrick Beale – Building with Timber
Patrick Beale is the Director of Advanced Timber Concepts Studio - ATC Studio, a design practice specializing in engineered timber design, prefabrication, construction and research and the appropriate use of native Australian and plantation timber. Patrick studied architecture at the Architectural Association School in London, and has taught and practiced architecture in England, France, Qatar, the USA and Australia. Patrick was formerly Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at UWA and Director of the ATC Research program and has served on the RAIA Chapter Council and Education Committee.
ATC Studio has received recognition and awards nationally and internationally for furniture and buildings.
The Pingelly Recreation and Cultural Centre was awarded the Best Use of Certified Timber at the World Architecture Festival - WAF - in Amsterdam in December 2019 where the project was also a finalist in the Sports Facilities category. The project also received the Western Australia’s highest award from the Australian Institute of Architecture WA Chapter, the George Temple Poole award, and the Wallace Greenham award for Sustainable Architecture.
Patrick noted he was born in Winchester UK, moving to Perth in 1995. He now classes himself as a “local”. He spoke today on timber, more specifically engineered timber.
Engineered timber requires a different working methodology to the way architects, engineers and builders typically work. The Pingelly Recreation and Cultural Centre (“PRAC”) is the largest all-timber Civic building in WA.
One of the characteristics of working with this material is that everything is prefabricated. Essentially the building is put together in the workshop, then brought to the building site and assembled very rapidly. This is a great advantage.
Another project in Ravensthorpe is the Cultural Precinct. It is also a prefrabricated engineered timber building. The only concrete in the building are the tiny concrete support pads. A lot of the material used is from the stringybark plantations put in by Rick Sneeuwjagt… about forty years ago.
A third building is the new Council and Library offices in the town of Eaton. Patrick outlined some of the “Truths” and “Myths” of timber:
“Truths”
- Sustainable. Unprocessed wood stores CO2
- Renewable.
- Time Efficient. Prefabrication guarantees high precision and tolerances
- Cost Effective. Prefabrication saves time and money
- Safe. Cross laminated timber (CLT) low burn rate
- Healthy. Studies show students have lower heart rates in wooden classrooms
- Looks Good. Natural aesthetics of wood
- Feels Great. Reduction of indoor air humidity
“Myths” (False)
- “Wood is not made for this climate, it will rot”
- “Wood is too expensive”
- “Wood is not sustainable, as forests are cut down”
- “Wood is not strong enough”
- “Wooden buildings covered in gypsum and other materials don’t make sense”
- “In a life-cycle perspective, all wood is burned at end-of-life”
- “Building in wood is too difficult”
- “Wood is dangerous because it burns”
Patrick then spoke of the four common forms of timber:
- Solid wood (sawn logs)
- Glulam (glue laminated timber)
- Cross-laminated timber (CLT)
- Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)
The model is designed in three dimensions in the computer, giving a lot of flexibility in how the form of something can be manipulated. This is then fed directly into the milling machine that will cut the timber, drill the holes where needed and prepare it for assembly. This is super precise (more so than steel) and allows for rapid assembly.
The builders are given a great deal of information on how to assemble, but they don’t always read the instructions…a bit like IKEA…
The construction methodology requires a different Partnership-Design relationship. It cannot be done “linearly”, rather a collaborative sequential process is required. The various parties (Engineer, Architect, Fabricator and Contractor) relationships need to be very close and they need to understand each other’s capabilities. The key is to have everybody “on board” from the beginning. It needs to be cost effective rather than cheap. Corner cutting will require demolition in twenty years! Right now, there are over twenty buildings around Perth, put up in the last ten years, that require concrete remediation…!
Patrick showed more examples of wood structures and Rick’s stringybark.
His full presentation can be viewed at:
millpointrotaryclub.org.au>members only (password)> this link>Guest Speaker Presentations>BEALE Patrick – Building with Timber.
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
Scott Dwyer:
- Centurion Program commitment forms have been placed on all tables this morning. Scott explained the basics of the form but if anyone requires further information please refer to our President. All payments are fully tax deductible. If all RCMP Rotarians got onboard we could raise in the vicinity of $4,500.
Rick Sneeuwjagt:
- Lift the Lid for Mental Health – funny hats to be worn to our Rotary meeting next Friday. A donation of $5.00 is requested. Hats will be available ‘for hire’ on the day is required.
- Walk to Remember – this walk will take place at twilight on Sunday 10th November starting on the South Perth Foreshore near the Childrens’ playground. Cost is $35.00 entrance fee and a T-shirt will be provided.
Brian Johnson:
- Brian has received a ‘stop press’ advising the Rotary Conference that was to be held in Kalgoorlie will now be held one week later and will take place in Margaret River.
Tricia Smith:
- Now collecting bottles and cans for the next 4 – 5 weeks (until Christmas). Please bring your bottles and cans along to Rotary breakfast and give to Trish.
Wayne Muller:
- BulldustNBack donations closed last night. Currently the amount raised is hovering
around $85,000. STOP PRESS $87,472 as at Friday 12 noon.
Michael Gottschalk:
- There is a Vocational trip on Thursday 14th November at the Ostomy Association, Mt Lawley. This may be followed with lunch at the Queens Tavern, Mt Lawley if people are interested.
Jenny McLean:
- After a recent coffee morning, a‘Ladies Agreement’ has been reached that there will be a trial of the Sewing Sisters feminine hygiene kits in the Sepik area of North Papua New Guinea. The Sewing Sisters will be working with the Papua New Guinea University of Technology for the supply of these kits up the Sepik River along with mosquito nets. The Sewing Sisters will be informed later today of this development.
Fines
- Trick or Treat theme today …….No treats or sweets, just your money…
- All those who got Tricked or Treated last night...
- Everyone who pretended they weren’t home because they don’t believe in it - or didn’t have any treats available anyway…
- What does 1st of this month represent??? ALL Saints Day - a day commemorating all the saints of the church, both known and unknown, who have ascended to heaven. SO - Saints Peters/Johns/ Davids/Andrews/Michaels - all of you can pay up!
- On this day in 1969 - The Beatles' album "Abbey Road" goes #1 in US and stays there for 11 weeks! All Beetles' fans can pay up and if you have ever owned a Beetles album that’s another fine!
- Also on this day in 1982 - Honda becomes the first Asian automobile company to produce cars in the United States with the opening of their factory in Marysville, Ohio. The Honda Accord is the first car produced there. Anyone who owns or drives a Honda Motor Car can fork out for the privilege.
- Sport that doesn’t seem to get a lot of airplay - Netball, the Constellation Cup, etc AND all you Kiwi’s can pay up after beating our Diamonds!
- Gorby, you always ask what Divorces we celebrate well here’s 2 of note – on this day in 1982 Martin Scorcese divorced Isabella Rosellini after 3 years of marriage; and Charlie Sheen (yes he’s been around a couple of times) he divorced socialite Brooke Mueller after 2½ years of marriage, so anyone divorced with under 20 years of marriage can pay up…few pennies rolling in (me included).
- Lydia Wong – dancing shows (very glitzy) and for bringing a Mum who looks young enough to be your sister!
- Astrid – welcome back to your special brekkie with us.
- David Rowell – welcome back from Japan, take some Yen.
- Scott Dwyer – needs to turn up the hearing aides, didn’t hear his birthday announced.
- Lorrie and Tricia for fighting over cans and bottles.
- Guest Tosser – St Angus (Florence).
Winner of Heads and Tails
Astrid Mitchell had not only the temerity to swan in from her latest holiday but to leave the meeting clutching the H&T bottle of wine! Thanks to Lyn and Margaret Metcalf for their generous donation of the wine.
Attendance
- Alice.
