Forest Industries Ireland (FII) has announced the University of Galway winners of the Future Timber Design Awards ─ a new initiative supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The awards were developed by FII to promote sustainable and innovative timber construction and design by bridging academic learning with real-life application for undergraduate students of architecture, engineering and related courses at the University of Galway and TU Dublin.
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The students were tasked with creatively exploring the potential of timber as a primary structural and architectural material. The projects they entered needed to focus on using homegrown timber as the key structural material, keeping in mind real-world challenges or design constraints.
The overall University of Galway winner (and also winner of the Most Innovative Structural Design category) was Diarmuid Murray, a Master of Engineering (Civil) student. Murray’s design project successfully and sustainably addressed the growing need for improved onshore facilities at a local sailing club by creating comprehensive timber building designs for a clubhouse, boat shed and pavilion. The winning project also incorporated an innovative sensing system for timber elements, a biodiverse green roof and solar panels to contribute to on-site renewable energy.
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The other awardees at the University of Galway, all of whom are Master of Engineering (Civil) students were: Caoimhe Kelleher and Seamus Connolly ─ highly commended for sourcing and specification of homegrown timber and design; Kian Mahony and Ben Powell ─ highly commended for best use of homegrown timber; Darragh Cloonan ─ honourable mention for overall design; Jason McHugh Dolan and Bill Fitzgerald ─ honourable mentions for best use of Irish cross laminated timber; and Eoghan Jennings, Eoin Finnerty, Liath Lenihan, Mark McMahon and Phelim McCann ─ honourable mentions for best 3D visuals.
The entries were judged by University of Galway lecturers and FII representatives, with the overall winner presented with a Future Timber Design trophy and €500, while various cash prizes were awarded to the runners-up.
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Applicants were given 18 weeks to conceptualise and design their projects and were supported via Q&A drop-in sessions during the design phase, guest lectures on timber-led construction, and access to digital resources on sustainable timber systems.
‘The Future Timber Design Awards highlight the importance of industry and academia working together to support undergraduate learning and nurture the next generation of talent,’ said Des O’Toole, head of marketing and promotion at Coillte Forests. ‘By connecting education with real-world industry experience, we can provide students with stronger opportunities to grow and succeed. We’re also delighted that next year, the awards will expand to welcome entries from other universities, broadening the reach and impact of the programme.’
‘I am heartened to see the level of innovation and enthusiasm towards modern methods of timber construction among our next generation of architects, engineers, manufacturing and timber processing professionals, who will be leading the way,’ said Mark McAuley, director of Forest Industries Ireland. ‘I think now more than ever we see the urgency of turning to more sustainable methods of building to address the challenges we face in our housing demand and climate goals, and we realise we can make the greatest impact by honing the skills required and learning the latest technologies and methods at an early stage.’
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A second awards ceremony announcing the winning projects developed by students of architecture, architectural technology and timber technology at TU Dublin will take place on 5 June.