8 September 2025
8:00 – 16:30

Future Africa, University of Pretoria

Let timber lead. Let it transform. Let it form the future.

The Timber Construction Colloquium is an integral part of the Timber Construction Conference, convening researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders to share cutting-edge knowledge that supports the transition to sustainable, timber-based construction in Southern Africa and beyond.

The Colloquium showcases diverse research themes ranging from structural performance and fire safety to circularity, innovation adoption, and cultural narratives in timber design. It provides a platform for emerging and established scholars to present empirical and theoretical insights into engineered wood products (EWPs), including cross-laminated timber (CLT), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and plywood, with a special focus on the South African context. Topics span consumer behaviour, regulatory frameworks, experimental testing, design for reuse, and the socio-technical systems that shape timber adoption.

By exploring both scientific and creative dimensions of timber construction, the Colloquium deepens our understanding of timber’s potential to shape not only buildings, but also economies, environments, and cultural identities. It fosters collaboration across disciplines, connecting structural engineering, architecture, material science, sustainability, and behavioural research.

In doing so, the Colloquium contributes to a growing body of knowledge that empowers stakeholders to let timber lead, not just as a material, but as a movement toward a regenerative and inclusive built environment.

To find out more, send an email to ferdinand.hassan@tuks.co.za