The Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment (Advance Timber Hub) is administered by The University of Queensland. The Hub supports the transformation of Australia’s timber and construction sectors so that sustainable timber is the material of choice for Australia’s built environment. The Hub is stimulating growth in innovation, increasing the uptake of sustainable timber products used in buildings, and establishing a roadmap for change.

The Hub’s research is focused on three over-arching themes of Innovative Solutions, Transformative Benefits and Planning Change and is undertaken through eight inter-related Research Nodes and their projects.

The expected outcomes will help Australia’s timber and construction sectors transition to a circular and net-zero economy.

Website

https://www.advance-timber-hub.org

Organisation type

Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Hubs

Number of research staff

20-100 research staff

Address

The University of Queensland
School of Civil Engineering
Advanced Engineering Building (49)
Staff House Road
St Lucia QLD 4072
Australia

Strengths and capabilities

• Structural Engineering
• Architecture
• Building Contractors
• Wood and Material Science
• Timber Production
• Advanced Manufacturing of timber-based building components and systems
• Environmental Science

Facilities and major equipment

• Salisbury Research Facility
• UQ Structures Laboratory
• UQ Fire Laboratory
• UQ Architecture Workshop
• Griffith Structures Laboratory

Lead researchers

• Professor Keith Crews – Research Hub Director and internationally recognised expertise in timber engineering solutions
• Dr Cristyn Meath – Research Hub Theme Leader – Planning Change and Director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Research Hub and Co-Founder of the Infrastructure CoLab
• Associate Professor Joe Gattas – Research Hub Theme Leader – Innovative Solutions with expertise in computational building design, advanced manufacturing, lightweight and modular structures, and timber engineering.
• Professor Hong Guan - Node Leader - Performance of Building Components and Research leader, Building Science and Construction Innovation, Cities Research Institute, Griffith University
• Associate Professor Paola Leardini - Node Leader - Design for Extended Building Life and Director of Research, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, The University of Queensland.

Achievements of the centre

• World Conference on Timber Engineering 2025
• Timber Efficiency Research with Associate Professor Joe Gattas

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

• Advanced manufacturing
• Engineering
• Environment and nature
• Food and agriculture
• Mining/resources
• Social sciences