Cubex’s Post

🚫 Biden Snubs Pacific Mass Timber Hub in $500m Funding Blitz 🪵 The Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub, aimed at addressing the scalability and affordability of wood-based construction systems, has been left out of more than $500 million in federal funding from the Biden administration. 🔍 Key Insights: 1️⃣ Missed Opportunity: Despite being named among 31 finalists, the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub, run by Oregon State University, did not receive up to $70 million in funding. This hub was an initiative of the TallWood Design Institute, which received a $41 million commitment in 2022 to expand the use of mass timber in housing. 2️⃣ Broader Funding Allocation: Instead, the Biden administration will direct $504 million to a dozen technology hubs in Ohio, Montana, Nevada, and Florida. These funds will support the development of technologies such as quantum computing, biomanufacturing, lithium batteries, and personal medicine. 3️⃣ Industry Context: The Mass Timber Tech Hub aimed to use advanced material science to develop low-carbon housing solutions and build on Oregon’s sustainable mass timber sector. The initiative was expected to drive economic growth and policy change while meeting natural resource demands. 🚧 Mass timber construction has gained significant traction in the US over the past decade, turning from a concept into a reality through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach. The TallWood Design Institute has been pivotal in this transformation, promoting sustainability and innovation in construction. 📢🇺🇸🏘️U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasised the importance of giving resources to intelligent people, great entrepreneurs, and leading-edge research institutions across the country. The administration is pushing for more funding to ensure all designated tech hubs receive the resources needed to compete in the 21st-century global economy. 🔗 Learn more about the funding allocation and its impact on the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub: https://lnkd.in/g35mdc2T 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How do you think excluding the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub from the funding blitz will impact the mass timber industry? What steps can be taken to ensure the continued growth and innovation in wood-based construction systems? Share your thoughts and insights. 💬 Join the conversation on mass timber construction, federal funding, and the future of sustainable building materials. #masstimber #masstimberconstruction #timberconstruction #timberengineering #construction #woodcentral #techfunding #biden #wood #woodcentralau1 #woodworks #timber #engineering #architecture #greenbuildings

🚫 Biden Snubs Pacific Mass Timber Hub in $500m Funding Blitz 🪵 The Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub, aimed at addressing the scalability and affordability of wood-based construction systems, has been left out of more than $500 million in federal funding from the Biden administration. 🔍 Key Insights: 1️⃣ Missed Opportunity: Despite being named among 31 finalists, the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub, run by Oregon State University, did not receive up to $70 million in funding. This hub was an initiative of the TallWood Design Institute, which received a $41 million commitment in 2022 to expand the use of mass timber in housing. 2️⃣ Broader Funding Allocation: Instead, the Biden administration will direct $504 million to a dozen technology hubs in Ohio, Montana, Nevada, and Florida. These funds will support the development of technologies such as quantum computing, biomanufacturing, lithium batteries, and personal medicine. 3️⃣ Industry Context: The Mass Timber Tech Hub aimed to use advanced material science to develop low-carbon housing solutions and build on Oregon’s sustainable mass timber sector. The initiative was expected to drive economic growth and policy change while meeting natural resource demands. 🚧 Mass timber construction has gained significant traction in the US over the past decade, turning from a concept into a reality through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach. The TallWood Design Institute has been pivotal in this transformation, promoting sustainability and innovation in construction. 📢🇺🇸🏘️U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasised the importance of giving resources to intelligent people, great entrepreneurs, and leading-edge research institutions across the country. The administration is pushing for more funding to ensure all designated tech hubs receive the resources needed to compete in the 21st-century global economy. 🔗 Learn more about the funding allocation and its impact on the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub: https://lnkd.in/gKkH3Jwf 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How do you think excluding the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub from the funding blitz will impact the mass timber industry? What steps can be taken to ensure the continued growth and innovation in wood-based construction systems? Share your thoughts and insights. 💬 Join the conversation on mass timber construction, federal funding, and the future of sustainable building materials. #masstimber #masstimberconstruction #timberconstruction #timberengineering #construction #woodcentral #techfunding #biden #wood #woodcentralau1 #woodworks #timber #engineering #architecture #greenbuildings

Major regeneration set for Ravenscraig as planning application submitted Following extensive community engagement, a major planning application has been submitted to North Lanarkshire Council for the extraction and remediation works of 200 acres of land at Ravenscraig, marking a major milestone in the regeneration of the former steelworks.  Ravenscraig is one of Europe’s largest regeneration and community creation initiatives, with a masterplan focused on sustainable and inclusive growth for a mixed-use site.  Located on a former industrial steelworks facility, certain parts of land at Ravenscraig require extensive remediation before any new building can take place. This includes the removal of remnants from steel production and deep reinforced concrete foundations, preparing the land for future redevelopment. The remediation works represent a substantial investment into the community of Ravenscraig which will see the extraction, recycling and backfilling of over 2,000,000 cubic metres of material.  This major planning application covers the remediation of 200 acres of land in the centre of Ravenscraig which equates to approximately 20% of the site. https://lnkd.in/e_HBw2MA

2,500 New Homes for Wiltshire: Persimmon Homes and Barratt Homes Team Up for Major Trowbridge Development A transformative housing project is set to take shape in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, as developers Persimmon and Barratt Homes Bristol join forces to deliver up to 2,500 new homes. This landmark collaboration marks a significant step forward in meeting housing demand and enhancing local infrastructure. Persimmon has been working closely with Wiltshire Council to secure outline planning permission for the expansive 177-hectare urban extension. Now, with half the site acquired by Barratt Homes Bristol, the ambitious project moves closer to realisation. The scheme will be delivered jointly by Persimmon, Charles Church, Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, and Redrow Homes, with outline planning permission expected early in the new year. The development promises high-quality, energy-efficient homes alongside a multi-million-pound investment in local services, including education, healthcare, transport, and recycling facilities. Residents will benefit from 68 hectares of public open space, incorporating play areas, green spaces, sports pitches, and allotments. A strong emphasis on biodiversity is central to the plans, with the retention of key habitats, extensive planting, bird and bat boxes, and sustainable drainage systems. The project also includes measures to protect and support bat species near Biss Wood and Green Lane Nature Park, alongside the creation of an ecology visitors’ centre. https://lnkd.in/ecvhpDWW

From innovative mass timber construction to energy-efficient designs, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is leading the way in sustainable building practices with their Tall Timber Student Housing, Health Sciences Centre, and Trades and Technology Complex. Read the following article to discover how their “Living Lab” approach is transforming their campus into a model for energy efficiency and decarbonization. https://lnkd.in/g98mdHfQ British Columbia Institute of Technology #BuildingWithWood #BCWood #Sustainability #GreenBuilding #RenewableEnergy #Innovation #EnergyEfficiency

the USDA Forest Service is investing more than $5 million in eight proposals to increase the capacity of Montana-based wood processing facilities and expand markets for wood products. The Forest Service’s investments are part of a broader $73.9 million in nationwide investments to support the wood products economy and healthy forests. They are made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and annual appropriations. Projects benefitting from the funding include sawmill refurbishment with advanced scanning technology, upgrades to existing operations in firewood processing, post and pole production, and cross-laminated timber manufacturing. Funding also supports the development of a mass timber building, showcasing this sustainable construction method. Wood Innovations Grant funded projects include: Kanduch Logging - $229,973 Panhandle Forest Products - $300,000 Montana Technology Enterprise Center - $300,000 Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Grant funded projects include: California Hotwood - $189,045 Sun Mountain Lumber - $1,000,000 Stillwater Post and Pole - $1,000,000 SmartLam North America - $1,000,000 Panhandle Forest Products - $1,000,000 https://lnkd.in/gcW2uYFJ

The Edinburgh Futures Institute's new Centre for Net-Zero High Density Buildings has been awarded £4.5 million in funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This significant investment will drive forward research into making urban buildings more energy-efficient, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions and lowering heating costs. The Centre will focus on: • Testing new prototypes for retrofitting • Developing low-carbon materials • Improving heating and cooling systems • Advancing energy storage technologies This initiative brings together a powerful research partnership, including the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, West of Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University, and Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (Scotland's Construction Innovation Centre). For more details on this groundbreaking research centre and its potential impact on our cities, read the full article here: https://ow.ly/4Epf50TNnFB #SustainableConstruction #UrbanPlanning #NetZero #ScottishInnovation

Our Oxford team is proud to be part of the exciting development of The Oxford Trust's Aspen Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington. 🍃 Recently approved by Oxford City Council’s planning committee, the 16,684 sq. ft (1,550 sq. m) building will span two floors, providing flexible CL II laboratory and office space for science and technology start-ups and scale-ups. It will also include a dedicated STEM resources and preparation room to support the growing demand for Science Oxford’s outreach programmes, benefiting schools across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, as well as local communities. This development marks a significant step in The Oxford Trust’s mission to drive forward scientific research and promote STEM education. Our team will deliver comprehensive MEP and sustainability services, ensuring efficient, future-proof building services are incorporated into the design. Targeting #BREEAM Excellent certification, the Aspen Building will include photovoltaic roof panels, a green wall, cycle parking, shower and locker facilities, and a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain to enhance its surrounding 15 acres of woodland, ponds, and grassland. Sustainable features also include rainwater harvesting for greywater use in toilets and additional pond flow. We’re really excited to be on board, and we look forward to collaborating with the project team as the project develops!  Discover more details: https://lnkd.in/dyCmcR7r Image credits: The Oxford Trust  ADP Architecture  | Carter Jonas | BSG Ecology | LANDSHAPE | Glanville Consultants Ltd | Gleeds | Sylva Trees  #Innovation #STEMEducation #MEPDesign #SustainableBuildings #LaboratoryDesign #ScienceAndTech #Biodiversity #RainwaterHarvesting #WeAreCPW

Do we expand or do we build up ? An Insight on Social Housing's- Multi- Storey Medium -Density Buildings The parameters of space utility in our modern day design really sparks an interest as to the emerging challenges concerning our planning methodology. One of the shortfalls we have experienced in the sector could perhaps be alluded to our inability to foresee the future. Space utility amongst many of our emerging developments strikes a concern for Land Use . Can thinking about the demographics change perhaps the way we are expanding on the land . It's an interesting turn. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Social Housing Finance Corporation Social Housing Regulatory Authority National Association of Social Housing Organisations (NASHO) SHR | Social Housing Recruitment Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology - Nelson Mandela University

Construction starts at state-of-the art Daubeny project at The Oxford Science Park (TOSP) 🏗️⚛️ Building has begun on the 450,000 sq ft Daubeny project (DTRE LLP) at the The Oxford Science Park (TOSP), which is poised to promise a big boost to the life sciences sector. The three state-of-the-art laboratory and office buildings, expected to complete in 2026, will offer enhanced lab infrastructure to support cutting-edge research and have the capacity for up to 70 per cent wet or dry labs on every floor. The development is targeting an 'Excellent' rating under the construction industry’s sustainability standard BREEAM and features air source heat pumps and cutting-edge ventilation. It includes... Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/e4BKVKwE #construction #property #development #realestate #science #research #technology #innovation #oxonnews #oxonhour #businessnews #businessintelligence