WoodSolutions is proud to celebrate the success of all finalists and winners from the 25th annual Australian Timber Design Awards (ATDA) in Sydney. The overall ATDA winner was Bates Smart for their incredible work on the Embassy of Australia in Washington D.C., USA.

Steve Jones

Steve Jones, Studio Director at Bates Smart (Photo courtesy of Bates Smart)

With the mission to promote innovation, sustainability, and aesthetic distinction in the use of timber, the Australian Timber Design Awards have celebrated excellence in timber design for 25 years. These awards encourage architects, designers, and engineers to highlight the potential of timber as a versatile and environmentally responsible material, with categories that emphasise both creativity and technical expertise.

The event fosters industry growth and collaboration, highlighting timber's contribution to sustainable building practices. WoodSolutions and Forest & Wood Products Australia are honoured to be involved in such a prestigious event each year. The awards are perfectly aligned with our mission to celebrate timber buildings and excellence in timber design, and our aim to showcase the innovation, versatility, and sustainability of wood in construction.

Kevin Peachey, Head of Built Environment at Forest & Wood Products Australia and WoodSolutions took the stage to present the overall award to the Bates Smart team.

The design of the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C. skilfully integrates cultural representation, iconic civic presence, and practical security considerations. Inspired by Australia’s vast landscapes, the building emphasises transparency to reflect Australian values of openness and trust. A central atrium connects visitors to the environment through a dramatic axis, enhancing the spatial experience.

Australian timber features throughout the building, with layered textures symbolising the growth, burn, and regrowth cycle of eucalypt forests. Filigree screens provide dynamic light interplay in social spaces, creating an inviting atmosphere that celebrates Australia’s natural and cultural heritage.

“In a pool of outstanding entrants and finalists, we are proud to present the overall award to the team at Bates Smart. The Embassy of Australia highlights Australian art and culture, with First Nations representation and consideration throughout the design,” said Kevin.

Kevin continued, “While an embassy project can present logistical complexities, the execution of this building showcases remarkable creativity and innovation. It's something all Australians can be proud of. Well done to everyone involved.”

The ATDA celebrates excellence in timber design across many parts of the sector. An ever-popular award each year is the People’s Choice Award, which went to Michael Kirby Building (Macquarie University Law School) by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction.

The Michael Kirby Building at Macquarie University is a revitalised and expanded structure that now houses the Law School and Department of Philosophy. Through adaptive reuse, the building incorporates a lighter timber-framed system and a glazed façade, with a top-lit atrium that encourages collaboration. The building’s sustainability features include natural ventilation, reduced carbon emissions, and energy efficiency, earning it a 5-Star Green Star rating. The building fosters a collaborative learning environment and connects to the surrounding campus landscape, which is a well deserving feat for the People’s Choice Award winners.

The MC of the evening was Professor Greg Nolan from the University of Tasmania’s School of Architecture and Design. He is also the Director of the University’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood, a multidisciplinary research and development group that aspires to be a national leader in sustainable architectural design, building, and applications with wood. Professor Nolan has been involved in the innovation and development of educational resources for WoodSolutions since the program’s inception.

WoodSolutions congratulates every team and individual recognised at the Awards this year and we are proud to extend those congratulations to the teams behind our incredible new home office at T3 Collingwood. Cheers to Hines, AECOM, JCB and Icon, and thank you for imagining our new home at T3 and bringing it to life.

Australian Timber Design Awards 2024 Winners

Overall Winner: Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart

Merits

People’s Choice: Michael Kirby Building (Macquarie University Law School) by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction (NSW)

Sustainability: Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre by Jackson Clements Burrows

International Project: Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart

Rising Star: Sarah Shearman from Brother Nature Design for River House

Excellence in Timber Applications

Residential Class 1 – New Building: Taroona House by Archier

Residential Class 1 – Alteration or Addition: Verandah Terraces by Phorm architecture + design

Fit Out – Residential: Northcote House by LLDS and Power to Make

Standalone Structure: Fernery at Ballarat Botanic Gardens by BALANCE Architecture & Interior Design

Commercial Building: T3 Collingwood by Hines, AECOM, JCB and Icon

Public Building: Michael Kirby Building (Macquarie University Law School) by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction (NSW)

Fit Out – Commercial and Public: Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart

Furniture & Joinery: Holocene House by CplusC Architects + Builders

Excellence in Timber Products

Australian Certified Timber: Irrawaddy by Incidental Architecture

Recycled Timber: First Steps Count Child and Community Centre by Austin McFarland Architects

Main image: Embassy of Australia, Washington DC by Bates Smart | Structural Engineer: Aurecon | Fabricators: Embelton, Briggs Veneers, Matilda Veneers, ISEC and RPG | Builder: Clark Construction | Photographer: Joe Fletcher | Location: Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA

Architecture & Design Team

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WoodSolutions: Design and Build

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