STTA recognises Masters research

Jesus Menendez has won the Scottish Timber Trade Association’s prize for best dissertation by a timber engineering Masters student at Edinburgh Napier University’s Centre for Timber Engineering.

Mr Menendez’s dissertation was on the feasibility of multi-storey Pres-Lam timber buildings – design, construction and cost. The Pres-Lam system incorporates large timber structural frames or walls constructed of LVL and connected by steel post-tensioning.

Mr Menendez, who is from northern Spain, also undertook research at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, where he worked with Professor Andy Buchanan, who specialises in new methods of constructing commercial multi-storey buildings with timber. Having completed his Masters degree, Mr Menedez is now working with a timber engineering company in northern Scotland, as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme.

STTA president Russell Paterson said: “STTA is very pleased to continue its support for the valuable work undertaken by students and staff at the Centre for Timber Engineering in Edinburgh. Against the background of increasing recognition of wood’s status as the only truly renewable and sustainable construction material, with unique carbon attributes, it is vitally important that timber engineers and specifiers of the future are given every encouragement to use wood and wood products. We send our best wishes to Jesus and hope that he will enjoy a fruitful career in timber engineering, which is an exciting discipline.”

The STTA will award four further prizes this year.