Canberra, Australia’s Institute of Technology Celebrates “Topping Out” of Hybrid Building

The Australian Capital Territory’s (ATC) new “wooden campus” has “topped out,” with the project team celebrating the milestone by placing a tree made from construction offcuts atop the five-story Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) hybrid building, Wood Central reported (7-2-24).

According to Chris Barr, ACT’s Chief Minister, “CIT Woden is part of Canberra’s billion-dollar education build, with more investment in the right infrastructure to support skills, students, schools and educators.”

Built by Lendlease, the new 22,500-square-metre building—Canberra’s first education build to use smart building technology—uses a MASSLAM 45 post and beam frame, while Xlam provided the cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor, which together helped the project achieve a 6-star Green Star rating.

“In total, 45 MASSLAM (glue-laminated timber) columns and beams were provided for the project,” according to Daniel Wright, Australian Sustainable Hardwoods National Business Development Manager. “We informed connection design and detailing, specialist timber advice, CNC work, connections, pre-attachment, and delivery in lifting sequence.”

Attention now turns to installing the structure’s roof and glazed timber façade before crews start on the internal fit out, landscaping, and art as the focus transitions to building commissioning and preparations for welcoming CIT staff and students.