Final Report For Commercial Building Costing Cases Studies – Traditional Design versus Timber Project

This project developed realistic timber costing information for building professionals in the non-housing building sector.  

It compared the cost of constructing four commercial building types in timber and using traditional materials. The building types were a 7 storey office building, an 8 storey apartment building, a 2 storey aged care facility and a single storey industrial shed. 

Each building type was designed and then independently costed for a timber option as well as a more conventional concrete framed or steel framed building in an urban location. 

In all cases constructing the building in timber had lower costs than for the competing non-timber solution. Cost savings were 2.2% for the 8 storey apartment building, 9.4% for the single storey industrial shed, 12.4% for the 7 storey office building and 13.9% for the 2 storey aged care facility. 

The report found the greatest potential benefits to the timber industry are in the industrial shed, aged care and office building markets

Reference Number:
PNA308-1213

Findings Report:
Report will be available shorty, currently undergoing an amendment 

Additional Report:
This report analyses the cost differences between two comparable multi-residential student accommodation projects built in Tasmania in 2015; one using innovative prefabricated timber and the other using precast concrete panels.
PNA308c-1314_Timber_Frame_v_Precast_Concrete_Cost_Comparison.pdf

In the spirit of reconciliation, Forest & Wood Products Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia, and we acknowledge their connection to the land and their custodianship of Country and forests. We pay our respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.