WTA backs tomorrow’s timber designers

(L to R): Paul Andrada, Muninder Bahra, Phil McCormick of Nicks Timber and Peter Cowell.

The Western Timber Association (WTA) has once again teamed up with TRADA to support its University Engagement Programme—and offer prizes in a competition to encourage architectural students at the University of the West of England to understand, design and specify with timber.

Phil McCormick, managing director of Nicks Timber Co Ltd, who works passionately as the chairman of the WTA board to co-ordinate the sponsorship of the competition, agreed that encouraging the students to get involved with designing in timber not only preserves our industry, but will lead to future growth.

Peter Cowell, winner of the Best Technical Resolution, explained how entering the competition had “made him consider the versatility of timber so much more”.

Muninder Bahra, winner of the Best Drawing Award, said that, “hearing about the research and development within the timber industry has been an inspiration for my studies, projects and future career goals”. 

The students were invited by the WTA to attend their annual dinner at the Royal Marriott Hotel Bristol earlier this year to receive their prizes and discuss their designs with the WTA members.

After the dinner, the students explained to Phil McCormick and Tim Belden that the competition had really inspired them to design and specify more timber in their responses to university briefs. They were all keen to take that forwards when they venture into practices next year.

• For more information about TRADA's University Engagement Programme, visit our Academic area.