The seminar was launched by Dr. Wolfgang Winter, Professor of the Architectural Science Institute at the Department of Structural Design, Engineering and Wood Technology of the TU WIEN in Vienna, Austria. Dr. Winter that specializes in structural design and timber structures is actively engaged in research in both the design and the construction with wood and has been responsible for many research projects in this field.
The seminar continued with the presentation of Dr. Andrea Bernasconi, a Civil Engineer and Professor of Wood construction and engineering at the Universities of Applied Sciences, Yverdon, Friburg and Lugano in Switzerland, as well as universities in Germany and Italy. Dr. Andrea Bernasconi is a consultant to the University of Graz in Austria, and a research associate of the Promolegno Association in Milan.
Dr. Bernasconis’ two part presentation impressed the audience. The first part demonstrated the ability of constructing a 9 floor building exclusively with wood materials, while in the second part presented impressive structures, constructed with wood, in minimal time, for the restoration of the La Aquila earthquake victims in Italy.
The seminar ended with the audience nailed to their seats to listen to Mr. Panagioti Touliatous’ speech. Mr. Touliatou is Honorary Professor at the National Technical University of Athens, School of Architecture and has lectured on the architecture and the seismic behavior of timber structures while has dealt with large-scale construction - renovations of old buildings and the design of light wood constructions. Mr. Touliatos demonstrated with examples that wood, through its timeless path has managed to protect monuments from earthquakes contrary to contemporary engineers that by avoiding its use are powerless to combat it.
The event was supported by WandS with a dynamic presence. Attendees had the opportunity to speak with the WandS team and obtain valuable informative material, proving that everything that had just been presented to them, both as material and as expertise, is already feasible and made readily available to them.
The attendees left the event with valuable insight and knowledge from the distinguished speakers, as well as greater trust in this marvelous natural material ... wood.