NWTTA and LSA launch 2026 Annual Student Prize to elevate the use of timber in architecture

 Wednesday, December 31, 2025

As the construction industry faces increasing pressure to decarbonise, the North West Timber Trade Association (NWTTA) has taken a bold step towards fostering the next generation of sustainable designers. In an exclusive partnership with the prestigious Liverpool School of Architecture (LSA), the NWTTA has officially launched the 2026 Annual Student Prize for the Use of Timber in Architecture.

This competition, supported by Timber Development UK (TDUK), is designed to challenge architecture students to move beyond traditional steel and concrete, placing timber at the heart of structural and aesthetic innovation.

The primary mission of the 2026 Student Prize is to bridge the historical gap between the timber supply chain and architectural education. While timber is widely recognised as one of the few truly renewable building materials, its sophisticated engineering properties—such as those found in Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam—are often under-explored in standard university curricula.

By incentivising students to work with wood, the NWTTA aims to:

• Promote sustainability: Highlight timber’s role in carbon sequestration and its low embodied energy compared to mineral-based materials.
• Encourage innovation: Push the boundaries of how timber can be used in complex, large-scale urban designs.
• Strengthen networks: Create direct conduits between talented students, academic researchers, and timber industry leaders.

The competition is structured to acknowledge the varying levels of architectural training, ensuring that both undergraduate and postgraduate perspectives are represented. The awards are split into two distinct categories:

Winning entries will be selected by a high-profile panel featuring representatives from the NWTTA, TDUK, and leading UK architectural practices known for their timber expertise. Submissions will be scrutinised on three core pillars:

1. Material understanding: Does the student demonstrate a deep technical grasp of timber’s physical and structural properties?
2. Innovative design: Does the project use wood in a way that is fresh, functional, and visually compelling?
3. Environmental awareness: How effectively does the design address the climate crisis, from lifecycle analysis to biophilic benefits?

The competition offers significant regional recognition and financial rewards for the top three students in each category:

• First Prize: £250
• Second Prize: £150
• Third Prize: £100

Beyond the cash incentives, the winning designs will be showcased in a high-profile Award Ceremony & Exhibition held at the iconic Royal Liver Building in Liverpool on June 24, 2026. This exhibition provides students with a unique platform to display their work to potential employers and industry influencers.

The partnership with the Liverpool School of Architecture—the first school in the UK to award a RIBA-accredited degree—is a strategic move. As the LSA prepares to open its new £23m extension in 2026, the focus on timber design aligns with the university’s commitment to addressing the global climate emergency and the housing crisis through smarter, greener construction.

For the timber trade, this competition is more than a trophy; it is an investment in the people who will specify the materials of tomorrow. By fostering “timber-first” thinking today, the NWTTA ensures that wood remains the cornerstone of the UK’s net-zero future.

Read more news on: CLT and glulam

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Tags: architecture student competition 2026, Liverpool School of Architecture prizes, North West Timber Trade Association, Sustainable Construction Materials, Timber Development UK (TDUK) initiative, timber industry news