%0 Research article
%T The influence of architects and structural engineers on timber in construction – perceptions and roles
%A Roos, Anders
%A Woxblom, Lotta
%A McCluskey, Denise
%D 2010
%J Silva Fennica
%V 44
%N 5
%R doi:10.14214/sf.126
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/126
%X This study considers structural engineers’ and architects’ perceptions  of structural timber in multi-story construction contexts. Qualitative  approaches – interviews and focus groups – were used to investigate  attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived factors that hamper or  facilitate the prescription of wood use in construction. Wood was  perceived as an appropriate building material. Architects’, and even  more so engineers’, perceptions of negative aspects of wood focused on  decay, instability and sound transmission. Although wood-based  construction was seen as a required professional skill, it was not  expected to improve one’s professional status. Positive aspects of wood  in construction included its strength, environmental friendliness,  simple handling and appropriateness for use in conjunction with  industrial methods, whereas knowledge gaps and weak support from the  wood industry have reduced the use of wood among structural engineers  and architects. Both professions perceived their influence on material  selection to be weak. They sensed that most of the influence over  material selection rested with developers and contractors. The paper  contains suggestions on how to make these two professions more  influential advocates for wood in construction.