Timber construction is considered a main strategy towards a more sustainable built environment. Industrialized manufacturing methods have advanced the realization of multi-storey timber buildings generating enthusiasm about their implementation in urban areas, and the expectation of their further completion. These are still pilot projects, so there is a lack of specific literature and guidelines, including common understanding, standard procedures and holistic considerations. This paper aims to assess the current situation of design and construction processes of timber buildings in Austria, highlighting barriers and opportunities and formulating recommendations for its further adoption. The methodology used is based on an extended literature review and a qualitative analysis from expert interviews. Different disciplines were involved to approach the topic holistically. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and inductive coded within several iterative rounds. Excerpts were organized into codes, sub-codes and categories to identify and classify themes and patterns and build the case. The findings are structured into the categories of Acquisition, Design and Production and Assembly, and further identified as Barriers and Opportunities. Upon the analysis of results, a selective range of recommendations are formulated and summarized in a catalogue, serving as a guide for further research and actions to widespread the adoption of timber.

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Different approaches to assess sustainability goals are found in construction sector, mainly related to energy efficiency through building technology and high-tech components, to low-tech strategies based on passive planning methods, the use of renewable raw materials, and building certification programs, which, however, are mainly an evaluation of already built objects. Austrian construction industry is extremely fragmented and heterogeneous, making research, development and innovation an issue for companies. The core of this project is to bridge the specific gaps in knowledge within Viennese construction companies about sustainable architecture and respond to these urgent needs by developing a customized postgraduate course. Within the first phase of the project, team meetings, a workshop and an online survey were run to assess the state of knowledge of Viennese companies. By doing so, information deficits were identified, companies' need for knowledge was determined and topics to be transferred were raised.