Scion chief financial officer Rob Trass said the innovation centre was part of wider efforts to establish Rotorua as a forestry and wood processing industry centre of excellence.
"The architects we have selected demonstrated the type of innovation we are seeking for a building that will be an inspirational showcase of new wood products and building techniques. Novel thinking will be employed in the design concept, taking the best properties of wood to create an affordable, building of high structural integrity," he said.
Scion intends the innovation centre building to be a prototype demonstrating a different way to use wood and wood products capitalising on precision manufacturing, and resulting in construction methods that are lighter and faster than the conventional.
Mr Trass said April 2015 was the target date for construction to start, with completion by December 2015.
"Now that we have a design team in place we are approaching potential tenants, both start-up businesses and small-to-large operations, who will foster collaboration and innovation across the forest and wood processing value chain and with Scion. This is an ideal time to be involved in the project because the input of future tenants will be valued as the concept is firmed up and detailed design work is undertaken," he said.
The project is part of plans to expand Scion's Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park, adjacent to its research campus on the fringe of Whakarewarewa Forest and already home to 27 forestry-related businesses.
Regional councillor Lyall Thurston said the project had the potential to provide a significant boost to not only the Rotorua economy, but that of the wider region, bringing employment, economic benefits and innovation.
