The Winter School took place from 28 to 30 January 2025 within the framework of the LIFE BE-WoodEN project, as a key activity of Work Package 3 – Capacity Building.

The initiative was addressed to professionals and technicians (20 participants) who had consistently attended the series of webinars on structural wood organised by the DAGRI Department of the University of Florence, with the aim of consolidating and further developing the skills acquired through an intensive, practice-oriented training experience.

The Winter School was structured over three days of laboratory-based and applied activities, complemented by moments of discussion and selected theoretical contributions. The activities focused, among other topics, on:

• identification of wood species and xylology;
• physical and mechanical properties of wood and structural grading systems;
• interactions between wood and moisture;
• non-destructive investigation techniques on existing buildings;
• identification of biological degradation;
• mechanical testing on samples and full-scale timber elements.

The educational approach prioritised a hands-on methodology, encouraging work in small groups and the direct use of tools, materials and laboratory equipment, in line with the principles of the New European Bauhaus and with the objective of strengthening operational skills along the timber value chain.
The quality of the training experience was assessed through an anonymous satisfaction questionnaire, which highlighted a high overall level of satisfaction, both in terms of content and organisation, as well as the balance between theory and practice.
As part of the Winter School, a Study Visit was also organised at two companies operating in the timber construction sector, located within the same production area in Tuscany.
The activities included visits to the production facilities and technical discussions with company representatives, allowing participants to gain deeper insights into construction processes, adopted technological solutions and the application of timber in structural contexts. The Study Visit represented a direct link between the laboratory-based training carried out during the Winter School and real production environments, strengthening the dialogue between education, research and professional practice, in line with the objectives of the NEB SUD Hub and the LIFE BE-WoodEN project.