Build It With Wood

Build It With Wood

Man using woodworking tools
It’s time for a tall wood building revolution: One that protects our forests, mitigates climate change, and brings new opportunities to create a beautiful and sustainable built environment.

New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) is helping to drive this change through its Build It With Wood initiative, which is designed to increase the amount of engineered timber products used in new buildings.

Why Build With Wood?

Here are a few of the key reasons why building with wood makes sense for the environment and local communities.

Replacing concrete and steel with wood significantly reduces a building’s carbon footprint.
Wood is a renewable resource that stores carbon even after it’s harvested.
Wood’s thermal properties save energy. Wood is five times more insulative than concrete and 350 times more insulative than steel.
Sustainably harvesting wood from New England’s forests encourages tree regeneration, supports the economy of forest-dependent communities, and protects critical ecosystem services.

Tall Buildings and the Rise of Mass Timber

The advent of massive (“mass”) timber products—made by engineering small pieces of wood into larger building materials—makes building with wood possible in the mid to high-rise building sectors. Mass timber products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) are strong, lightweight and fire-safe.

With support from the U.S. Forest Service’s Wood Innovations Grant Program, NEFF commissioned a yearlong study of whether wood from New England forests could be used to make mass timber products for use in local construction markets. The study found:

The region has an abundant supply of suitable tree species for mass timber.
There is strong potential demand for mass timber in the mid-rise building segment from Boston and New York City to smaller markets throughout the Northeast.
New England mills could competitively provide CLT to regional and global markets.

The Build It With program is engaging developers and policymakers interested in using mass timber in local urban areas. To aid investors who are interested in developing a mill or fabrication plant for CLT, the program has also engaged outside analysts, foresters, sawmill operators, and university-based wood product researchers.

NEFF has discovered a vibrant ecosystem of architects, developers, engineers and contractors who are eager to change our built environment—and protect our natural landscapes—by building with mass timber. Their interest has been sparked by the aesthetic, practical and environmental benefits of using wood.

What are the benefits of building with wood?

Unlike steel, concrete, and other common building materials, wood is renewable and sustainable. Wood that is harvested in a sustainable way from forests like New England’s supports rural communities and critical ecosystem services. Building with wood also lowers greenhouse gas emissions and wood stores carbon within the timber used in construction.

If we build with more wood, will this harm forests?

No, as long as forests are properly managed, protected, and cared for. Timber harvesting can promote forest health by stimulating tree regeneration; restore degraded landscapes; encourage biodiversity; enhance wildlife habitat; and, increase resiliency to climate change, pest, and disease impacts. Harvesting also provides timber resources and supports local jobs.

What is engineered wood?

Engineered wood are products formed by binding or fixing multiple strands together to form a composite material. Engineered wood products are usually made of the same hardwood and softwood used to manufacture lumber. Examples of engineered wood products include plywood, glued laminated timber (glulam), cross-laminated timber (CLT), and parallel strand lumber (PSL).

What is cross-laminated timber (CLT)?

Cross-laminated timber, also known as CLT, is a type of engineered wood product. It is typically 3, 5, or 7 layers of dimension lumber that is glued together at right angles. Since it is prefabricated and delivered to the construction site, using CLT can speed up construction time. It was originally developed in the early 1990s in Europe and was designed for both increased dimensional stability and strength in framing systems.

Cross-laminated timber is dimensional lumber glued together at right angles. Photo credit: Naturally: Wood

What are some examples of tall wood buildings?

There are multiple examples throughout the world of mid-rise and high-rise buildings that are made with wood — both residential and non-residential. Some of the more famous buildings are Stadthaus (Murray Grove, London), Forte (Melbourne, Australia), Wood Innovation and Design Centre (British Columbia, Canada), and Treet (Bergen, Norway). You can also look at our map of wood buildings around the world.

Is a wood building safe?

Yes! It is likely that your own home is built with wood. All buildings, regardless of building material, have to be safe during use and occupation. Fire concerns are often brought up when discussing wood buildings and are a common safety concern. In the unlikely case of a fire, it is important to understand the variations in performance for timber products. Much like the differences between kindling and thick logs, light timber and heavy, or mass, timber perform in different ways when exposed to fire. Light timber, as seen in stick frame built construction typical of single-family residential applications, does not resist fire through development of a char layer as occurs with heavy timber. When exposed to fire, the outer layer of heavy timbers burns and chars, protecting the inner layer, which remains intact and retains structural strength. Research on the charring of heavy timber is both well understood and predictable. Fire safety for wood buildings may also include modern sprinkler systems, fire alert and detection systems, and fire retardant coverings over some wood components.

The perception of risk may be improved by increased understanding of fire performance of timber and reasonable regulations. Wood does not react in the same manner as steel and concrete during a fire. Each material should be managed differently based on current knowledge and research. All buildings should consider the best combination of systems to reduce the risk of a fire starting and the methods to safely evacuate an occupied building during an emergency.

What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. LEED is a rating system that evaluates how environmentally friendly a structure is in its design and energy use. There are multiple levels of LEED certifications based on how many points a building receives.

Certified: 40–49 points
Silver: 50–59 points
Gold: 60–79 points
Platinum: 80 points and above

I’m interested in learning more. What are some other websites that talk about building structures out of wood?

WoodWorks is an organization that is supported by the Wood Products Council which provides free project assistance, education, and resources related to the design of non-residential and multi-family wood buildings. The Think Wood initiative is a coalition representing North America’s wood products industry and forest landowners. Wood performance, cost and sustainability is discussed.

Tour of the Integrated Design Building at UMass Amherst

Staff at New England Forestry Foundation got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Integrated Design Building at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Construction is underway to erect the cross-laminated timber columns and panels. The building is scheduled to open Spring 2017 and will house three departments: Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Department of Architecture in the College of Humanities, and Fine Arts and the Building Construction Technology program in the College of Natural Sciences.

Michael Green at Climate Week 2015

Michael Green, Principal at Michael Green Architecture, discusses wooden high-rise buildings, engineered wood products, and the future of wood buildings at the Climate Week NYC 2015 event “Sustainable Development Benefits of Building with Wood.”

Speaker: Michael Green, Michael Green Architecture
Panel Moderator: Michael Deane, Turner Construction
Date of Event: September 21, 2015
Location: The Yale Club of New York City
Event Sponsors: New England Forestry Foundation, the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and Sustainability Practice Network

Frank Lowenstein at Climate Week 2015

Frank Lowenstein, Deputy Director at New England Forestry Foundation, discusses the economic and environmental aspects of increased use of wood in buildings, sustainable forest management, and how wood stores carbon at the Climate Week NYC 2015 event “Sustainable Development Benefits of Building with Wood.”

Speaker: Frank Lowenstein, New England Forestry Foundation
Panel Moderator: Michael Deane, Turner Construction
Date: September 21, 2015
Location: The Yale Club of New York City
Event Sponsors: New England Forestry Foundation, the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and Sustainability Practice Network

Roger Platt at Climate Week 2015

Roger Platt, President of U.S. Green Building Council, discusses LEED certifications, life-cycle analysis of building materials, and issues with sourcing materials far away from the construction site at the Climate Week 2015 event “Sustainable Development Benefits of Building with Wood.”

Speaker: Roger Platt, U.S. Green Building Council
Panel Moderator: Michael Deane, Turner Construction
Date: September 21, 2015
Location: The Yale Club of New York City
Event Sponsors: New England Forestry Foundation, the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and Sustainability Practice Network

Patrick Holmes at Climate Week 2015

Patrick Holmes, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary at the U.S.D.A. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, discusses the winners of the 2015 Tall Wood Building competition at the Climate Week NYC 2015 event “Sustainable Development Benefits of Building with Wood.” Holmes describes the designs for a mixed-use building in Portland, Oregon and a residential condominium in New York City, and talks about combating economic challenges through innovation.

Speaker: Patrick Holmes, U.S.D.A.
Panel Moderator: Michael Deane, Turner Construction
Date: September 21, 2015
Location: The Yale Club of New York City
Event Sponsors: New England Forestry Foundation, the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and Sustainability Practice Network

Bill Parsons at Climate Week 2015

Bill Parsons, National Director at WoodWorks, discusses current building codes in the U.S. which allow for wood buildings and how mid-rise wood buildings are within code at the Climate Week NYC 2015 event “Sustainable Development Benefits of Building with Wood.”

Speaker: Bill Parsons, WoodWorks
Panel Moderator: Michael Deane, Turner Construction
Date: September 21, 2015
Location: The Yale Club of New York City
Event Sponsors: New England Forestry Foundation, the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and Sustainability Practice Network

Chad Oliver at Climate Week 2015

Chad Oliver, Pinchot Professor of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Director of Yale’s Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry, discusses the carbon emission benefits of avoiding steel and concrete in certain construction projects and how to protect the biodiversity of forest ecosystems at the Climate Week NYC 2015 event “Sustainable Development Benefits of Building with Wood.”

Speaker: Chad Oliver, Yale Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry
Panel Moderator: Michael Deane, Turner Construction
Date: September 21, 2015
Location: The Yale Club of New York City
Event Sponsors: New England Forestry Foundation, the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and Sustainability Practice Network

Build It With Wood Reports

July 2017 | CLT in New England: Assessing The Wood Supply and Investment Potential for a New England Engineered Wood Products Mill

With support from the USDA Forest Service, NEFF commissioned an analysis of the potential for a New England cross-laminated timber (CLT) mill. The analysis looked at the suitability of New England tree species, their availability, the potential cost of New England-produced CLT, likely returns on investment from a CLT mill, and potential markets for CLT in New England.

October 2015 | Interim Report on Progress

New England Forests: The Path to Sustainability

This report reveals forests’ existing contributions and future potential to support New Englanders’ lives and lifestyle. It puts forward the first steps we collectively need to take to seize that potential to ensure a sustainable future.

September 2014 | New England Forests: The Path to Sustainability

Two chapters of The Path to Sustainability focus specifically on wood and one on climate change. Technical reports correspond with each chapter and include data supporting each forest benefit.

Chapter 4: Protect Us From Climate Change
Chapter 7: Grow More Wood
Chapter 10: Provide More Wood for Buildings

Articles

September 2018 | Build It With Wood’s Big Year
April 2018 | New Mills Bring Sustainable Timber And Jobs To Maine
December 2017 | NEFF Takes on Climate Change