Institutional

Kwantlen College, Cloverdale Campus, B.C., Canada. Bunting Coady Architects.

Wood’s flexibility, beauty, and strength make it a top choice for designing dramatic spaces where people congregate. Schools, government and municipal facilities, transit stations and airport terminals, and many other institutional structures benefit from the strength and beauty of British Columbia engineered wood products such as large-span glulam beams and oriented strand board (OSB).

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Wood-frame structures, when constructed to appropriate design guidelines, are proven to perform well in the extreme load conditions caused by hurricanes and earthquakes – an important consideration for public buildings. 

Wood Scores A+ in School Construction CEUThis CEU discusses how wood has been used as a structural and finish material in schools and highlights the effects of wood on human health and well-being in an educational environment.
WoodWorks US Cost Comparison Calculator (BETA version) Use this calculator in the United States to compare costs of six material choices for churches, town halls and schools, plus an average for wood and non-wood materials.
FPInnovations, Forintek Division Has case studies ranging from concert halls, churches and schools.
WoodWORKS! BC Has a series of case studies on how to build with wood in buildings such as schools, and hospitals.
Healthy Building, Healthy HealingThis U.S. WoodWorks publication discusses how wood provides a serene space for a 21,000-square-foot, 20-bed treatment center for executives and business professionals.
Designing Wood Schools Case Study This U.S. WoodWorks publication details designing wood schools.
Wood-Framed Schools This Structural Engineer article discusses how wood-framed schools meet safety, cost, and environmental objectives.
Wood and Human HealthThis study by UBC and FPInnovations took a psychophysiological approach to stress and attempted to assess the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system to determine if there is apositive link between wood and human health. Four office environments were studied in this factorial design: wood and plants, wood and no plants, no wood and plants, and no wood and no plants.
How Green School Buildings Help Children GrowThe Tyee article on how research is showing students and teachers are more healthy and productive in sustainably-built schools.