Building Innovations

Murray Grove 9-storey building in London, UK. Waugh Thistleton Architects Ltd. © KLH & Waugh Thistleton

Wood might be considered a traditional building product, but when it comes to design flexibility, its application can be far from old-fashioned. Its sustainable attributes –renewability, promotion of good indoor air quality and energy-efficiency – enable architects to design innovative green buildings. And its rigidity for long span bridges, six-storey (and higher) buildings and overall integrity and strength – with a lighter weight compared to concrete or masonry – make it an ideal material choice for innovative construction.

WoodWorks US Cost Comparison Calculator (BETA version)Use this calculator in the United States to compare costs of six material choices for 10 building types, plus an average for wood and non-wood materials.
Richmond Oval Technical Case Study Developed by the Canadian Wood Council and WoodWORKS! BC details how one of the world’s largest clearspan wooden structures was designed.
Wooden Buildings Reach New HeightsWatch this BBC news piece on two CLT timber-built, mid-rise apartment buildings in London, England.
LifeCycle Tower: The World's Tallest Wooden Building An article on Inventor’s Spot regarding a 30-storey hybrid-construction building.
World’s Tallest Wooden Building Planned for Norway Read an article on Inhabitat.com on a 13-storey wood building.
Wood Enterprise CoalitionFor information on British Columbia's Wood First Initiative.