Wood First

University of British Columbia Bioenergy Research + Demonstration Project. © McFarland Marceau Architects

International countries, including Japan, Finland, France and New Zealand, are developing a culture of wood. In October 2009, the government of British Columbia decided to facilitate a culture of wood for new construction, through an Act that requires wood to be considered as the primary building material in all new publicly funded buildings, such as schools, libraries or sports complexes.

There are a variety of reasons why wood is favoured over other building materials, and most are related to making a positive impact on the environment while taking into account the needs of future generations. Every tonne of wood material used in construction saves about 5.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

Wood buildings are easy to renovate, expand and adapt to changing uses. Recognizing the role that wood plays in green building, British Columbia continues to provide a variety of building materials and choices for clients all around the world.

Did you know?
Wood used in construction locks up atmospheric carbon for as long as the building stands—even longer if that wood is reused.

New Guide to Improve Wood-Frame ConstructionArticle on a new guide that builds on industry knowledge gained over the past decade to enhance the quality of wood-frame, multi-unit residential buildings constructed in British Columbia.
Wood Use MatrixThe Wood Use Matrix is a tool that summarizes the current best practices in the use of wood building materials and systems for various building elements of a wide variety of building types.
New Zealand Wood First Article on New Zealand’s Wood Design Advisory Centre.
Finland Wood First Article on how Finland plans to incorporate wood into multi-storey buildings.