Focus on Wood 2023

Building with wood is on the rise—and we're talking large-scale projects and even infrastructure. This special section examines the forces driving the demand for timber construction: the policies in place to encourage its use, advances in its engineering to suit unexpected building types and locations, and efforts to source it sustainably.

To earn two AIA learning units (LU), including two hours of health, safety, and welfare (HSW) credit, read the articles above and Mythbusting Mass Timber (pages 12 though 14), by LEVER Architecture and Atelier Ten.

Then complete the quiz. Upon passing the test, you will receive a certificate of completion, and your credit will be automatically reported to the AIA. Additional information regarding credit-reporting and continuing-education requirements can be found at continuingeducation.bnpmedia.com.

Learning Objectives

AIA/CES Course #K2306A

Photo © Stephan Rappo

RECORD has compiled a glossary of terms related to timber construction.

The carbon in wood, paper, grass trimmings, and other organic matter removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis, which will ultimately be returned to the atmosphere through burning or decay.

An engineered-wood panel consisting of layers of lumber stacked with the grain at 90-degree angles and glued together with structural adhesives. Applications include floor slabs, walls, and roofs (A, below).

A mass-timber product made of dimensional softwood lumber stacked and friction-fit together with hardwood dowels. Although similar to nail-laminated timber, because the panels are made without nails or screws, they are safer to mill and cut. The panels can be used in flooring, roofing, and wall applications (B, below).

The greenhouse gases emitted during the manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials.

An international nongovernmental organization that oversees certification programs for forest management and wood and paper products.

An engineered-wood product commonly used for beams and columns. Laminations are glued together with their grains running parallel to the member's length and are jointed end to end, allowing for long spans (C, below).

A traditional construction method in which the primary load-bearing system is made of large wood members.

An engineered-wood product manufactured from multiple thin layers of veneer that are aligned with the length of the finished lumber. It is often used for headers, beams, and rim board.

A standard approach to quantifying the environmental impacts of a product or process during its entire life cycle­, from the extraction of raw materials to disposal.

A large-scale structural panel made from wood veneers. This "super plywood" is manufactured of thin sheets of wood laid down in an alternating pattern with resin applied between each layer.

A construction system in which the load-bearing elements are made of engineered components formed by laminating or fastening together layers of wood. These components are often fabricated off-site.

A panel made of dimensional lumber placed on edge and me­chanically fastened together with nails or screws, creating a single structural element. It is most commonly used for floor and roof systems (D, below).

A global alliance of national forest-certification systems.

A nonprofit organization that provides a certification framework for forest management and wood and paper products.

The zone of transition between wilderness and land developed by human activity, where the built environment meets the natural environment. Human settlements in the WUI are at greater risk of damage due to wildfire.

Click graphic to enlarge. Image © Think Wood