Urban Wood: Using Local Materials to Enhance Design and Sustainability on Projects

The type of material used in a construction project has a significant effect on the project’s sustainability and wellness goals. When considering using wood in a project, many architects and designers look for materials that are certified, salvaged or reclaimed. While these types of wood are sourced responsibly, they often are not sourced locally. Urban wood provides a responsible and locally sourced option for wood building materials.

This webinar will introduce attendees to urban wood, explain what it is, where it comes from, grade, characteristics, and considerations when sourcing. The presentation will explore how wood can support sustainability goals such as supporting the local economy, reducing waste, and how the use of wood can achieve wellness goals on a project.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify applications for urban wood on projects and understand urban wood as a resource available to the construction industry, especially in light of the devastation from disease and insect.
  • Understand how to correctly specify urban wood for a project; ensuring that the architect, contractor and millworker acknowledge the considerations that are unique to urban wood.
  • Understand how choosing wood as a building or finish material can support the environmental and wellness goals on a project.
  • Understand requirements for WELL feature 87 Beauty and Design and feature 88 Biophilia.

Speakers: