The U.S. Department of Agriculture aims to promote the construction of tall wood buildings for environmental benefits and to boost a new industry.
The U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize Competition, a collaboration the department spearheads in conjunction with the Softwood Lumber Board and Binational Softwood Lumber Council, announced two $1.5 million awards to the winning designs. The winners will use cross-laminated timber to support structures of 10 stories or higher.
Department Secretary Tom Vilsack cited a recent study that showed harvesting, transporting, manufacturing, and using wood in lumber and panel products in construction yields fewer air emissions than other materials. In addition, it promotes more carbon sequestration by putting insect-damaged trees into buildings before a wildfire burns them, he said.
Both of the winning designs were for residential buildings. One is a 10-story condominium project in New York City. The other is a 12-story apartment building in Portland, Oregon.
New York City's 475 West 18th building, by SHoP Architects. It won the East Coast prize in the U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize Competition. Rendering courtesy SHoP Architects.
Related Stories
Market Data | Mar 22, 2017
After a strong year, construction industry anxious about Washington’s proposed policy shifts
Impacts on labor and materials costs at issue, according to latest JLL report.
Sponsored | Building Materials | Mar 20, 2017
Vinyl reveals meet increasing demand
With a tight school renovation budget and timeline, the Oak Grove Elementary cafeteria, designed by RuckPate Architects/CS2 Designs, utilized Architectural Reveals to build curving soffits with a racing stripe reveal design.
Building Materials | Mar 13, 2017
11 transmaterials highlight the coming generation of building products
Fiber-reinforced plastic, 3D-printed stone, and programmable ink tiles are a few materials coming down the pike for the AEC industry.
Building Materials | Mar 3, 2017
Perkins+Will white paper: Antimicrobial building products should be avoided whenever possible
Antimicrobial products contain ingredients that may have adverse environmental or human health impacts.
Building Materials | Feb 15, 2017
New metamaterial cools roofs without any energy consumption
The material is barely thicker than aluminum foil and can be economically manufactured for large-scale residential and commercial applications.
Sponsored | Building Materials | Jan 17, 2017
Handbook of Architectural Expansion Joints & Fire Barriers
Building Materials | Jan 9, 2017
Architects and researchers are developing new techniques for building in space
As setting foot on Mars becomes a more realistic goal, the search for how to best develop Architecture for the Red Planet is heating up.
Walls and Partitions | Dec 14, 2016
New wall system eliminates the need for most studs
The company, BamCore, says its new product can save money and quicken the framing process.
75 Top Building Products | Dec 7, 2016
101 Top Products: Building Envelope
Among the best building envelope products included in BD+C's inaugural Top 101 Products report are BASF's Neopor Plus Insulation, Dri-Design's Shadow Series Aluminum Panels, and Garland's Optimax Roof Membrane.
