WoodWorks is charged with increasing the consumption and market share of softwood lumber in commercial and multifamily buildings. WoodWorks has the unique mandate of working directly with design and construction teams to support and influence projects, with the goal of facilitating a shift toward wood within firms.
WoodWorks is a non-profit program that helps developers and design teams use wood in new and innovative ways, at no cost to them—whether it’s their first time using a material like mass timber, they’re designing a larger wood-frame building than they have in the past, or they have questions about a particular aspect of wood building design. WoodWorks is also a leading provider of continuing education to design and building professionals across the United States. Staffed with architects, structural engineers and construction experts, WoodWorks has the expertise to help bring all types of wood buildings to fruition.
WoodWorks’ approach involves three closely connected strategies:
Utilize expert staff to support projects from design through construction.
Building designers often need support to expand their understanding of where wood solutions can be used, to minimize the learning curve when trying an unfamiliar design approach, to help overcome hurdles with building authorities, and to help successfully outline wood’s value proposition to clients. WoodWorks is a credible and trusted ally to design teams, helping its clients realize successful wood buildings.
Leverage education to build relationships and secure quality project leads.
By hosting educational events at all scales, WoodWorks reinforces its status as an expert organization while creating opportunities to engage with target audiences. Events focus on topics that give professionals the knowledge and confidence to expand their use of wood and open the door to project assistance.
WoodWorks is also overcoming a key barrier to mass timber adoption by addressing the lack of familiarity within the construction industry related to estimating, scheduling, and efficiently executing wood projects. This includes addressing the shortage of qualified installers in the U.S. through its Mass Timber Installer Training program. WoodWorks has partnered with training centers and universities across the U.S. for mass timber instruction.
Develop technical resources that fill information gaps and address key challenges.
WoodWorks develops a wide range of technical resources for design and construction professionals, including design guides, papers, and expert tip articles that provide instruction on key topics, case studies that examine successful wood projects for the benefit of other project teams, and resources such as a CAD/Revit tool and database of fire and acoustic-tested assemblies that make it easier to design wood buildings.
WoodWorks resources on sustainability—including a carbon calculator, articles on biogenic carbon and whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA), and studies comparing real-world wood buildings to concrete and steel alternatives—help teams capture and report the environmental benefits of wood use in their projects.
Another resource that further extends the impact is the WoodWorks Innovation Network (WIN)—a user-driven platform that allows AEC professionals to showcase their mass timber and innovative light-frame projects and promote their experience. It is used by developers and others to see what projects are being built in the U.S. and elsewhere and connect with their teams.