Five Innovative Designs Receive $2.2 Million in 2023 Mass Timber Building Competition

Architecture

Oct 22

OREGON CITY, Ore., October 19, 2023 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - The Softwood Lumber Board and USDA Forest Service jointly announced the winners of the 2023 Mass Timber Competition: Building to Net-Zero Carbon today in Chicago. The five winning projects have been awarded a combined total of $2.2 million to showcase the various applications of mass timber in architectural design while emphasizing its role in reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector.

John Crockett, USDA Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief of State and Private Forestry, commented on the initiative's environmental impact, stating, "One way to improve the health and resilience of forests is by sustainably harvesting trees to manufacture wood products like mass timber." He further added, “As wildfires become more prevalent across the United States, a stronger supply chain for lumber and mass timber improves forest health and supports the construction of low carbon buildings—both effective ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change.” Ryan Flom, Chief Marketing Officer at the Softwood Lumber Board, noted, “This year’s winning projects will not only provide much-needed housing and gathering spaces for their communities, but they will also demonstrate viable paths for other teams to build for well-being, commercial adoption, resilience, and a minimal carbon footprint.”

The selected projects for this year range from mixed-use residential to affordable multi-family housing and vertical additions. WoodWorks, a non-profit organization, conducted technical evaluations for the entries. The finalists were chosen by an independent jury from diverse fields such as architecture, structural engineering, and real estate development. The 2023 competition marks the second year of the program, following six recipients who were awarded a total of $2 million in 2022.

The award recipients are committed to sharing their project findings, including cost analyses and life cycle assessments, with the broader design and construction community. For more information, visit www.softwoodlumberboard.org.

Source: Softwood Lumber Board via Newswire