Architects specify wood for many reasons, including cost, ease and efficiency of construction, design versatility, and sustainability—as well as its beauty and the innate appeal of nature and natural materials. Innovative new technologies and building systems are also leading to the increased use of wood as a structural material, not only in houses, schools, and other traditional applications, but in larger, taller, and more visionary wood buildings. But even as the use of wood is expanding, one significant characteristic of wood buildings is often underestimated: their durability. Misperceptions still exist that buildings made of materials such as concrete or steel last longer than buildings made of wood. Although this connection between materials and building longevity is often assumed, it is not borne out in fact, as will be discussed in this course.

Examples of wood buildings that have stood for centuries exist all over the world, including the Horu-ji temple in Ikaruga, Japan, built in the eighth century, stave churches in Norway, the oldest remaining built in Urnes in 1150, and many more. Today, wood is being used in a wider range of buildings than would have been possible even 20 years ago. Glued laminated timber (glulam), cross laminated timber (CLT), and a variety of structural composite lumber products are enabling increased dimensional stability and strength, and greater long-span capabilities.

These innovations are leading to taller, highly innovative wood buildings. Examples include the eight-story Limnologen in Sweden, the nine-story Stadthaus in the UK, and the 10-story Forté in Australia, currently the world's tallest modern residential wood building.¹ Although durability is important in every structure, a long future takes on an additional dimension in iconic structures such as these.

Campus housing under construction Project: Mercer Court, University of Washington, Washington State Photo courtesy of WG Clark Construction Architect: Ankrom Moisan Architects