Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Building With Wood

  • 03/01/18

Designing and building with wood provides a solution to some of the common challenges that come with education building projects—from tight timelines and limited budgets to stringent safety requirements and high standards for sustainability. Schools are placing a premium on organic materials, sustainability, and brighter, more flexible, open-layout interiors—all areas where wood construction thrives.

At the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, wood saved $15 per square foot on one student housing project, Spartan Village Phase I, compared to a metal and concrete alternative. Designed by Lord, Aeck Sargent, the 385,000-square-foot building provides 800 new student beds while creating a new neighborhood that sets the tone for future mixed-use developments.

Wood also offers several advantages where student housing is being added to existing neighborhoods. Multi-story wood structures meet residential code requirements and adhere to required safety and structural performance guidelines for urban infill buildings. Plus, infill real estate often carries a premium price, so the economic advantage gained by building multiple stories of wood over a podium-type structure may be the only way a project can work financially.

At the same time, educational institutions are increasingly using mixed-use projects to add vital businesses to surrounding neighborhoods. At the University of Washington, Mahlum Architects made the most of the urban Seattle location for a five-building project known as West Campus Student Housing – Phase 1, designing each building with five stories of wood-frame construction over a two-story concrete podium. Constructed for $177 per square foot, the award-winning development includes ground-floor amenities such as a grocery store, conference center, and fitness center.

Think Wood is an initiative of the Softwood Lumber Board that provides guidance to ensure safe, predictable, and economical use of softwood lumber in multi-family and non-residential building applications. To learn more, visit ThinkWood.com.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management March 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.