Softwood Lumber Board

Want to see how mass timber and light-frame construction can create unique guest experiences? Take a tour of 9 projects where design meets sustainable construction. From snow-ready lodges to urban boutique hotels, these projects show what’s possible with wood. https://hubs.la/Q036-P2z0

WoodWorks' mass timber installer training program took another leap forward with the addition of 21 carpenter and ironworker training locations, which are procuring mock-ups from partner mass timber manufacturers using WoodWorks drawings. Those locations began courses in January, for a total of 56 active training course locations across the United States. To date, more than 1,500 students have completed 28,090 hours of mass timber installation training initiated through WoodWorks’ Construction Management program. By training construction professionals on this topic, WoodWorks aims to ensure building designs don’t default to concrete or steel because of a lack of trained contractors. View the mass timber installer training curriculum here: https://hubs.ly/Q034zSYh0

Last year the WoodWorks team published nine expert tips, many based on questions we frequently answer while providing technical assistance to design and construction teams across the U.S. See these tips and the rest of the technical resources our experts published last year in the 2024 resource round-up. See the Resource Roundup here: https://lnkd.in/d2RUKqKj Image Credits: The Canyons, Kaiser+Path, Catena Consulting Engineers, Photo Marcus Kauffman

This week, the SLB-funded program, Think Wood, heads to Las Vegas for the NAHB International Builders' Show (IBS)! Happening February 25-27, this is the largest gathering for residential building professionals in North America. IBS is the ideal place to connect with industry experts and leaders, gain insight on emerging strategies and trends, and explore innovative construction products, demos, and workshops. Stop by our Booth C6311 to see how Think Wood is working to protect lumber’s dominant share in the single-family market. https://hubs.ly/Q037-z100

Over the last few years, the lumber industry has made incredible progress on codes and standards and in the market share for wood construction—but without continuing our investment, we’ll lose the gains we’ve made. Throughout the year, we’ll highlight industry, SLB programs, and partners to show how and why the softwood lumber industry is working together to ensure we continue to grow market share in the years to come. In the latest update, the SLB’s First Vice Chair Jerome Pelletier, Vice President of J.D. Irving, Ltd., describes the work of the SLB and its programs to grow the U.S. market, keep building codes evolving, and educate the construction industry on how to build with wood. Watch the video to learn more.

The SLB’s February newsletter features an SLB Education-sponsored mass timber student design competition, new updates to the American Wood Council's Heights and Areas Calculator, a WoodWorks-led roundtable-style workshop for developers and wood experts, and more. Read the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gvesmiFT 

Introducing one of our 2024 Award in Architecture winners, Vesterheim Commons in Decorah, Iowa. More than just a beautiful addition to a picturesque northeastern Iowa town, Vesterheim Commons designed by Snøhetta and BNIM celebrates American immigration through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience at its National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School. See our full breakdown of the project here: https://lnkd.in/eNJ-JyM9 Arup Fast + Epp Vesterheim

Interest in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)—compact housing units on the same lot as a primary home—is growing nationwide, with one study showing a 9% annual increase. This comes as no surprise, as ADUs can offer affordable housing, support aging in place, and cater to multigenerational living. Despite regulatory challenges, designers are creating innovative, functional small spaces. Visit Think Wood to explore three standout ADUs that showcase how wood can be the perfect material for small, efficient builds. https://hubs.ly/Q034zFrj0

At the JJ Carroll Redevelopment, MASS Design Group selected light-frame construction for its economy and speedy timelines—and used a creative rethinking of typical multifamily layouts to enhance connections among the senior housing project’s residents. https://hubs.la/Q0352vb50

Adoption of the 2021 and 2024 International Building Codes (IBC), which include provisions for mass timber, continues to expand. To date, 39 states have adopted the 2021 IBC, including its mass timber provisions. Growing adoption of these codes is having an impact on constructed projects, with 2,338 multifamily, commercial, or institutional mass timber projects in progress or built in the U.S. as of December 2024 according to WoodWorks. To drive continued adoption, the American Wood Council (AWC) is actively supporting these efforts through outreach and education. In 2024, AWC field staff led training sessions across localities in 18 states, ensuring that hundreds of building and fire officials were familiar with mass timber code requirements and the AWC’s resources. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q034zNFL0