The demand for wood buildings is growing, with particular attention in recent years to the potential for multi-story wood buildings. While steel and concrete have dominated the construction industry for over a century, associated costs during production include high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. As old as the hills, wood is a renewable alternative to steel and concrete. Building with wood has lower carbon emissions during production and stores carbon within timber used in construction. The benefits of wood during construction also include reduced waste, faster construction time, and reduced costs. With advances in technology and inspiration from the past, wood can provide beauty and multiple benefits to society when used in new construction. Innovative wood buildings, ten stories or more in height, have been constructed across the world, including in England, Australia, Norway, Canada, and the United States.

Increasing the amount of responsibly harvested wood used during construction is a necessary part of our nation’s commitment to green building, sustainability, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Join us to discuss the sustainability benefits and complexities of building with wood, the connection between forests and climate change, and the future of wood buildings. Our panel includes leaders in architecture, green building engineering, forest conservation, and wood products.