Timber iQ April - May 2017 // Issue: 31 | Page 50

REGULARS - TALKING TIMBER

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European stadium . A Canadian office tower . An American high-rise .
Projects that used to consume thousands of tons of steel and concrete are being built with arguably the world ’ s longest and most renewable industrial resource – wood . The North American timber construction industry has transformed significantly over the past decade . At the turn of the 20 th century , steel and concrete widely replaced wood in the construction of commercial buildings . Today advances in fabrication techniques and connection engineering , along with a renewed interest in timber as an architectural medium and trends toward sustainable construction , provide an environment for the reemergence of timber in an array of projects .
Susan Jones , founding principal of Seattle architectural firm atelierjones , is among the veteran architects advocating for the advancement of the acceptance of mass timber construction in the United States . Her firm ’ s work has been recognised with numerous national , regional and local design awards .
Jones also is among the 18 American Institute of Architects ’ representatives who are part of the International Code Committee ( ICC ) working to test the effectiveness of timber in construction projects and to define codes outlining building practices .
On the heels of the Timber in the City Symposium at Parsons School of Design this month in New York , Jones spoke with ProudGreenBuilding . com about the increasing popularity of mass timber commercial projects and the impact research will have on future building efforts .
Proud Green Building : What was the message you tried to convey about timber at the symposium ? Susan Jones : We introduced the audience to mass timber , to our work and the hurdles and opportunities we saw . We were joined by a panel , and we had an engaged discussion . The question was really what can we do to move this forward . If there are hurdles , what are they and how can they be identified and mitigated ?
We all were involved with various levels of building with mass timber already and had experiences to share . Most were optimistic in determining what can be built today and what are the challenges . Sometimes , that message gets lost in translation .
For example , there is so much focus on building above six stories , which is currently not allowed in any of the ICC codes today . There is tremendous opportunity under six stories , and that ’ s where our work has been currently focused .
PGB : Are more and more architects and engineers looking to timber first when it comes to commercial projects ? Jones : Especially in the Northwest , where timber is part of the cultural heritage . Portland has built several beautiful , wonderful NLT ( nail-laminated timber ) buildings across the commercial landscape .
Architects in Portland and Seattle - because we ’ re so close to the Canadian border - are well aware of what has been done with wood over the last decade or so , especially with the Olympics back in 2008 . There has been a lot of awareness . Certainly , when it ’ s appropriate , we ’ re definitely open to using wood . But BC ’ s Wood First policy that has been implemented several years ago was a huge impact on the BC ( British Columbia ) market . If something were to go ahead in the States , or even on a state level , it would have an excellent impetus on working with wood .
PGB : Why is timber becoming more prevalent in commercial projects ? What is driving this trend ? Jones : Often you talk to a timber or lumber mill person or forester , and they say , “ What ’ s with this trendy thing called timber ? We ’ ve been doing this for 30 , 50 , 100 years and you architects were never interested in what we were doing . What ’ s going on ? Are you guys finally seeing the light ?”
I always laugh when I get a comment like that . The impact of climate change has affected our world deeply . As an individual , as an architect , we all understand that we have a huge role to play in how our profession can affect climate change . It is one of the biggest ethical challenges our generation faces .
We ’ re responsible for specifying materials . We can specify steel and concrete . We can specify wood . Of course , this is done in concert with response to budget , our client ’ s needs and their market perception . People are starting to get it . Architects have been leaders over the past three or four years to help their clients understand this can both be an environmental choice of materials and a beautiful one .
That ’ s my personal motivation . Wood - when it can be exposed - is a beautifully sensitive material that reflects light and daylight in very different ways and creates a calming sense of nature when you enter a space , whether it ’ s a commercial space or residential space . There ’ s just a different feel when you ’ re immersed within the textures , smells and touch of a natural environment .
The majority of growth has happened in our cities . We all love our dynamic , urban environments , but when you have the opportunity to touch a piece of wood , there ’ s just something very different about it – its smell , its texture . There ’ s a real connection to nature we all instinctively long for .
PGB : What makes timber a good alternative to steel or concrete ? Is it as strong and durable ? Jones : On the West Coast , light-framed timber has always been around in low to midrise multi-family , up to six stories . That ’ s been a big stalwart of our multifamily construction market . As you start to get higher , building codes restrictions start to phase out light-frame timber . The excitement of working with mass timber is that it you are working with large , somewhat awkward but very strong and lightweight panels that can be prefabricated . Typically , they ’ re eight feet wide by 40 feet long by 4 to 6 to 9 inches thick , depending on how many layers you use .
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