This course is part of the Wood Structures Academy

Below are a set of links to building type studies from Architectural Record, which are in-depth analyses of particular kinds of buildings, with photos, drawings, specifications, detailed descriptions, and design solutions. Click on each link below, read the article then complete the quiz to earn your credit and certificate of completion.

Long one of the most universally applied construction materials, wood established itself as so indispensable to the built world that it began to be overlooked, practically invisible. In recent years, technical advances have given birth to a wide range of process innovations, such as CNC milling and off-site assembly, as well as engineered-wood products with enhanced performance properties. These developments have prompted designers to take a new interest in the material, exploring not only its aesthetic appeal but also its structural potential and environmental value. A sampling of projects — from a seven-story office building that employs traditional wood joinery to a new model for ultra-energy-efficient housing — highlight surprising new uses of this age-old material.

For credit, read all of the stories below and take the quiz.

Photo © Didier Boy De La Tour; Tamedia Headquarters Expansion, Zurich, Shigeru Ban Architects

	52 Whitmore Road Waugh Thistleton Green to the Bone: A mixed-use building experiments with an engineered wood material that is gaining traction in Europe. Photo © Will Pryce
	Lions Park Scout Hut Rural Studio Camp Craft: A design-build team explores the potential of low-grade timber for a Boy Scout troop's headquarters. Photo © Timothy Hursley
	Soft House Kennedy & Violich Architecture (KVA Matx) Timber's New Wave: A set of rowhouses combines a traditional all-wood structure with strategies for generating and saving energy, offering a new model for low-carbon living. Photo © Michael Moser
	Tamedia Headquarters Expansion Shigeru Ban Architects Inside Job: A finely crafted timber office building for a Swiss media company makes a strong statement from within. Photo © Didier Boy De La Tour
	TED Theatre Rockwell Group Traveling Show: A pop-up theater assembled inside a giant ballroom brings new scale to portability. Photo © Paul Warchol
	Teaching an Old Material New Tricks Three projects under construction in North America demonstrate that timber can be used as an alternative to concrete, steel, and even masonry. Image courtesy Michael Green Architecture

Think Wood is a leading education provider on the advantages of using softwood lumber in commercial, community and multifamily building applications. We introduce innovators in the field to our community of architects, engineers, designers and developers. For support or resources, contact us at info@ThinkWood.com.