Designing and Building large scale non-residential buildings with wood is not something most engineers and architects take seriously. The Great Chicago Fire can be cited as a pretty good reason why not to use this material. Only 137 year ago the city was destroyed by a major fire which grew in strength primarily because most of the buildings were made of wood. In 2002 a survey was taken of professional architects and engineers regarding the use of wood in major non-residential buildings. Most of the responses were negative and respondents noted building codes and the potential for fire as one of the main reasons the material was not used. Other reasons included, the cost effectiveness and performance of wood versus that of other materials and industry inertia. Woods’ one positive aspect, sustainability, was buried under these other concerns.

Now, Woodworks has just announced a partnership with a number of major universities to help teach future engineers and designers how to use wood as primary material in the construction of non-residential buildings. Sustainability is the main reason that Universities are focusing on the material and ignoring the previously noted drawbacks. However, wood has yet to get much more practicle, so students need to be educated on how to deal with wood’s potential problems (fires, termites, mold and rot) and use wood effectively.

Another sustainable material which would have an interesting application in the construction of green design is recycled plastic, or more specifically recycled plastic lumber. Currently recycled plastic lumber has been a popular material for deck construction and other small scale project but perhaps it would be suited for a bigger future in the construction industry.