flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

13 dazzling wood building designs [slideshow]

13 dazzling wood building designs [slideshow]

From bold structural glulam designs to striking textured wall and ceiling schemes, these award-winning building projects showcase the design possibilities using wood. 


By BD+C Staff | March 20, 2014
Designed by Centerbrook Architects and Planners, the Hotchkiss School's new Biom
Designed by Centerbrook Architects and Planners, the Hotchkiss School's new Biom

Different building materials have different benefits, and The National Wood Design Awards aim to highlight the unique benefits of using wood in design and architecture. This year, 140 submissions were sent in to WoodWorks, an initiative of the Wood Products Council. 

“The Wood Design Awards showcase outstanding projects that bring to life wood’s natural beauty and versatility in building design,” said Jennifer Cover, PE, Executive Director of WoodWorks. "The winners exemplify the many ways wood products can be used to create outstanding architecture. These are inspiring projects that demonstrate ingenuity in design or engineering, as well as attributes of wood such as cost effectiveness, sustainability and structural performance." 

National awards were presented in nine categories, and four regional awards will be presented at regional Wood Solutions Fairs. Check out the winners below (also, see BD+C's recap of the 2013 winners). 

 

1. Muckleshoot Smokehouse, Auburn, Wash.

Category: Traditional Use of Wood Design Award
Architect: Mahlum
Structural engineer: PCS Structural Solutions
Building owner: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
General contractor: Donovan Brothers, Inc.
Photo credit: Benjamin Benschneider; courtesy WoodWorks
 

Muckleshoot Smokehouse, Auburn, Wash.

Muckleshoot Smokehouse, Auburn, Wash.

Muckleshoot Smokehouse, Auburn, Wash.

Muckleshoot Smokehouse, Auburn, Wash.

Muckleshoot Smokehouse, Auburn, Wash.

 

 

 

2. Federal Center South, Building 1202, Seattle

Category: Commercial Wood Design Award
Architect: ZGF Architects LLP
Structural engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers
General contractor: Stellan Constuction
Photo credit: Benjamin Benschneider; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

3. Promega Feynman Center, Madison, Wis.

Category: Innovative Wood Engineering Award
Structural engineer: EwingCole
Architect: Uihlein-Wilson Architects
General contractor: Kraemer Brothers
Photo credit: Aitor Sanchez/EwingCole; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

4. Biomass Heating Plant, Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Conn.

Category: Green Building Wood Design Award
Architect: Centerbrook Architects and Planners 
Structural engineer: DeStafano & Chamberlain 
General contractor: O&G Industries
Photo credit: David Sundberg/Esto; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

5. James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

Category: Institutional Wood Design Award
Architect: GWWO, Inc./Architects
Structural engineer: Faisant Associates
General contractor: Forrester Construction
Photo credit: Robert Creamer Photography/Paul Burk Photography; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

6. Reed College Performing Arts Building, Portland, Ore.

Category: Beauty of Wood Design Award
Architect: Opsis Architecture
Structural engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers
General contractor: Hoffman Construction
Photo credit: Christian Columbres Photography; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

7. Bullitt Center, Seattle

Category: Multi-Story Wood Design Award
Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership
Structural engineer: DCI Engineers
General contractor: Schuchart Construction
Photo credit: John Stamets; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

8. Cascades Academy of Central Oregon, Tumalo, Ore. 

Category: Wood School Design Award
Architect: Hennebery Eddy Architects
Structural engineer: Walker Structural Engineering
General contractor: CS Construction
Photo credit: Josh Partee; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

9. Habiframe Tornado Storm Shelter, Memphis, Tenn.

Category: Jury's Choice Wood Design Award
Architect: Habiframe
Structural engineer: Conestoga Rovers Associates
General contractor: Habiframe
Photo credit: Steve Bryan, Habiframe/Mark Richardson, Simpson Strong-Tie; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

10. YMCA Pavilion at Camp Harrison, Boomer, N.C.

Category: Regional Excellence Wood Design Award (Southeast)
Architect: C design Inc.
Structural engineer: Fitzpatrick Engineering
General contractor: David E. Looper & Company
Photo credit: Tim Buchman; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

11. Manhattan Fire House #3, Manhattan, Kan.

Category: Regional Excellence Wood Design Award (North Central)
Architect: Action Pact Design
Structural engineer: BSE Structural Engineers
General contractor: Murray and Sons Construction Co. 
Photo credit: Nicholas Whitney/Action Pact Design; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

12. Advanced Water Purification Facility, Oxnard, Calif.

Category: Regional Excellence Wood Design Award (Southwest)
Architect: Mainstreet Architects + Planners Inc.
Structural engineer: CH2M Hill
General contractor: McCarthy Building Cos.
Photo credit: Michael E. Cabezas, City of Oxnard; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

 

 

13. GSA Office Buildingm, Albuquerque, N.M.

Category: Regional Excellence Wood Design Award (South Central)
Architect: Page
Structural engineer: Walter P. Moore & Associates
General contractor: Enterprise Builders Corporation
Photo credit: Patrick Coulie Photography; courtesy WoodWorks
 

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.

 

For more on the 2014 winners, see the WoodWorks design awards gallery

Related Stories

| Jun 13, 2017

Accelerate Live! talk: Next-gen materials for the built environment, Blaine Brownell, Transmaterial

Architect and materials guru Blaine Brownell reveals emerging trends and applications that are transforming the technological capacity, environmental performance, and design potential of architecture.

Sponsored | Building Materials | Jun 9, 2017

Problem solving in Asheville with R-Trac & ALPOLIC® materials

The developers of the recently opened Asheville City Center sought out a cost-effective design that met code requirements while still allowing the building to feel open from the outside.

Sustainability | May 16, 2017

1.5 million recycled plastic bottles were used to build this nine-story structure in Taipei

The building is made of Polli-Brick, a building material that comes from 100% recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Polymer.

Building Technology | May 5, 2017

Tips for designing and building with bathroom pods

Advancements in building technology and ongoing concerns about labor shortages make prefabrication options such as bathrooms pods primed for an awakening.

Building Technology | Apr 21, 2017

AIA selects 2016 Upjohn Research Initiative Projects

Grants awarded to initiatives that study various aspects of design within the built environment.

Market Data | Mar 22, 2017

After a strong year, construction industry anxious about Washington’s proposed policy shifts

Impacts on labor and materials costs at issue, according to latest JLL report. 

Sponsored | Building Materials | Mar 20, 2017

Vinyl reveals meet increasing demand

With a tight school renovation budget and timeline, the Oak Grove Elementary cafeteria, designed by RuckPate Architects/CS2 Designs, utilized Architectural Reveals to build curving soffits with a racing stripe reveal design.

Building Materials | Mar 13, 2017

11 transmaterials highlight the coming generation of building products

Fiber-reinforced plastic, 3D-printed stone, and programmable ink tiles are a few materials coming down the pike for the AEC industry.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category


Codes and Standards

Updated document details methods of testing fenestration for exterior walls

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) updated a document serving a recommended practice for determining test methodology for laboratory and field testing of exterior wall systems. The document pertains to products covered by an AAMA standard such as curtain walls, storefronts, window walls, and sloped glazing. AAMA 501-24, Methods of Test for Exterior Walls was last updated in 2015. 



halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021