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

| Sep 13, 2010

Second Time Around

A Building Team preserves the historic facade of a Broadway theater en route to creating the first green playhouse on the Great White Way.

| Sep 13, 2010

Triple-LEED for Engineering Firm's HQ

With more than 250 LEED projects in the works, Enermodal Engineering is Canada's most prolific green building consulting firm. In 2007, with the firm outgrowing its home office in Kitchener, Ont., the decision was made go all out with a new green building. The goal: triple Platinum for New Construction, Commercial Interiors, and Existing Buildings: O&M.

| Aug 11, 2010

New data shows low construction prices may soon be coming to an end

New federal data released recently shows sharp increases in the prices of key construction materials like diesel, copper and brass mill shapes likely foreshadow future increases in construction costs, the Associated General Contractors of America said. The new November producer price index (PPI) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics provide the strongest indication yet that construction prices are heading up, the association noted.

| Aug 11, 2010

AIA Course: Building with concrete – Design and construction techniques

Concrete maintains a special reputation for strength, durability, flexibility, and sustainability. These associations and a host of other factors have made it one of the most widely used building materials globally in just one century. Take this free AIA/CES course from Building Design+Construction and earn 1.0 AIA learning unit.

| Aug 11, 2010

Nurturing the Community

The best seat in the house at the new Seahawks Stadium in Seattle isn't on the 50-yard line. It's in the southeast corner, at the very top of the upper bowl. "From there you have a corner-to-corner view of the field and an inspiring grasp of the surrounding city," says Kelly Kerns, project leader with architect/engineer Ellerbe Becket, Kansas City, Mo.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




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