Designing Modern Wood Schools

This course takes a practical look at the design of wood schools, emphasizing opportunities with traditional wood-frame construction and, in particular, how to reduce costs. Architectural design and detailing topics include allowable heights and areas, detailing for fire resistance, acoustics, and durability, as well as structural design considerations. The trend toward mass timber is also discussed, along with information on wood’s biophilic attributes and environmental performance, including energy efficiency and carbon footprint. Examples of wood schools across the United States are also highlighted.

Learning Objectives:

• Review provisions of the International Building Code specific to school buildings and discuss opportunities to achieve cost savings through the use of wood.
• Explore design and detailing best practices used to achieve performance objectives in school assembly design.
• Discuss structural design considerations unique to school buildings, as well as framing options for floors, walls, and roofs.
• Consider how wood has been used in modern wood-frame and mass timber schools across the United States.