Net-Zero Timber Design Competition Winners

Wood of Honor

Six winning projects announced for USDA and Softwood Lumber Board’s net-zero timber design competition

The United States Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Oregon City, Oregon-based Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) have announced the six winning proposals in the $2 million design competition, Mass Timber Competition: Building to Net-Zero Carbon. The winning submissions—all of which “exemplified capabilities to design and construct mass timber buildings in the U.S. that are repeatable and scalable”—were revealed at a press conference held in June at the 2022 AIA Conference on Architecture in Chicago. Hartshorne Plunkard Architects, ZGF Architects, and LEVER Architecture are just a handful of firms that comprised the winning project teams. Not surprisingly, Pacific Northwest-based projects dominate the list, joined by winning submissions for mass timber efforts in Ohio, New York, and Colorado.

Launched last October with the submissions period opening in February, this is the second national timber design competition launched in partnership between by the USDA and SLB. The nonprofit WoodWorks managed all aspects of the competition, which aimed to “showcase mass timber’s innovative applications in architectural design and highlight its significant role in reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment.”

A wide range of building types—commercial, institutional, educational, industrial, mixed-use, and affordable multifamily housing developments—were eligible for submission so long as the timber sourced for the project demonstrates sustainable forest management and contributes to forest and watershed health. Single-family homes were not eligible and evaluation preference was given to typologies in which timber construction is largely underrepresented including healthcare facilities, large warehouse distribution centers, bigbox retailers, and tall buildings ranging from 6 to 18 stories. Hybrid projects incorporating other structural building materials were also eligible provided that timber products—preferably domestically manufactured—such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), nail-laminated timber (NLT), glued-laminated timber (glulam), and dowel-laminated timber (DLT) are the dominant components used.

Winning teams will receive up to $500,000 in grant funding, enabling them to design and build their respective projects. As noted in a press announcement, the winners must provide quarterly updates to keep stakeholders abreast of their progress, and payouts of competitions funds will correspond to each project’s progress as reported. “Lessons learned from the competition projects will be shared with the broader design and construction community to help support future projects, including cost analyses, life cycle assessments, and other research results,” the announcement elaborated.

“The SLB is gratified to see the breadth of concepts and building typologies entered in the competition. With nearly 60 submissions, we saw excellent examples of the innovative designs mass timber makes possible,” said SLB Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Flom in a press statement. “These six winning designs will serve to advance not just our body of knowledge for mass timber construction, they will inform the growing shift towards building for occupancy well-being, resilience, and a minimal carbon footprint.”

Without further ado, below are the six winning proposals. Detailed are building type along with the full project team followed by a description and information about each respective project’s carbon impact as provided by the SLB.

Vancouver Ambulatory Care Center Vancouver, Washington

Medical center

ZGF Architects, Timberlab, Swinerton, and PCS Structural Solutions

According to the team's estimates, the choice of timber saved 1.6 million kgCO2e over a structural steel alternative, with another 1.6 million kgCO2e saved in the wood's biogenic storage properties. Alaskan Copper & Brass Kent, Washington

Warehouse

atelierjones, Foushée, Timberlab, and DCI Engineers

An initial carbon impact analysis indicates a 33 percent reduction in carbon emissions compared to a tilt-up concrete warehouse of the same dimensions.

Return to Form Denver

High rise multifamily w/ affordable housing units

Katz Development, Timberlab, KL&A Engineers and Builders, and Tres Birds

The team promised to provide carbon reduction and storage benefits in the form of "Carbon Impact Reports" throughout the design process. INTRO Cleveland Phase 2 Cleveland

High rise multifamily

Harbor Bay Real Estate Advisors, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, and Forefront Structural Engineers

According to the Woodworks Carbon Calculator, CO2 savings in storage and avoided emissions total 6,483 metric tons, and a 39 percent to 56 percent savings over comparable alternatives.

Evergreen Charter School Hempstead, New York

Martin Hopp Architect, Consigli, and Odeh Engineers

An early stage estimate using the Woodworks Carbon Calculator indicates a savings of 359 metric tons of CO2 emissions through the choice of timber, with another 928 metric tons of CO2 sequestered in the wood structure. Killingsworth Portland, Oregon

Community-centric office space

Adre, LEVER Architecture, and Holmes US

According to the team, the use of timber results in a carbon benefit of 407 metric tons of CO2, which is equivalent to removing 86 cars from the road for a year.