Wood – The DIY sustainable building material with so much more to offer.
Wood has been the overwhelming material of choice for single family homes in Canada and the US for at least the past 15 years, taking up between 90-96% of the market share.
The ability to build your own deck or even full house from building materials at your local hardware store is only possible with wood.
https://eyeonhousing.org/2023/08/wood-framed-home-share-increased-for-three-straight-years/
But wood is not only for single-family construction, as the market share of light frame construction for multi-family and mid-rise buildings continue to increase across Canada in response to updated codes and cost savings. Light frame mid-rise has cost savings of up to $100/sq ft over high-rise concrete projects! Lighter building materials means less foundation costs, less carbon footprint, and less impact from new seismic provisions in the latest building codes.
Wood4Midrise - Opportunities for Atlantic Canadian Urban Centres
For a sample 6 storey building, even using 5 levels of wood instead of steel or concrete led to a cost savings of between 1.4 and 1.9 million for a 114,000 sq ft building. That works out around a 10% overall project cost reduction!
building with wood isn’t just about cost savings and sustainable materials!
What if your workplace, gym, coffee shop, etc. wasn’t just for the primary function?
What if simple changes in materials made you more calm, more focused, and less stressed?
What if it helped you heal in a hospital setting?
What if the incorporation of natural materials, combined with abundant sunlight and greenery helped you feel intimately connected to nature?
All of these are quantifiable benefits from what is known as Biophilia, a documented positive side benefit of exposed timber in structures
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed?
Numerous studies have shown wood to reduce stress levels, with one study showing a reduction in cortisol levels by approx. 8% after a stay in an exposed wood room. Wood is slowly being utilized more in primary and post secondary education environments due to it’s stress reducing properties
Feeling stuck and need a creativity boost? Numerous studies have shown that natural materials such as wood had the “most positive effect on problem solving capability, understanding and thinking ability” (1)
Does artificial wood have the same impact as real wood?
Interestingly enough, artificial wood imitations actually had the opposite effect and triggered stress in the participants; solidifying that natural wood products really do have some magical components that we simply can’t replicate.
Maybe some wood elements or wooden artwork is exactly what you need to get those creative juices flowing! You might even get to meet a super cool structural engineer and have them detail some “floating” connections for your artwork like these beautiful pieces on display at the Nika Yuko Japanese Gardens
Next time you find yourself in a building with exposed wood, take advantage of it - destress and get creative.
Or just simply enjoy its beauty!
Additional Sources:
https://www.nahb.org/blog/2024/08/share-of-wood-framed-homes-dips-in-2023
https://eyeonhousing.org/2023/08/wood-framed-home-share-increased-for-three-straight-years/
https://bildcr.com/business-in-calgary-calgarys-multifamily-boom/
https://www.naturallywood.com/wp-content/uploads/biophilic-design-with-wood-in-british-columbia-terrapin-fii-Jan2025.pdf
https://4056792.hs-sites-eu1.com/hubfs/StoraEnso_Wood_buildings_wellbeing_white_paper.pdf?hsCtaAttrib=114308343278
https://lethpolytech.ca/news-and-events/2018/trades-technologies-and-innovation-facility-wins-alberta-prairie-wood-award