WoodWorks, an educational initiative that provides free technical support and resources related to the design and construction of non-residential and multi-family wood buildings, is now accepting nominations for its 2017 U.S. Wood Design Awards. The awards recognize excellence in wood design, engineering, and construction, as well as innovative projects that showcase attributes of wood such as strength, beauty, versatility, cost effectiveness, and sustainability. The deadline for nominations is September 30, 2016.

Projects may be submitted in the following eight categories:

  • Multi-Family Wood Design
  • Commercial Wood Design – Low-Rise
  • Commercial Wood Design – Multi-Story
  • Wood in Schools
  • Institutional Wood Design
  • Green Building with Wood
  • Beauty of Wood
  • Wood in Government Buildings

Projects across these categories will also be selected to receive regional awards of excellence. For program rules, category descriptions, and nomination information, please visit http://www.woodworks.org/wood-design-awards/nominate.

“We’re seeing real momentum toward the use of wood in buildings,” said Jennifer Cover, PE, Executive Director of WoodWorks. “Reasons range from cost and schedule savings, to wood’s design flexibility, renewability and reduced carbon footprint, even studies linking the use of exposed wood to occupant wellbeing. It’s resulting in some exciting work from architects and engineers who are pushing the boundaries of wood design, or choosing to use wood where they may previously have defaulted to another material simply out of habit. The Wood Design Awards are an opportunity for WoodWorks to celebrate these individuals and the ingenuity they’re demonstrating with their wood building designs.”

Special consideration will be given to recently completed buildings, projects that utilize wood as a dominant structural element, and designs that exemplify new opportunities for wood construction.

Deadline and Eligibility

Award submissions must be received by midnight PT on September 30, 2016. There are no nomination fees and multiple submissions are encouraged. To be eligible, projects and nominated firms must be located in the U.S. and projects must be fully constructed by September 30, 2016. Wood Design Awards apply to newly constructed buildings only. Additions, renovations, and structures other than buildings are not eligible. Complete details and nomination materials are available at http://www.woodworks.org/wood-design-awards/nominate.

Past winning projects can be viewed at http://www.woodworks.org/project-gallery/.

About WoodWorks

WoodWorks-Wood Products Council (www.woodworks.org) provides free project assistance as well as education and resources related to the code-compliant design, engineering and construction of non-residential and multi-family wood buildings. WoodWorks technical experts offer support from design through construction on a wide range of building types, including mid-rise/multi-residential, educational, commercial, retail, office, institutional, and public.