LP Sponsors Collegiate Urban Design Challenge

Last fall, LP co-sponsored the Nashville Civic Design Center’s (NCDC) Urban Design Studio Challenge where students from the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design were challenged to design a wood-framed, high-rise multi-use structure.

On December 4, the architectural students participated in the final review of the 15-story Timber Tower Studio project, which was also co-sponsored by the UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor’s Chair for High-Performance Energy Practices in Urban Environments.

NCDC will release a publication and exhibition of the student work in the spring of 2018, and anticipates further partnerships exploring innovative wood design and construction in the coming year.

Though wood-framed high-rise construction is still in an infancy phase here in the US, the movement continues to make strides and gain traction in the design and architectural communities. The 11-story Framework building in Portland, Oregon, which received a permit in summer 2017, will be the nation’s first all-wood high rise when completed. Completion is expected in 2018. 

In issue 15 of Engineered Wood Magazine, we discussed the bright future of tall wood-framed towers, noting that studies have shown that a 38-story wood skyscraper is technically possible – and that it would be economically competitive with conventional construction while also cutting the carbon footprint by as much as 75 percent.

As the leader in high-performance engineered wood solutions, some of LP’s products have become key components of tall wood structures. Acclaimed tall wood architect Michael Green has touted about the benefits of laminated strand lumber (LSL) in tall wood structures. 

We might be years away from the broad adoption of tall wood buildings, but LP recognizes that tomorrow’s built environment lies in the hands of the future architects, designers, builders and construction workers across the US. LP is proud to support the University of Tennessee students in partnership with NCDC in the Urban Design Studio Challenge.