Wood, in its natural state, is a highly sustainable material. But there are many factors that can either diminish or improve its sustainability, including how and where it’s harvested, how end products are treated and finished, and the lifecycle of the material.


This course will explore the sustainability of wood wall and ceiling systems, and considerations for specifying wood products that are sustainably sourced. We will cover different manufacturing and treatment processes, and environmental factors affecting wood, its lifecycle, reuse, and salvageability. We will also discuss applications for wood ceilings and walls, certifications available for projects specifying these materials, and insight into the world of sustainable wood systems.


Learning Objectives

  • Examine how vital forests are to the global ecosystem and the importance of sourcing materials from sustainably managed forests.
  • Identify the importance of indoor air quality in sustainable design, including material ingredients and fire performance.
  • Discuss the importance of durability in sustainable design and how to specify wood products with a long lifecycle.
  • Explore design options for decorative wood ceiling and wall systems, including several case studies where these products were used in LEED-certified projects.

Pre-Requisite: None.