Non-Residential

BSLC Non-ResidentialNon-residential construction (primarily light commercial) is widely believed to represent the largest opportunity for market share growth for softwood lumber products. Current U.S. consumption has been approximately 1.5 billion board feet, which represents about 10% market share of the estimated 15 billion board foot market. The market share of steel is about 60% and concrete 30%.

WoodWorks! – Canada

Partner: Canadian Wood Council www.cwc.ca

The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) is the national federation of forest and wood industry associations representing Canadian manufacturers of wood products used in construction. Through its member associations, the Council represents those manufacturers. Founded in 1959, the CWC is located in Ottawa, Canada. There are currently ten member associations whose member-companies produce approximately 12 billion board feet of lumber and glue-laminated products, structural wood panels, trusses, and manufactured housing.

WoodWORKS! is an industry-lead Canadian Wood Council initiative. The market development program is intended to help increase the use of wood in non-residential markets across Canada. The initiative seeks to build proficiency in using wood through training, networking and direct technical support.

The mission of Woo WORKS! is to increase the market share for wood construction in Canada’s non-residential construction market. Since 1998, WoodWORKS! and partners have helped to make it easier to design non-residential buildings with wood by delivering an integrated program of technical support and continuing education activities to a target audience consisting primarily of architects, engineers, building officials and others who make decisions about building materials. Regular surveys of target audience representatives continue to demonstrate that WoodWORKS! helps to resolve design challenges, remains relevant, appropriate, unique and in demand.

Wood First Act Wood First Showcase Projects
Wood Design Awards BC Recipients page

WoodWorks! – US

Partner: Wood Products Council www.woodworks.org

The Wood Products Council (WPC) is an established, non-staffed organization through which wood product associations have cooperated on marketing ventures of common interest for more than 30 years. Key member associations of the WPC include the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA), American Wood Council (AWC), APA – The Engineered Wood Association, Canadian Wood Council (CWC), Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA), Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA), and Western Wood Products Association (WWPA).

In 2007, the WPC was officially incorporated as a non-profit entity specifically for the purpose of organizing and executing on a plan to grow the non-residential market for wood in the United States, subsequently titled WoodWorks!. To oversee the WoodWorks! initiative, an industry Board of Directors was established with representation from each of the associations and key forest product research organizations, namely the US Forest Products Lab and FPInnovations – Forintek Division.

The objective of WoodWorks! is to convince engineers, architects, general contractors, developers and others to consider and use wood in non-residential building types, including stores, offices, hotels, schools, industrial, religious, recreational, public, health and multi-family residential structures. This includes (among other things):

  • Educating and training specifiers with regard to what’s allowed in building codes and making it easier to address code issues
  • Solving technical concerns and assisting in the development of cost-effective solutions
  • Addressing issues such as safety, durability, sustainability and cost
  • Providing all of the above from design through construction

Post Frame Marketing Initiative

Partner: National Frame Building Association www.nfba.org

The purpose of the PFMI program is to increase the utilization of post-frame (wood frame) buildings in the light commercial construction market and to convert traditional steel and masonry structures to post-frame. Educating the designers, influencers and purchasers of conventionally constructed building, such as masonry and steel structures, will generate a corresponding increase in the consumption of wood that is universally used in the framing and accessory components used in all post-frame building.

The program is run by the National Frame Building Association. NFBA's membership consists of builders, suppliers, academics, code officials and other stakeholders with an interest in the use of Post-Frame Construction techniques. Supplier members are broad-based and affiliated with a variety of component areas including lumber, metal, paints and screws. The association’s membership, while diverse, provides for a wide base and thus is a “coalition” of stakeholders. The National Frame Building Association (NFBA) is a non-profit organization established in 1970 and is the only trade association representing the interests of the Post-Frame construction industry throughout the United States.

NFBA promotes the benefits of Post-Frame construction through educational programs, technical guidance, promotion and marketing support, and by monitoring issues that affect the industry. NFBA holds one membership meeting per year at the annual Frame Building Expo.