With so many new apartments being built across the
Valley, some local governments have begun debating issues about construction
style, including whether apartments should be taller or shorter, more expensive
or more affordable, or whether they should be constructed of wood or concrete.
Does it matter to you as a resident? The short answer is
no, especially when you consider all the benefits of wood construction.
So why are many apartment homes constructed of wood?
First, wood is a high-quality construction material.
Remember, our country was built with timber and many of those same colonial
homes are still standing just as they did more than 200 years ago.
Fast forward to the 21st century and wood building
materials have advanced as much, if not more, than any other building material,
including concrete and steel. For example, many wood structures use
cross-laminated timber (CLT), a product that glues multiple layers of
dimensional lumber together using adhesives to create structural members that
are lighter and actually stronger than steel. Yes, wood can be stronger than
steel.
In Paris, an architect has proposed a 35-story carbon
neutral wood skyscraper. Since wood naturally filters carbon dioxide, the
project if built, as noted by the designers, would absorb 3,700 metric tons of
carbon dioxide, an equivalent of removing more than 2,000 carbon-producing
automobiles.
Aside from wood being an exceptional building material,
it also remains one of country’s most cost-effective and sustainable resources.
As material costs continue to escalate due to rising demand (most notably steel
and concrete), wood products allow builders to rein in costs and offer housing
choices that are more affordable to the consumer.