U.S. Department of Agriculture launches Tall Wood Building Prize Competition

The U.S. Department of Agriculture officially launched their U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize Competition. As the first step of a new USDA and forest industry initiative, the competition is accepting entries that showcase an alternative solution approach to designing and building taller wood structures. The winner(s) will receive $2 million.

The competition aims to showcase the architectural and commercial feasibility of advanced wood products in tall building construction in order to: support employment opportunities in U.S. rural communities, maintain the health and resiliency of American forests, and advance sustainability in the built environment.

More details below.

"Following a funding initiative announced by the Obama Administration and the U.S. forestry industry through the USDA, SLB and BSLC earlier this year, the competition invites all U.S. developers, institutions, organizations and design teams willing to undertake an alternative solution approach to designing and building taller wood structures to submit entries for a prize of $2 million.

The objective of the Competition is to identify proponents with building project(s) in the concept-, schematic- or design-development stage in the U.S. that can safely and successfully demonstrate the use of wood as a viable structural material in tall buildings.

Above and beyond the safety, environmental and economic benefits of wood, the initiative will challenge developers, designers, building officials, builders and manufacturers to further develop and refine specification and use of structural wood products."

For further competition details, click here.