ABSTRACT
An article in a recent mainstream architectural journal addressed recent debates about the use of wood in architecture. The debate goes something like this: First, nervousness is expressed about the use of wood and the depletion of the resource of older trees which are large enough to saw into boards and beams. A grim statistic is given that suggests that even if the remaining “old growth” were available to be logged, the supply would only see us through a few more years. The idea of forest management for sustainability is discussed in relation primarily to continuing (surprisingly) the supply of sawn lumber. Steel is considered and the debate continues over which is “greener,” wood or steel. “Engineered” wood is suggested as an important alternative and some of the technical issues about it are discussed. The magazine reminds us that it first reported on the declining quality of available wood in December of 1990.1
In 1955 one person was already thinking about how wood could be combined with other materials to improve its strength and stretch its supply. He began a series of inventions that led to the development of engineered lumber. This person happened to be an architect, and his historic work places him squarely in the tradition of innovative development of building materials.
