Architects and structural engineers: an examination of wood design and use in nonresidential construction.

Many wood products are underutilized in the construction of nonresidential buildings. To better understand why this is so, a mail survey was conducted in both Canada and the United States to determine how architects and structural engineers specify structural materials. Results indicate that, while steel and concrete continue to dominate the nonresidential construction sector, there are some success stories for wood products. For example, wood has a fairly healthy share of the structural nonresidential market in Western North America. Wood products are also frequently used in selected applications like religious buildings, restaurants, and commercial/residential combinations. Using information obtained in this and other similar studies, region- and building-specific promotional campaigns (targeted either at high- or low-use segments) can be developed with the aim of increasing wood use in the lucrative nonresidential sector.