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We want to celebrate your wood buildings!

WoodWorks is seeking innovative mass timber, tall wood, and light-frame projects for our 2021 Wood Design Awards, which celebrate excellence in wood building design across the U.S.

Deadline for nominations: September 30, 2020

Winning projects are promoted extensively through social media, WoodWorks’ online gallery, an award video, hardcover North American Wood Design Book, and more.

Categories for 2021 include:

  • Multi-Family Wood Design
  • Commercial Wood Design – Low-Rise
  • Commercial Wood Design – Mid-Rise
  • Wood in Schools
  • Institutional Wood Design
  • Green Building with Wood
  • Beauty of Wood
  • Wood in Government Buildings
  • Durable & Adaptable Wood Structures

Nominations will be judged by an independent jury of design and building professionals, who will also select up to 10 projects to receive regional excellence awards. Program rules, category descriptions, and nomination forms are available here.

Special consideration will be given to recently completed buildings, projects that utilize wood as a dominant structural element, and designs that exemplify new opportunities for wood construction.

Here’s what last year’s jury had to say about some of the winners:

Adohi Hall – Fayetteville, AR

Leers Weinzapfel Associates with Mackay Mitchell Architects and Modus Studio; Equilibrium Consulting with Engineering Consultants, Inc.; Nabholz Construction

“As one of the first student housing projects made with cross-laminated timber, it’s a great example for other universities. It looks like a great place to be a student. “– Marsha Maytum, Principal, LMS Architects (2020 juror)

Photo: Timothy Hursley

First Tech Federal Credit Union – Hillsboro, OR

Hacker; Krahmer Gehlen & Associates; Swinerton

“First Tech was significant in terms of proving out the cost model for mass timber and is helping other projects go forward.”  – Eric McDonnell, Principal, Holmes Structures (2020 juror)

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

Oregon Zoo Education Center – Portland, OR

Opsis Architecture; catena consuting engineers; Fortis Construction

“Uniquely detailed, and beautiful façade. I think this is a beautiful, holistic use of wood.” – Matt Shaw, Executive Editor of The Architect’s Newspaper (2020  juror)

Photo: Christian Columbres

111 East Grand – Des Moines, IA

Neumann Monson Architects,; Raker Rhodes Engineering; Structurecraft; Ryan Companies

“Incredibly elegant; great compositional forms.” – Danny Adams, Principal and Design Lead, LS3P Associates (2020 juror)

Photo: Mike Sinclair



View all of our Wood Design Award winners in the WoodWorks gallery.