In an ambitious move to boost sustainable construction, the USDA Forest Service and the Softwood Lumber Board have announced the 2025 Mass Timber Competition: Building Sustainable Schools. This initiative, further supported by the Center for Green Schools at the USGBC and WoodWorks, aims to accelerate the adoption of mass timber in K-12 educational facilities across the United States. The competition opened its entry period recently, and interested parties must submit their proposals by January 13, 2025. Winners will be revealed at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design in June 2025. The total prize pool stands at an impressive $1.8 million, with funding for individual projects capped at $500,000.
The competition casts a wide net, allowing a variety of K-12 educational facilities to participate. Eligible projects include not only classrooms but also libraries, vocational centers, and more. Applications are welcomed from both for-profit and not-for-profit U.S.-based organizations, as well as local government entities and Native American tribal organizations. The competition underscores several key criteria such as project size and complexity, replicability, and a clear construction path. A strong preference will be given to projects that utilize domestically harvested and manufactured mass timber, reflecting the competition’s emphasis on sustainability.
Criteria and Guidelines for Participation
Several key criteria will guide the evaluation process. Projects must demonstrate size and complexity and provide clear pathways for construction and replication. The competition heavily favors those that use domestically sourced and manufactured mass timber. Participants are required to share critical project insights, including cost analyses and life cycle assessments. This sharing of information is intended to benefit the broader design and construction community by providing valuable data that can drive future projects. Furthermore, insights into cost analyses and life cycle assessments will be mandatory to facilitate a broader understanding of the benefits and challenges inherent in mass timber construction.
A diverse panel of judges comprising experts in education, architecture, engineering, construction, and sustainability will assess the entries. Projects will be judged based on their biophilic design elements and carbon reduction strategies, along with their potential to save on construction costs. WoodWorks will be responsible for conducting technical reviews of each submission, while the Center for Green Schools will focus on outreach efforts within the education sector. This multi-faceted approach aims to create a ripple effect, encouraging the adoption of mass timber and sustainable practices in educational infrastructure across the country.
Broader Impacts and Future Directions
In an ambitious effort to enhance sustainable construction, the USDA Forest Service and the Softwood Lumber Board announced the 2025 Mass Timber Competition: Building Sustainable Schools. This initiative, backed by the Center for Green Schools at the USGBC and WoodWorks, seeks to speed up the adoption of mass timber in K-12 schools across the U.S. The competition has officially begun, with entries due by January 13, 2025. Winners will be announced at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design in June 2025. The total prize fund is $1.8 million, with up to $500,000 available for individual projects.
The competition welcomes various K-12 educational facilities, including classrooms, libraries, and vocational centers. Both for-profit and nonprofit U.S.-based organizations, as well as local governments and Native American tribal entities, are encouraged to apply. Judges will consider several factors such as project size, complexity, replicability, and clarity of the construction plan. Projects using domestically harvested and manufactured mass timber will be given preference, highlighting the initiative’s focus on sustainability.
