 | Steel and wood: A hybrid solution
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The debate over using steel or wood as a primary construction material has persisted for years. Architects, contractors and product manufacturers have passionately defended one material over the other, each claiming the superiority of their chosen building material. But does it really have to be one or the other? A zero sum game, where one building material must be the only material? Perhaps a better way to resolve the debate is to embrace both building materials. By doing so, architects have more design possibilities, creating more dramatic and memorable structures. Owners have more cost saving opportunities, and manufacturers have more construction opportunities to incorporate their products into a variety of projects.
Wood: A durable approach
The advantages of using wood have been clearly articulated by wood advocates, particularly from an environmental perspective. They make several key points. For example, carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming, are three times higher for steel than for a comparable quantity of wood. What’s more, air pollution emissions such as sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane, particulate and volatile organic compounds are significantly higher for steel than for wood. They also point out that wood is a renewable resource, that is both recyclable and biodegradable. These points are legitimate and accurate. However, steel advocates provide equally valid arguments regarding the environmental and construction advantages of using steel.
Green facts about steel
The use of steel as a primary construction element has numerous rewards – some environmental, some purely construction-related. From an environmental perspective, steel is one of the most recycled products in the world. According to the Steel Recycling Institute, the recycling rate of steel in the U.S. was over 83 percent in 2008. Globally, more than 100 billion pounds of steel is recycled annually from a variety of sources, including used cans, discarded automobiles, and demolished bridges. Every ton of steel that is recycled saves approximately 2,500 pounds of iron ore and 1,400 pounds of coal. Both air and water emissions from steel production are 90 percent lower today than 10 years ago. And almost all the hazardous waste once generated by the steel industry is now being recycled. And finally, unlike wood, steel does not have to be treated with pesticides, preservatives or glues.
From a purely construction point of view, steel has many benefits. For example, steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any building material being used today, enabling it to span longer distances than wood. As well, steel won’t move or warp during or after construction. Steel is non-combustible and won’t contribute to the spread of a fire. And unlike wood, steel does not rot and is immune to termites and other insects.
Projects with a hybrid solution
As we can see, each material has advantages and disadvantages. So perhaps the solution is to embrace each material, knowing and accepting the positive and negative aspects of both. The evidence that supports such a position can be found in the numerous projects that have incorporated each material into its design. Perhaps the best example is Canada’s first certified LEED Platinum project: the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Operations Centre in Sydney, BC. The building is an outstanding example of mixed construction materials, including wood, steel, and concrete. Designed by Larry McFarland Architects, the project has won numerous design awards to coincide with the LEED Platinum certification.
Numerous other projects that incorporate steel and wood have been recognized for their outstanding design and construction. The recently completed addition to the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre is a marvelous example of a structural steel building with an interior fihish made from wood from salvaged trees that were devastated by the pine beetle. Another fine example is the recently completed 2010 Olympic Speed Skating Oval in Richmond, BC. In this example, composite glulam and steel arches stretch from the tops of the concrete buttresses across the 330 feet width of the arena. The glulam beams are joined together by a steel frame. And at the bottom where the frame meets, the steel is exposed to create a skate blade representation. In this project, steel fabricators George Third & Sons had to work closely with glulam manufacturers Structurlam Products to create this dramatic effect.
Conclusion
The above examples clearly demonstrate the advantages of incorporating steel materials with wood. Indeed, some of the most outstanding projects, whether they are commercial, recreational or industrial, contain a combination of wood and steel. By keeping an open mind to the seemingly endless possibilities of these two adaptable and flexible building materials, the design and construction possibilities are almost endless.
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