Sustainable buildings: measuring the impact of mass timber

There’s a lot of talk about biophilia, green buildings and mass timber in the constant and pressing search for sustainable construction. Ed Gritten – our Engagement Officer – asks what the implications are of these different types of building on those who live in or use them. 

Last year, the French government passed legislation stating all new buildings must be made with at least 50% sustainable timber. And after a quick look online, you’ll see countless articles claiming timber construction and mass timber to be the future; a sustainable building resource that can store vast amounts of carbon, is easy and cost-effective to construct, creates new jobs, all whilst supporting healthier living and working environments. 

Much of this is true.

Mass timber, such as cross laminated timber, is a form of engineered wood, layered and glued together with non-toxic adhesive. It’s a natural material that, when produced with forest health front and centre, is beneficial to both people and planet.

However, with all the hype surrounding these construction techniques, there is a danger of not seeing the wood for the trees (excuse the obvious pun). 

And, while the embodied carbon potential of timber is well documented, the evidence base for the social and psychological impacts of using it as a building material is not so well developed.

Quality of Life post-occupancy evaluation on mass timber

This is why the Quality of Life Foundation will, over the summer of 2023, conduct a post-occupancy evaluation of five buildings made with mass timber, all of different scales, uses and appearance. 

Funded by Built By Nature and alongside project partners, dRMM architects, Edinburgh Napier University and Building Research Solutions, the Measuring Mass Timber project will combine a whole life carbon analysis with a quality of life survey, allowing for an innovative and holistic new look at the benefits of mass timber design.

There have been numerous studies (outweighing some of the greenwashing) about the mental and physical benefits of using natural materials or biophilic design within buildings; from lowering stress levels and blood pressure, to increasing focus and productivity amongst students and employees. 

However, one of the important challenges and opportunities of our mass timber post-occupancy evaluation project lies in broadening its scope to incorporate as many views as possible. This will include those who manage or made the building, and even those who live near it. 

The benefits of mass timber are real, but its role in the future of sustainable construction must be understood as being just one of the many sustainable materials we will need to rely on to combat climate change.  

To add to the challenge, we know that the beneficial perceptions and expectations of wood are also determined and complicated by many factors, including differing cultural and social experience.

That said, the challenges of subjectivity should not mean that formally measuring the benefits of using timber should be restricted to carbon reduction alone. 

The Measuring Mass Timber project aims to highlight the value of not only the carbon benefits but the human experience.

As such, it will contribute to the evidence and argument for seeing timber ‘in the round’; setting a precedent for a more nuanced calculation of sustainability.

Broadening the scope

Much like how we need to broaden the scope of sustainable building materials, the same principle goes for broadening the scope within post-occupancy evaluations, so human experience is considered too. 

And this is what ‘sustainability’ is all about – expanding the scope of impact. The Measuring Mass Timber project embraces this wholeheartedly.