WoodWorks helped convert the South Leavitt Multifamily project from Mapletree Properties to wood-frame construction after the developer originally planned to build using concrete or steel.

South Leavitt Multifamily | Photo Credit: Mapletree Properties

More than 600 questions about light-frame construction were answered by WoodWorks’ help desk last year, and WoodWorks’ 2024 national light-frame webinar series attracted 6,900 attendees in just the first four months of the year. Together, these resources are boosting light-frame construction and directly influencing a greater use of lumber across project types such as multifamily, assembly/cultural, and education.

A notable example involved a four-story building in Florida, where the help desk suggested replacing a significant portion of the steel framework with glulam beams. This change not only simplified the construction process but is expected to save approximately $125,000 in construction costs for one section of the building alone.

Acting as complementary services, the webinars grow greater understanding of advanced light-frame construction, while the help desk provides more detailed assistance and problem solving. When combined, these strategies are playing a market-expanding role — converting more projects in the low-rise category essential for market share growth to light-frame construction.