Trees are the ultimate multi-taskers. On top of all the work they do keeping our planet a lush and liveable place for its many creatures, the benefits of trees transcend our many forests.
An abundance of emerging research actually shows trees experience a second life when their wood is incorporated into our buildings, furniture, and fixtures leading to a slew of surprising mental health benefits for humans
and the planet we call home.
When it comes to advancing the use of wood in green and clean building technology and pushing for nature-based solutions to climate change, Canada is at the forefront after all, our sprawling country accounts for 40% of the world’s certified sustainably managed forests.
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Many of our childhood experiences take place in school. Whether these memories are good or bad, most children and teenagers spend a majority of their days in classrooms or other educational facilities. According to IQAir, “every year, children spend an average of 1,300 hours in school buildings.” But even as the world changes rapidly, and the internet in particular increases the accessibility of information, the design and operation of schools remain, in a way, outdated. As noted in a previous article, ideally the typology of educational spaces and the configuration of classrooms should suit more contemporary ways of teaching and learning, rather than the traditional organization of rows of desks facing a teacher at the head. But it is important that the analysis of educational facilities does not stop there. All surfaces and materials have a significant impact on both the well-being and learning of users.