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By Nancy B. Solomon, AIA

In addition to requesting certified woods of well-known species, architects are encouraged by Rainforest Alliance, Metafore, and other like-minded environmental groups to consider both lesser-known and lower-grade woods. In Wood for Building Green, a practical guide recently published by Metafore, the organization explains that, by specifying a larger range of types and grades, design professionals will help increase the value of diverse forests, which in turn will provide greater economic incentives to maintain healthy forest ecosystems worldwide.

According to Murphy, specifying certified woods—especially those from the tropics—requires a little more lead time than that necessary for noncertified woods because the outlets are more limited. But she dismisses the idea that it presents a significant increase in cost. Although wood companies must pay a fee to go through the certification process, Murphy argues that suppliers are not seeing an overall price premium: “In many cases, the review process finds ways to lower costs,” she notes.

There are people in the industry, however, who respectfully disagree: “It’s cumbersome, unrealistic, and requires a lot of money,” says Meyerson of the FSC certification process. “FSC doesn’t have a monopoly on proper forest management techniques.” Large suppliers like Bacon are particularly frustrated that LEED, the sustainable-design rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, only recognizes FSC certification. “People look at FSC as the broad-brush cure-all to a very complex and varied situation,” says Meyerson. He believes that many wood companies have successfully managed forests for generations and, therefore, “don’t need anyone else telling them they are doing it right.” Murphy concedes that this may be true in temperate zones, but emphasizes that greater care must be applied in the tropics.

Some architects who are particularly concerned with sustainable goals actually prefer undertaking their own research. “I don’t find relying on FSC as good as doing your own homework,” says architect Jay Dalgliesh, AIA, of Dalgliesh, Eichman, Gilpin & Paxton in Charlottesville, Virgina. He will request and review literature on woods from sources that he has worked with for years. And he has been known to visit logging sites in person. Among other factors, Dalgliesh makes sure that the planting and harvesting operations do not encourage invasive species or contribute to erosion.