The first Wood at Work gathering  brought together over 120 influential architects, foresters, policy makers, ecologists, urban planners, scientists, city officials, authors, researchers, artists, craftsmen, and leaders in industries where wood and conservation are both a cultural inspiration and a practical reality. A reading by John Vaillant, author of The Golden Spruce, and lecture on the history of wood in modern architecture by Kenneth Frampton were two of many highlights. (For a list of speakers and talk summaries, click here, and for a full recap, visit our 2015 blog summary.)

Situated in NYC, the global center of innovative urban thinking, our intimate setting at the Bronx Zoo and multidisciplinary lineup of speakers, panels, and activities fostered the rich discussions and viable solutions that can only come from cross-disciplinary collaboration. All conference participants joined in lectures, panel discussions, and hands-on breakout activities to encourage dialogue, networking, and creative inquiry. The concepts of craftsmanship and culture were explored as critical components of long-term, deeply-rooted change.

At the conclusion of the event a resolution was put forth and signed by the majority of speakers, sponsors and participants:

1. New York and other cities are centers of leadership, policy innovation, culture, arts, and inspiration, and their decisions impact and influence global trends.
2. Thriving forest systems are a critical part of mitigating global climate change, as well as maintaining biodiversity, community livelihoods and identity, human health, and broader ecosystem services.
3. The use of sustainably harvested wood from well-managed, certified forest systems (including community managed forests) can significantly contribute to global forest and wildlife conservation and maintain the aesthetic and architectural qualities that only wood can provide.
4. We suggest that New York and other cities create policies to proactively promote the use of responsibly sourced wood in city building projects and infrastructure as part of their climate change initiatives, and to build civic awareness about the global importance of forests.

For a full recap, visit this blog post.

A compelling force for moving the mass timber building discussion forward."
—Jeff Spiritos, Spiritos Properties

"This conference is very diverse... so different from many I go to. It’s great!"
—Doug Boucher, Union of Concerned Scientists