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Material Fails

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Tagged with: case studies, climate positive, interior design, material guides, Material Intelligence, sustainability

How to Make the Right Material Choice

There’s a pressing need for more material education and to make connections between trade and design programs. Without understanding the design properties, durability, and costs of architectural materials, it’s easy to find yourself in a specification nightmare.

The good news is that all wood-based products have a unique sustainability story and play a part in long-term carbon storage when they are placed in the right settings. Visit our Material Guides section to find “Materials 101” details for a variety of surfaces and substrates.

We also have detailed case studies for Multifamily and Healthcare, where you can hear directly from thought leaders in design and manufacturing whose reputations are built on making—and offering—great choices.

Have a question about a specific material? Just ask!

Get the Material Guides
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Article by Kenn Busch

Madison-based Kenn Busch is a journalist and the founder of Material Intelligence, a sustainability subject matter expert, and the founder of ClimatePositiveNOW.org. He is dedicated to bridging the knowledge gap between materials and sustainability for furniture and interior architecture.

More about Kenn »


Exposed balloon framing behind removed siding, showing continuous studs notched to carry a horizontal girt that supports second-floor joists

America didn’t invent the wood house, but we did do a lot after the invention of the nail

English colonists were constrained in every building supply but wood. And America's history with it has shaped our housing style, choice, and aesthetics for 250 years.
A half circle of cut wood

What is wood made of anyway? And why is it so good for building stuff?

Cell structures for plants and wood Inside wood’s cell walls and tree growth rings If you imagine a cross-section of a tree like the cross-section of the Earth, there are several different layers. You’re probably familiar with growth rings as they indicate the age of a tree. Growth rings also indicate how much a tree ... Read more