Using LEVER's Framework as a real-life case study, North Carolina State University and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory performed a multi-year research project evaluating the potential for wood buildings to sequester carbon, support forest communities, and create new options for forest management.

LEVER and KPFF Consulting Engineers provided information on Framework's unique structural design and material sourcing strategies to the research team to support them in developing a complete third party assessment of the material, carbon, and energy footprint for Framework. Using Tally for Revit, this Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) research pulls data seamlessly from the design of Framework.

This LCA study included a comprehensive evaluation of the entire manufacturing and forestry system that supports the mass timber-based building industry. In conjunction with this assessment, the research team evaluated an alternative structural design for the Framework project that utilized concrete in lieu of wood, followed by a comprehensive LCA of both structural systems. The results of these comparisons were published, providing data, context, and a clearer understanding of the relative life cycle impact of different construction materials.

The intent of the project is to provide relevant and useful information that will help building industry stakeholders make informed decisions based on the actual environmental, social, and economic impact of the buildings they produce.

Read the full report here.