The U.S. softwood industry has worked consistently for over two decades to introduce U.S. species to Chinese construction professionals and the efforts continue to pay off.  Millions of dollars of U.S. softwoods are showcased in world-class architectural projects across the country – many of which were completed during trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
 
The Softwood Export Council, the Southern Forest Products Association, and APA-The Engineered Wood Association (known internationally as “American Softwoods”) have worked extensively with China’s Ministry of Construction to develop wood frame construction codes and technical manuals for architects and engineers. Trade missions and seminars introduced construction professionals to U.S. species and wood frame and hybrid construction design.  As a result, China’s design community is increasingly turning to wood as a preferred building material.
 
Notable examples include:
 
Douglas-fir imported from the western U.S. is used extensively in a massive hotel and exhibition facility under construction in Nanjing. Slated for completion in 2022, the project uses thousands of cubic meters of U.S. Douglas-fir in glue-laminated beams for the building’s roof structure. The project is being touted by the local government as a prime example of green construction. 
 
Douglas fir is also prominently featured in the main exhibit hall of the “Horticulture Exhibition of Jiangsu Province”, a 129,000 square foot concrete/wood hybrid structure that was completed in November 2019 (pictured to the right). The three-story building features soaring ceilings with exposed Douglas fir glulam posts and beams. The steeply pitched, angular roof was designed to evoke the shape of a resting bird.

The architect’s motivation for using Douglas fir for the project underscored the effectiveness of American Softwoods’ work in China.  According to Wang Jianguo, Chief Designer for the project, "Modern wood frame construction is used in the exhibition hall, giving the hall an ambient light but with good thermal insulation.” The project, and the benefits of wood frame construction, received national press coverage.
 
Another design that utilizes the strength and beauty of Douglas fir to achieve a dramatic design with is the Chongqing Yunshan Art Gallery Resort, located at the base of the mountains of western China. The resort includes an exhibition hall, wedding chapel, and guest rooms and includes an A-frame roof, constructed of Douglas fir glulam beams and supported by glulam posts and to achieve a blend of traditional Chinese architecture and modern design.
 
U.S. Southern Pine is on display in the Luhu Resort Hotel and the Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre. Southern Yellow Pine was selected for outdoor walkways at Luhu Resort because it was well suited to withstand the humid, insect prone environment. The material also contributed to the nature-inspired design that was influenced by the region’s semi-tropical setting.

The selection of Southern Pine plywood as interior cladding for the Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre was a decision based on a desire for beauty and function. Designed by architect Tadao Ando and completed in 2014, the Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre hosts operas, concerts, and plays and was one of the first cultural buildings of this scale in the area. Together, the design and the woodwork create a hall that is acoustically tuned to provide the audience with an optimal concert experience.
 
Although these impressive projects are major steps in the right direction, work towards greater use of U.S. wood in China continues. The U.S. industry is surveying architects and engineers in China to better meet the needs of the local design community and adapt its communication and promotional strategy accordingly.  Learn more about these activities at www.softwood.org and www.americansoftwoods.org

SEC is reaching international buyers and end users through its new YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaA_XXfjf4PfZvW--6w8rrg.  The channel features SEC and member videos including lumber grading tutorials and other educational and promotional videos. 

Softwood Export Council exhibits in trade shows around the world, but our booth designs in China are most successful due to their warmth, effective display of softwoods in interiors, and unique, eye-catching elements. The man behind the design is Xu Fang, Director of American Softwoods' China office. His booth designs at Interzum (Guangzhou) and Sylvawood (Shanghai) this year have set a strong tone for American Softwoods, highlighting the look and feel of softwood panelling and mimicking outdoor as well as indoor structures. 

"There are three aspects that I consider in my design in order to make a booth stand out at the show," explains Xu, "How do people feel when they see the booth from a distance? The booth needs to stand out among its neighbors. How do people feel when they are in the booth? The space must accommodate people moving around, talking, reading, and business meetings. Do visitors have a chance to experience our products? People should have a chance to touch the material and feel warmth."

Xu expresses that warmth is among the key elements he incorporates to maintain a consistent American Softwoods brand identity; he also strives for quality, simplicity, and affordability, all of which are what local users are looking for, but unable to easily obtain in the Chinese wood industry. Creating a relaxing, welcoming booth environment allows these qualities to shine, standing alone alongside the other exhibitors at a trade show.

The process of creating a booth begins with conceptual design: Xu considers first the impression he knows the trade show's audience will respond to, balancing this with the availability of construction materials, required craftsmanship, and cost. After comparing construction vendors and receiving SEC approval of the designs and quotes, Xu reaches out to local importers dealing in U.S. softwoods. All of the lumber used in booth construction is sourced through donation or at a low price covering basic cost. 

"Fortunately, most of the industry people I talk to are quite supportive," Xu says, "The bottom line is to consider the reuse of booth material in the future, and easy handling during assembly and disassembly." Installation takes place one or two days prior to the opening event, and Xu supervises the entire process, working with the construction crew to problem-solve and adapt the design as questions arise. 

While American Softwoods must target the existing market in each country, the key elements Xu uses in China's booths (warmth, quality, simplicity, and affordability) are not specific to the Chinese market and allow SEC to expand upon them in other countries. ​

As China's economy continues to struggle, it becomes increasingly important to create ties with wood industry representatives in the East in order to understand their perspective on the downturn and the opportunities for growth during a strained period of trade. This is precisely why three Chinese delegates traveled to Los Angeles this March to participate in Western Wood Product Association's annual meeting, providing insight into the Chinese economy's impact on wood imports. 

During their trip, the delegates (alongside a Chinese reporter) were able to visit Portland, where they toured four U.S. construction sites, each exemplary models of softwood construction that highlight the structural integrity and interior beauty of U.S. softwoods:

1. Clay Creative  72,000 square feet and six-stories tall, this wood-framed office building is built with timber beams, glulam, and flooring assemblies and expected to achieve LEED Platinum standards, becoming one of the most energy efficient buildings in Portland's central east side.
2. One North A two-building project surrounding 14,000 square feet of courtyard space, One North features a cedar-paneled exterior, interior Douglas Fir beams and columns, light-frame dimension lumber walls, and timber decking. 
3. Albina Yard This office space is the first example of domestically fabricated CLT used in a building-wide structural system in the United States! The CLT panel floors were installed on site in under three hours and allow the structure to span longer distances with fewer beams.
4. The Hudson (Vancouver, WA) With its heavy timber structure and 15' high ceilings, each room in The Hudson has a unique floor plan that alludes to the open warehouse spaces that predominated the area in the early 1900s. 

After touring Columbia Vista and Sierra Pacific Industries in Aberdeen, WA the next day, our Chinese visitors  have a better understanding about our West coast softwood lumber species, their availability, and production.