United Kingdom — Talk to any modern architect and chances are the subject of ‘social responsibility’ will arise at some point in the conversation. In the past, this likely referred to the curious idea that through the built environment architects could transcend mere practical concerns and be engineers of social change. In 2017, ‘social responsibility’ has more often come to mean sustainable buildings with a low-carbon footprint and in harmony with their natural surroundings. Maggie’s Oldham satisfies both sets of criteria. The building, which offers practical and emotional support to people living with cancer, is the first in the world to be made from hardwood cross-laminated timber (CLT). Designed by dRMM Architects with support from the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), it is constructed from tulipwood. Pioneered by dRMM, AHEC and design and engineering consultancy Arup, tulipwood is around 70% stronger in bending than a typical CLT-grade softwood.