A rural school built in wood: A sign of the future for educational infrastructure

Something is changing in the way construction is done in Chile. Wood, once primarily associated with traditional homes or interior finishes, is increasingly gaining ground in public buildings, educational establishments, and more complex infrastructure. Behind this trend lies a search for renewable materials, more efficient construction systems, and projects capable of meeting the environmental and climate challenges of the future.

Such is the case of the Salvador Allende School in Pailahueque, Ercilla. The facility covers over 4,000 m² built in wood, incorporating classrooms, a library, dining hall, kitchen, administrative areas, and a gymnasium. The building, currently in its final construction phase, will allow the current enrollment to double, reaching a capacity of nearly 300 students and significantly improving learning conditions for the local educational community.

The project, highlighted as one of the most significant public works using mass timber in the country, incorporates solutions provided by ARAUCO through Hilam, its division specialized in engineered wood. It includes CLT panels —cross-laminated timber— and glued laminated timber elements, manufactured with industrial precision off-site and subsequently assembled on the ground, reducing construction times and optimizing resources.

“This project contributes to a different kind of architecture, especially in southern Chile, where there is a deep cultural identity with wood. Seeing a top-tier public school in Pailahueque, a rural commune in La Araucanía, built with our solutions, fills us with pride,” said Tito Jara, manager of ARAUCO’s Wood Chile Business.

Advantages of wood

In a scenario that demands rethinking productivity and sustainability in construction, wood emerges as a concrete and increasingly valued alternative. It is a renewable material, capable of storing carbon throughout its entire lifespan, with outstanding thermal performance, and it enables faster and more controlled construction processes.

In Pailahueque, these advantages translate into an industrialized project with less waste, fewer on-site disruptions, and a design specifically tailored to the climatic conditions of La Araucanía. According to project data, construction recorded a reduction of over 50% in waste generation compared to a traditional project of similar characteristics.

The use of mass timber, however, requires significant planning and technical expertise. Timber Ingeniería y Construcción en Madera machined the structural elements and combined CLT with glued laminated timber to optimize costs, performance, and structural efficiency. “To achieve feasible projects, CLT must be used where it is productive and efficient. The key is to optimize materials,” said Carlos Berzosa, general manager of Timber.

Beyond its figures and technical features, this new school represents a sign of the path that Chilean construction is beginning to take. The project demonstrates how technological innovation, industrialization, and the sustainable use of forest resources can be integrated to create high-standard public infrastructure, capable of meeting community needs while also contributing to more sustainable construction. This new school shows how tradition and innovation can come together under one roof.

The report inAcoforag Magazine