A structural element for use in forming a structure, the structural element having opposite longitudinal ends, the structural element comprising:
- a first longitudinal member extending between the opposite ends of the structural element, the first longitudinal member having an inward face, an outward face, and a pair of side faces each extending between the inward and outward faces, the first longitudinal member being formed from a structural material;
- a second longitudinal member extending between the opposite ends of the structural element, the second longitudinal member having an inward face, an outward face, and a pair of side faces each extending between the inward and outward faces, the second longitudinal member being formed from a structural material;
- a first lateral member extending between the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member, the first lateral member having an outer surface with opposite edge faces, the first lateral member being formed from a structural material;
- a second lateral member extending between the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member, the second lateral member having an outer surface with opposite edge faces, the second lateral member being formed from a structural material;
- wherein a pair of grooves is formed on the inward face of the first longitudinal member, each of the grooves being positioned adjacent to and spaced from a respective one of the side faces of the first longitudinal member;
- wherein a pair of grooves is formed on the inward face of the second longitudinal member, each of the grooves being positioned adjacent to and spaced from a respective one of the side faces of the second longitudinal member, each groove of the pair of grooves in the second longitudinal member being positioned in opposition to one of the grooves in the first longitudinal member;
- a tongue extending from each of the opposite edge faces of the first lateral member, the tongue on each of the edge faces of the first lateral member being positioned in one of the grooves of one of the longitudinal members;
- a tongue extending from each of the opposite edge faces of the second lateral member, the tongue on each of the edge faces of the second lateral member being positioned in one of the grooves of one of the longitudinal members;
- wherein the first and second longitudinal members and the first and second lateral members extend along an entirety of an outer perimeter surface of the structural element such that the entirety of the outer perimeter surface is formed of structural material;
- wherein the first and second longitudinal members and the first and second lateral members define an interior channel therebetween;
- an insulation material located in the interior channel and that substantially fills the interior channel;
- wherein the outer surface of the first lateral member forms a portion of the outer perimeter surface of the structural element and is flush with one of the side faces of the first longitudinal member and one of the side faces of the second longitudinal member to form a planar surface extending across substantially an entirety of a first side surface of the outer perimeter surface of the structural element;
- and
- wherein the outer surface of the second lateral member forms a portion of the outer perimeter surface of the structural element and is flush with one of the side faces of the first longitudinal member and one of the side faces of the second longitudinal member to form a planar surface extending across substantially an entirety of a second side surface of the outer perimeter surface of the structural element wherein the structural material comprises a wood-containing material.