Abstract: A composite engineered wood panel comprising a top surface layer and a bottom surface layer. The layers comprise amounts of lignocellulosic material with particular densities. The bottom layer comprises more lignocellulosic material and lignocellulosic material moisture in amounts effective to produce an essentially symmetrical vertical density profile through the panel upon consolidation of a formed panel. The panel can further comprise at least one core layer. The top surface layer preferably comprises primarily softwood, and the other layers preferably comprise primarily hardwood. Also disclosed is a method of making the panel.