Timber Market News Two Michigan Universities Lead the Way in Mass Timber Engineered Wood Products/Mass Timber Offsite Construction Technology and Advancements
Published on August 22, 2024
According to a feature article in UPword Michigan (August 21, 2024), two Michigan universities are working with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop mass timber building techniques and promote mass timber construction.
Michigan Technological University (MTU) is researching the production of large quantities of wood materials using hardwoods such as red maple and cross-laminated timber (CLT) techniques, while Michigan State University (MSU) works with softwoods such as pine and focuses on education and outreach.
MSU's recently constructed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Teaching and Learning Center is a model of mass timber architecture: a striking three- and four-story timber structure.
Another highlight of the laminated timber construction project is the DNR's customer service center, currently under construction in Newberry, said Patrick Monie, senior lands program manager for the DNR's public lands office. The building will include housing, offices and community space.
Another example is “Southtown” in downtown Ann Arbor, an eight-story building with apartments, retail, offices and community space.
Seven mass timber buildings are under construction or have recently been built across Michigan, with 55 more planned, says Sandra Lupien, director of masstimber@MSU at Michigan State University. The program provides education, research, outreach, and curriculum development for mass timber buildings, including apartments, offices, schools, and even veterinary clinics.
“People see the value in[mass timber construction],” Lupien says. “It's beautiful. The material is durable. There are carbon, climate and sustainability benefits. There are potential economic benefits. And there are biophilic benefits. … Studies show that when a building uses materials like exposed wood, the occupants of that building report improved mental health, well-being and productivity.”
As of June 2023, 856 mass timber buildings are under construction or already built across the United States, and 1,004 are in design, according to Woodworks, a division of the Wood Products Council, a nonprofit that provides free project assistance and education on wood building construction.
FEA collects Wood Markets News from a variety of third-party sources to provide readers with the latest news affecting forest products markets. The opinions and views expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of FEA.
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